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!

128x128lalitk

Note: It is not any Radio, it is a @mijostyn Radiodevil

When I use my Xbox F1-23 Game for entertainment as a driving experience, I am convinced the set up for the gaming experience is able to bring me extremely close to being a F1 Teams Driver at a Race Track. Or maybe?,  I am just over exaggerating what I am perceiving, as I have never had my Xbox at a F1 event with the access to being a F1 Driver and a F1 gamer in conjunction smiley

Ones mind can play great tricks on oneself.

@mijostyn  : " The old current phono stage design is a problem, first because the cartridge is a voltage item and second because it does not works with all LOMC cartridge ."

The main issue is that cartridge manufacturers make the cartridges voicing using voltage phono designs not current design.

JC even has his own voltage phonolinepreamp and Ortofon does the same.

I'm not talking of what we like but about that main cartridges issue.

If you did not like the Lambda SL in voltage design then you can be sure that something is not working totally fine in the system.

R.

 

@rauliruegas The system is running fine. The MC Diamond and Soundsmith Hyperion MR sound better in voltage mode. The Lyra Atlas SL and MSL Signature Platinum sound better and have a better signal to noise ratio in transimpedance mode. I also believe Michael Fremer runs his Lyra transimpedance mode. I do believe that suggesting cartridges with an impedance less than 10 ohms are ok for transimpedance mode operation is overly optimistic. In my own experience transimpedance mode should be reserved for cartridges with an impedance below 2 ohms. Knowing this, I think anyone getting a transimpedance phono stage should either have the option to run the phono stage in voltage mode or also get a voltage mode phono stage. Channel D offers the option of adding a voltage mode card to the Lino C. My Seta comes standard with both and I can switch back and forth ABing the results.

The Jico SAS/B stylus will be here any day. I will give an opinion on its performance and post pictures of the stylus.

“In my own experience transimpedance mode should be reserved for cartridges with an impedance below 2 ohms”

@mijostyn

Based on your experience, I should rule out a transimpedance phono since both of my carts are spec’d over 2Ω. Right?