Step Up Transformers….Are they Worth the Trouble?

@mulveling   : " just wasn't the right tonal balance in my system for my ears.  "

Normally subjectivity is the personal characteristic that dominates the audio world against objectivity because normally too silver win over cooper but I can attest my self experiences like that yours only between different  SUT manufacturers where the cooper Denon Murata outperforms several silver wired SUTs as the Audio Note and made it easily....

Now in your case is in the same model where I imagine that  both SUTs shares the same design and this gives you the opportunity to think and make a system deep search trying to find out why what in " paper " should be better it's not through your first hand experiences other that the silver one was not inside specs for whateever reasons. At least is what I do in cases as this one. Everyday is a day to learn or confirm what we already know.

R.

@mdalton 

Thanks for the heads up. I may pick up the Sculpture copper version if I end up with Fuuga and Bordeaux carts 🤣 

@lewm  : As you know I owned 3 original MC2000, yes I like it. All came directly from Ortofon to me in México ( no distributor in my country. ).

In those times no one not even reviewers looks at the stylus/cantilever joint under microscope so I can't attest on it. One of those samplezs made a trip to VDH for boron cantilever and it ouperformed the other two.

Now, i still ownthe MC20MK2 that's a model that appeared before the 2000, it has aluminum cantilever and loking with my microscope it came glued and I still own the 3000MK2 model that was in the market after the 2000 and comes too with aluminum cantilever and the stylus is glued.

Next is the only picture that I can get from the net but I think we can't be sure if its press fitted or glued:

3523866-a44425b6-mega-rare-cartridge-ortofon-mc2000-and-t2000-with-boxes.jpg (1100×824) (canuckaudiomart.com)

Due to the other Ortofon cartridges samples I have on hand seems to me a little weird that the 2000 was not glued.

@kennyc   the PS audio is at high end market niche almost inexpensive unit that's a true challenge to other SS very top units with a price tag over 50K ( this was what reported M.Fremer. ).

In the other side and with all respect to him I think that not only you but no audiophile can take really seriously a gentleman  like @lalitk  that  ( as he said/posted )  had not direct experience with SUT and who told you: 

"  I would encourage you to try SUT. "  @lalitk  this truly creates " confussion " and not  the facts I posted and that you said creates " that ".

R.

R.

Personally I like a head amp/phono stage with LOMC  over a SUT. A good gain stage to me sounds better then a SUT. A good analogy would be an active preamp compared to a passive preamp.  Both can be great under the right build quality and situation.  But for me the active is more engaging. 

@glennewdick 

What are some of the brands that are offering good head amp/phono stage. My Google search did not show any good results. Thank you!