MC phono stage without transformer?

Dear Eldartford: I owned Audio technica AT 1000T ( similar to the Signet. ) that had that spec but ( like the Signet ) with out any reference about deviation from flat, that btw it is almost imposible to been flat.

+++++ " I used several MC preamps without a transformer, but I never heard any sonic improvement. " +++++

There are some things why you or any one can't hear differences or improvements and even bad experiences about: one is that the own system colorations preclude to hear it, other could be that what you heard was not a good MC phonolinepreamp design, other could be a non-synergy system audio items, bad set-up, etc, etc.

I hope that in a near future you can have the opportunity to experience the right active high gain Phonolinepreamp, in the mid time you and me will enjoy what we have.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Rauliruegas...My experience suggests that, at an "affordable" price point a step-up transformer makes sense. It permitted me to try out a MC cartridge without the expense of a new preamp, and the MC cartridge did make a significant sonic improvement to my system at the time.

I accept your view that a cost-no-object MC preamp is the best. But not for me, or for most other audiophiles.

Dear Raul,

"I prefer like you that an audio system be " emotional " ( just like music is. )but I like at the same time that have at least to other " vitues " : neutrality ( not analytical ) and " credible " whole tonal balance from top to bottom."

Talking too much about the emotional side of music reproduction might suggest that I like a highly colored soft "tube" sound. But thats not the case. When I changed from the high bandwith Gryphon SS gear to tube gear there was no decrease in "neutrality" (which I dont like as a notion) it was just more open, breathing and natural which surprised me as a then tube newbie as well. I think its the most common preconception on tube gear is always "warm" "colored" or whatever. That might be the case with some proportion of the tube units but it can't be said in common as well as it can't be said that a SS amp always has to sound bleached and thin. Sure due to the specific technology tube gear should be partnered with appropriate surroundings.

"Those facts ( amplifier impedance output and electrical speaker impedance ) tell me with out any doubt that the reproduced sound can/could be heavy " colored " ( for say the least ) due to that impedance mistmatch and in some way to intermodulation speaker distortions due that its crossover ( woofer ) is on the high ( very ) 1200hz range."

In general to tell from the specs on the sound is imho highly speculative. But I think you speak of the output impedance of the VAC 80/80 but this is a completely different design than the PA60...Anyway I had the Gryphon SS gear (which can control almost every speaker) and tube gear here in parallel switching back and forth any combination to convince myself since I never was a "tube guy". There was no trace of mismatch lesser control, or "unnatural" coloration. The VAC has also has a 2 Ohm tap but I prefer the 4 Ohm tap.

"Now, I understand that those colorations ( any audio system have in high/low manner. ) are the best for you ( nothing wrong with that ) but that could does not means is " correct " against what is on the recording or to a live event."

I'm a musician myself and I think I would not like a too sweet or unnatural sound in the long run. But speaking of "correct" and "neutral" I have to say that I have been in a lot of regular studios(not the ultra expensive ones). From these experiences the terms "correct" and "neutral" lost a bit of significance for me in the last years. If I see how a lot or maybe the majority of music is record today, it makes me wondering how the high-end community is fixed so much on the terms of neutrality and correctnes when the software itself is not neutral or correct to the original sound.

In the end for me personally it is more important that the music through a given system appears to our senses as natural and believable than a single specification sheet. In the best case both music making capabilities and specification are top. But I've heard a lot of stuff that was sure technologically superior but it made "sound" instead of music.

Best regards

Ron

very well put Ron !

This has to be one of the best threads have read on Audiogon.