MC transformers - what do they sound like?

Raul says,

This is what is all about. If we can grow up in our audio hobby then we are on the " right road ". Don't you think?

My answer is, No, that's not what it is all about. If growing up means becoming as dogmatic and narrow-minded as you are regarding this issue, then I don't want to grow up. One thing I truly love about this hobby is that there is no single "right" road. There seems to be multiple solutions for any problem with each solution having its own sets of pros/cons.

I may actually agree with you regarding transformers. It's not a particularly elegant design solution. But that dosen't mean I reject there use as a MC step up device. In some situations they are a great solution. As way of an analogy, push rod activated camshafts is primitive when compared to chain driven overhead designs, but it is still possible to produce outstanding engines using the the primitive design element. The talent of the designer can triumph over the technology. And that's not a fact, but simply my opinion.

Raul. I would not trust his wide ranging opinion that transformers are the only way to load a MC cartridge. Just the same I won't believe you that all SUT's are bad.

I think as a few of the guys in the thread here have stated - it all depends on the design, the listener's musical preference and current tonal qualities of his system and budget.

My mind is open on both sides of the fence and from what I have heard both are legitimate choices someone can make for their own musical enjoyment.

cheers Shane

Dear Gregm: +++++ " . But let's face it: as Gregadd seems to imply, a good tranny, while expensive, is nowhere near the cost and rarerity of an outstanding fully active 80-100db riaa. " +++++

Well, a Manley Steelhead or a Lamm one are not inexpensive units: both use SUTs and , here, you have to pay for it. Yes, a good Phonopreamp with out SUTs is more expensive.

+++++ " If what Raul is to make sense, he is using a very well stabilised active circuit and he's using his components in their optimum operating region. That's difficult and painstaking to design and implement ... " ++++

Absolutely, that's why is so expensive and it is not only a money issue it is deep knowledge about.

We love music and we love to care about its home reproduction. We love to have almost perfect targets about and we love and take the hard challenge: it is exaiting, fun and extremly emotive/emotional experiences about.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Gregad: +++++ " This means that we need a preamp with about 60-80db gain in the phono stage.Agree Y/N?
Optimally we also need about 80-100db S/N ratio(unweighted). AgreeY/N? " +++++

I think that you forgot to the most important characteristic in a Phonopreamp: we need a phonopreamp because the PP is the only audio device that can reproduce in the right way the cartridge signal due to mimic the inverse RIAA eq. The specs here is, which is the RIAA eq. deviation?: I think that has to be in no more than 1 db ( +,- 0.5 db ), ours is 0.02 db.

Btw, our S/N ratio ( MC ) is 82.5 db A weighted refered to 0.5 mv.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Clio09: +++++ " Both these designers make outstanding phono stages and I'm sure they would never recommend something that is proven to compromise the sound of their designs. " +++++

These gentleman, like many others, make their designs with a price target and they make their design inside that price target. This " limited/inadequate " price target put a lot of compromises in the quality sound reproduction of the audio devices and in this case they have to make compromises in the quality sound reproduction using SUTs. Of course that they can do better but they choose their trade-offs.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.