High level MC or step up?

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.

Dave

Dave,
Blackbird is acutally on my list of consideration. I will be putting it on a Linn Ittok, any experience with that combination?

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.

Dave