step up for mc

You're putting words in my mouth, Herman. I said nothing about a lower amplitude limit. The entire signal does not get through a transformer intact and what does get through is changed. It is even more evident with low output MC cartridges. If you've ever heard a well implemented SS gain stage you'll understand what I'm talking about.

That's not to say the signal is not being changed in a FET stage. But to date, it is the best sounding solution I've heard. Not to say I've heard 'em all by any means.

Ok, three things.

1. I am talking about high quality transformers.

2. High quality transformers only act as filters at very very low frequencies, like <5Hz, which is a positive thing in stereos, and at very high frequencies which isn't a problem for music.

3. Every circuit component in the world has a bandpass characteristic. Nothing is perfect so nothing has infinite bandwidth in either direction.

As you and I have already said, it's all about implementation. But you can't deny the elegant simplicity with which a transformer gets the job done.

By the way Dan, how do you like your tube amp's transformers? ;)

Arthur

Dan, I guess I misinterpreted your post but in my world signal level = amplitude. I don't see what else it could mean.

Below a certain signal level the transformers will act as a filter because some of the minute changes in the original MC signal will be insufficient to induce them in the secondary windings. The result is a loss of low level detail.

I've owned and heard some of the most highly regarded SS and tube phono stages that did not use transformers (including Aesthetix and Pass Xono) and my present one that does, among others. To my ear the transformer stages were better.

Back to the original question. Your choices are very limited for a stand alone active stage to boost the signal so your MM stage can use an MC. CJ used to make one a long time ago but I don't know of any others. I think you will be very happy with a quality transformer.

Touche, Arthur! :) The iron in my Lectron is excellent, but the intricacies of the signal from the catridge have already been flushed out by then.

And apologies to all for my over-simplistic, barely intelligible attempts at explaining why I don't think transformers are the best way to go for MC gain stage. That's a side effect of watching a baseball game, football game, catching up on audio threads all at the same time. And, with it being a holiday weekend, all spiced up with a bit of Ol' Number 7.

I also used to own Aesthetix and I would completely agree with Herman that compared to that implementation I would take the step-ups in a heart beat. But transformers over my Alaap MC gain stage or Raul and Jose's Essential? No way.

Since we don't know what cartridge he's planning on using, I'm not sure that the transformers would be the easiest solution for Havel. There is still quite a bit of load tweaking he'll have to do to optimize things.

Get the K&K step-up. I used one and for the price it is hard to beat. You can swap resistors very easily to custom load your cartridge. I sold mine only because I moved up to the K&K SE phono stage.