Step Up Transformers….Are they Worth the Trouble?

I’ve been circling around this thread because I’m in the same boat.  To reduce noise I got a VDH current phono stage, but I also have Koetsu stone and Ortofon SPU carts which reportedly work well with SUTs.  This would require purchasing budget challenging quality voltage MM stage and likely silver SUTs.

Unsure which SUTs: 

• Match SPU brands (Ortofon SUT for SPUs, Koetsu SUT for Corralstone). It’s likely copper
• Zesto Audio Andros Allasso SUT- very versatile, but copper
• EMIA - custom silver- amongst the very best but pricey

Also, unsure of how much I’d need to spend for a quality “voltage” MM phono stage.

Dear @kennyc  : "  have Koetsu stone and Ortofon SPU carts which reportedly work well with SUTs. "

Do it you a favor and just forget ( for now ) what other reported because the type of higher distortions/fake colors that they like maybe do not like you because your targets could be different.

If what you want is to listen what's in recording then forgeret about SUTs that only degrades the cartridge signal and no matter what can't improve/enehance in any way the cartridge signal.

You can read this M:Fremer full review on this active high gain MM/MC phono stage and take a look with wich cartridges he reviewed along which preamp:

PS Audio Stellar Phono phono preamplifier | Stereophile.com

M.Fremer:

" 

I recommend a listen to the Stellar to anyone in the market for a new phono preamp, regardless of price. I don't think I've ever written that before. Like darTZeel's clever engineer Hervé Delétraz, Myers designs using a deft combination of technical knowhow and careful listening, more interested in the sonic outcome than in getting the absolute best measured performance. In my view, that's a winning approach.

Footnote 1: As you can see in the measurements section, JA called the RIAA response "superbly accurate."  "

Or you can go for the Phonolinepreamp as Dartzeel or Boulder. Just remember that the quality sound in any LOMC cartridge depends not only of a first rate phono stage but needs to a first rate line stage preamp.

If you can, stay far away from any SUT at any price MUSIC deserves a lot more than just that and you too.

R.

Dear @lewm   : " aluminum cantilevers or any other type where the stylus can be press-fitted into the cantilever, rather than glued to a blank surface, may actually be an advantage. The glue adds extra mass just where you don't want it.. "

Did you listen an aluminum cartridge cantilever with stylus press fitted?

Probably not but I did it.

In the long MM thread JC posted that aluminum subject just as a characteristic and were some audiophiles as me that took that " road " in my case because my tought was that exist a more direct conection between the stylus and cantilever.

Higher moving mass? how much higher? because today stylus glued almost you can't see the " glue ". n the other side and as anything in audio always exist trade-offs and my first hand experiences about told me that the glue stylus/cantilever function as a very good feedback damping and a very good damp for the tremendous developed forces during tracking with out really makes a " damage " to that minimum " high " moving mass.

Now you have some cartridges including the MC2000 where you can have a real first hand experience next time that you need to re-tip it.

R.

@kennyc

Depending on your budget, I would encourage you to try SUT. Reach out to Bob Sattin @Bob Devices, his SUT’s are reasonably priced. Personally, I wouldn’t get hung up on Copper vs Silver windings. I do not have a direct experience with SUT yet but my upcoming audition includes a EMIA SUT that was build for Fuuga cart, trans-impedance phono, tube phono with MC/MM options.

As others have reported, a customized SUT should sound better; @mdalton recently implemented Swissoner HM-7 SUT with Koetsu Urushi Tsugaru and reported, “Way more dynamic, without losing koetsu magic”.

There is no substitute for trying things in your system and make an informed decision based on your own findings.

Raul, You are always right, but I do own and listen to the MC2000, and it does have a press-fitted stylus on its aluminum cantilever.

Lalitk, Do I understand you to say that you are going to use an EMIA SUT or a "transimpedance" phono stage (hate the term because it implies that the internal impedance of the cartridge and the finite input Z of the phono stage make no difference, but both parameters most assuredly do) or a tube phono with MM and MC capabilities?  Presumably you will mate the EMIA SUT with the MM inputs of the last named tube phono stage, yes? So you will cover all the possible ways for amplifying the output of an LOMC, except the use of a head amplifier (outboard gain stage to takes the place of a SUT).