MC phono stage without transformer?

I attended one of Roy Gregory's demos of (among other things) equalization issues and their remedy with the Zanden. The differences are not well explain IMHO by merely the vagaries of mastering. I also researched a bit the RIAA standard and when it was adopted, and though 1954-55 is the date the pre-emphasis curve was 'adopted', there are comments that it was not universally used by all until years later, perhaps in some cases more than a decade later.

It is also not implausible that some existing mastering suites were slow to use the RIAA curve, for reasons of cost and convenience. I'm speculating here, but given how well the alternate playback curves worked in improving timbre at the demo, I think these LPs were mastered with the older curves they were used to using. This contention is bolstered a bit by the observation that this isn't found on just a few LPs of the label, but seems pervasive with a label, e.g. DGG recordings of the late 50s and early 60s often seem 'muffled', with apparent roll-offs at the top and too much lower midrange which deadens string tone among other things -- when using RIAA de-emphasis that is. (At some point this changed.) Perhaps it was also assumed that few people would honestly hear the difference, or know why it was there, or there was a concern that loyal customers of the label were already using 'their' playback curve and they didn't want to disturb their customer base.

In any case, I think that for serious collectors who have many non-US recordings of the 50s and 60s, a phono stage with more de-emphasis choices is desirable. Tony Cordesman reached the same conclusion when reviewing the re-do of the Citation I preamp. This unit might be a good choice, though it may lack ultimate clarity and transparency which to me reduces its appeal. YMMV.

Jeff

Dear Plinko: +++++ " What a surprise! " +++++

You have at least one additional option named MM cartridges type that with the right set up could make wonders for your music sound reproduction and you don't need at all any SUT.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

lewm, no such inference should be made from my comments. big apologies! there are no hard and fast rules to defining a music lover. although, i would suggest that if your budget on equipment and music isn't in the stratosphere (90% of audiophiles), then choosing say, a $10K phonostage is choosing the path of the audiophile and not the music lover. additionally, one's system will also have to be comprised of similar statosphere products to achieve full benefit such a costly phono stage. without going the DIY route. and as Atmasphere pointed out, the more resolving your system is, the easier it is to hear the colorations of the transformer. logic would indicate that in most real world yet audiophile based systems, transformer less designs are not a priority. i would also say that $10K for a phonostage is not prohibitive to some. it is prohibitive to most.

i don't know original poster Viper, his/her price range, and whether his/her system is appropriate for one of those stages. did anyone ask?

thanks, I will check out that diy site.

btw, i have no allegiance to transformer less phono stages. in fact, quite the opposite. i have tried three highly regarded stages priced at what I would call the affordable range (less than $3K) and they all were sterile compared to the tubes & transformer sound. The Klyne was the best of them and I could easily live with that one. The others were ASR and Pass. Really nice equipment but not my preference. Both methods can bring great sound. i can't deny the experience of others with very pricey transormerless phono stages. i don't have that experience.

PS. i'm starting to think that if a tree falls and nobody hears it, it didn't fall. and if very few heard said tree fall, the sound it made isn't all that relevant or important.

Hi Raul, back at my level of sonic reproduction, I'm now switching between a DV XX-2/K&K step up and a Ortofon 2M Black thanks in part to your encouragement! Not sure if in my system it makes a difference but the 2M black is cheaper. Both cartridges have their benefits.

Shindo Aurieges Pre with MM ($4K)
Wright AU-15 2A3 push pull ($4K) or Scott LK-150 ($1K)
Devore Gibbon 8 ($2.8K)
Lenco/Rega RB700 (approx $1.5K with plinth)

Many more $Ks must be leftover for records.

Cheers!

Dear Plinko: +++++ " then choosing say, a $10K phonostage is choosing the path of the audiophile and not the music lover. " +++++

As Lew point out both terms: audiophile and music lover can/could " live " at the same time ( like in many many of us ) one of them not exclude the other.
Of course that exist the 100% audiophiles ( many of them with very high price audio systems ) that are not a music lovers ( they only enjoy the " sound " but nor the music. ) and the 100% music lover that does not care about " audio hardware ".

José and I take the DIY route because we first are music lovers than audiophiles and we like/want to enjoy the music ( not only sound ) in the top way that we can.

I don't buy any audio item or build it just to have the the best and latest audio item, I only take that kind of decision ( and the money is not the principal issue about ) only if that item ( new or a modification of what I have ) can improve the enjoyment of the music. Take a look to my system: very " old " items that ( with the right mods and DIY like the Phonolinepreamp ) give me an enormous and wonderful enjoy of music and what music can make in my emotions/feelings.

I always try to enjoy the " software " not the " hardware ", the " hardware " is only a " bad necessity " and the best the hardware ( and your know how about ) the best your music enjoying.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.