I will soon be in possession of a ARC SP-16 with a build-in phono stage (min 1 mV), and I have just discover that my current cartridge is a low level MC (0.2mV) that SP-16 would most likely not be able to drive. Should I go with a new high-level MC or a step-up transformer?
IMO you are going about this backwards.The arm/cartridge combo is the most important aspect of an analog setup.Find the cartridge (that you can afford) that works best with your arm and proceed acordingly.
If you check recent issue of S'phile, there is a review of several SUTs and it talks about some of the issues associated with matching. IIRC, the bottom line is that matching is critical for a cart and SUT. And many LO carts are very sensitive to proper loading, so if you use an SUT, you want to make sure it is easy to swap out resistors.
I've always gone the medium to high output MC route with great success. Right now I'm using a Sumiko Blackbird. It's a great match for either my Bryston 1B's phono stage or my Pro-ject Tube Head phono pre-amp.
I love my Tube Head, yet I've read reviews complaining about tube noise when used with low output cartridges. With 2.5mV of output from the Blackbird, noise is not an issue, at all.
No Dig, I'm using the BB in a Pro-ject RM10's stock carbon fiber arm. It's a very compliant cartridge. The Ittok and BB are both in pretty wide use. I'll bet that if you post a separate thread that you'll get a specific answer.
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