Step Up Transformers….Are they Worth the Trouble?

“What do I prefer? Accuracy” Accuracy in tonal balance, timbre, detail and imaging along with the lack of distortion, accurate transient response and dynamic capability. 

@mijostyn 

I think most people would agree with this. I don’t want to misconstrue your statement but I firmly believe, it’s upto to a person to decide what degree of accuracy they want to hear or prefer. I have heard components that measured perfectly but sound like crap or should I say unable to connect end user to music. 

Of course we want to replicate small jazz club like experience..it’s very intimate, emotional and connects your soul to the music and artist. Couple of recordings comes to mind, Norah Jones’s Live at Ronnie Scott's, Scott Hamilton & Andrea Pozza- I Could Write A Book and Fausto Mesolella - Live at Ad Alcatraz. All different venues but you’re transported to each of these venues every time I cue up these recordings. Read up on I Could Write A Book recording background..quite an interesting story, I know I would love to be in one of those place. 

I completely agree with your statement below, I think that’s what makes our pursuit so much fun!

“That connection is a moving target and depends more on your mood just as much as the actual performance of the system”. 

@mijostyn, thanks for your thoughts/advice! I do love the sonics of my rig as it currently stands. I've tube rolled with my previous preamp and power amp. To my ears the VTPH-2a sounds best with the factory tubes.

My buddy who suggested that I get an SUT also has Magico speakers, S7's. He runs VAC 450i Statement IQ power amps, the matching preamp, a Ypsilon phono pre, AMG Viella TT. All of his cables, cartridges, SUT are in the same caliber as the rest of his gear. He has a solid state phono preamp that he wants me to try so I'm more inclined to do so now.

@vuch It never hurts to try anything!  The S7s are a great loudspeaker. I also have a friend with a pair. 

@lalitk Those are purely my feelings which were not meant to be reflected on anyone else. You made a reference to the preferences of those making suggestions so I told you mine. All those venues are different just like Ella Fitzgerald and Rickie Lee Jones have different voices. I mention those venues because I have been to all of them on multiple occasions. I have recordings made at every venue and many others. I am particularly fond of the Dave Holland Quintet recordings and I have seen them three times. They are a favorite reference for system evaluation. 

Measurements, particularly those made in the actual listening environment are very useful. They get you in the ballpark. Fine tuning is always done by ear. The problem that I see repeatedly is audiophiles trying to tune their system by changing cables or rolling tubes. You can not do it that way, none of those techniques have the necessary bandwidth to be useful. If you really want to tune a system by ear try digital signal processing. You can not get bass right without it. By right I mean the bass you here at Red Rocks, or the bass you hear at The Blue Note. 

@vuch I owned the Herron VTPH-2A for a while. Regardless of having ample gain in its MC mode w/ tube swaps, it will sound different when paired with a SUT in MM mode. And that "difference" is quite likely to appeal to someone who likes VAC gear and/or Tannoy speakers (me).

That said, the Herron is decidedly not a traditional tubey sounding tube stage. Even comparing just MM modes, it sounds quite distinct to (say) the VAC and Hagerman tube stages, which are sweeter and warmer (Herron being almost a tad aggressive in upper mids by comparison). The MM / SUT combo with VTPH-2A gets you about halfway to that. And I’ve had system configurations where that particular combo was "just right", though typically I prefer a more "traditional" tube stage paired with SUT.

I am familiar with Phasemation Audio Devices, they are usually handled in the UK by the Audio Dealers who work towards giving a customer something that can be very appealing without having to reach too far with their finances.

I am with experiences of Cart’s and a few Phonostages in a selection if systems and also have heard a Phon’ Model not too long ago in a Audio System I am very familiar with. I was also being familiarised at this time with a Bespoke Produced SS Phon, also carried out on a Audio System I am very familiar with in use. ’ which for myself, proved to be very impressive. The Phasemation and the other Phon’ being both SS Designs were for myself very impressive demonstrations.

I am confident in stating Phasemation are a Company that are able to offer products that create that little extra, which wins over loyal followers, who return to their products.

I feel very confident if the Phasemation SUT shown in the Link, was able to be acquired at the money as seen at the time of this post, even with the shipping fee, there will be a very happy customer.

In context, both of my used SUT’s each cost more than twice this price seen at the present, as a Commissioned Produced end product.

https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/japan/en/auction/yahoo/input/1151091863/

The next link will be one of interest in a discussion on SUT's.

 https://www.analogueseduction.net/phono-stages-phono-boards/Phasemationcst2000.html