Step Up Transformers….Are they Worth the Trouble?
Some of you may aware of my Garrard 301 project, it’s now very close to completion. The plinth finally shipped from Hungry after 3 months of long wait.
Given my last experience with Hana Umami Red, I would like to take things to the next level. Which brings me to mating low output cart with a SUT. Every review I’ve read so far suggests when the SUT-MC match is right, the end result is heavenly. The bass is right, the midrange is clear, and most importantly, the highs are relaxed and extended—not rolled off.
I am not saying you can’t get great sound without a SUT but it appears with a properly matched SUT, sound can be quite magical.
Thought this would be the right time to get input from experienced users here since I am still contemplating my cartridge and outboard phonostage options.
My preference would be to go with a tube phono…I kinda miss tinkering with tubes :-)
My system, Garrard 301 (fully refurbished), Reed 3P tonearm, Accuphase E-650 with built-in AD50 analog board ➡️ Tannoy Canterbury’s.
Cart and phono under consideration through my dealer,
Fuuga - Output : 0.35 mVrms | Impedance : 2.5 Ω (1kHz)
Phonostage - Tron Convergence and Konus Audio Phono Series 1000
The cart - MC combination, I am lusting after is Etsuro Urushi Bordeaux MC with their Etsuro Transformer.
https://www.etsurojapan.com/product/bordeaux
The other transformer is EMIA, cooper or silver version.
Your input is appreciated!
Thanks for your recommendation on Lino C which BTW is very similar to Konus Audio Vinyle phono. And I am auditioning / comparing this phono with Allnic in next week or so. As far as SUT’s goes, gotta get it out of my mind by inserting in the signal chain ahead the two phono’s (Allnic and Whest) with contrasting topologies. If I really like what I hear with EMIA SUT (loaner) then I will be ordering Etsuro Transformer to mate with Etsuro Bordeaux cartridge. |
@mulveling stated "EAR made a head-amp unit "The Head" which is discontinued and hard to find used (and sought after by some) - supposedly very good". I have been very curious about this model for many many years, it is a SUT and is produced at a time before EAR was an Incorporated Company. Not to long ago an infrequent attendee of the local HiFi Group brought their bought at the time of production for £200 TX 4 'The Head' SUT, which the owner referred to the model as being 'The Brick', to be demo'd. The TX 4 was compared to a few SUT's which I will say as a comparison. The short in length demo's showed the TX 4 to be much more extrovert and out in the room, voluminous and room filling are a very noticeable trait from its presentation. During the short Demo's the TX 4, seemed to draw parity in a comparison with a Group Members own design Head Amp. These Two both produced very Transparent room filling sound. The TX 4 might be the least Rich in Tonality SUT I have been in front of? The following is apparently a extract of a correspondence being had with TDP in 2016. "I will try to find old literature , how dare you say I did not design lock stock and barrel everything in the HEAD TX4? I do all my own transformers not like my competitors who go to mr transformer man please make me transformer! I designed the step up device in 1979 to be the best in the world period. More bandwidth more headroom better square wave etc. Still no one has matched it. If I had to market today I would have to price it at £3000. I made about 200 units. I will not disclose winding details or core type other than usual mumetal 78% Nickel. The highest inductance core material". |
For yet more food for thought, Steve Gutenberg recently reviewed a new Zesto Tube Phone Preamp, but he intentionally chose the MM one not the more expensive MM/MC one, but instead used, you guessed it, SUTs with it. |
