MC phono stage without transformer?


A newbie question:

I read a lot of 'reservation' about using an external MC step up transformer to increase the gain of an MM phono stage. But as I searched around for MC phono stages, I noticed that a lot of these actually have internal step-up transformers, some of these transformers are exactly the same as what some people used to make their external step-up.

So if transformer is no good, I should really be looking for an MC phono without the tranformer? Do these exist though?
viper_z
Obviously a limited budget must make compromises. Even the best transformer, perfectly tuned, will reduce peak amplitudes, flatten waveforms and lose low level detail; it's an inevitable consequence of passing an electrical signal by induction. OTOH, a HOMC also reduces peak amplitudes, flattens waveforms and loses low level detail, but for mechanical reasons rather than electrical ones. (The third choice, an LOMC + inexpensive active gain device will also compromise the sound, though in different ways depending on the device.)

Which is least bad? As usual, it comes down choosing the sonic compromises which work best for your ears and system. You can do this the easy but potentially expensive way (buy different stuff and compare) or the hard but less expensive way (develop a strong internal sense of what sounds right, figure out why, then move continuously toward equipment that brings you closer to that goal for reasons you understand). There's no prefab answer to your question IMO. :-(

SOTA is a different matter. It cannot be attained with any transformer we've heard (5 or 6 in all). Core saturation is one audible problem, though it can be somewhat reduced with good materials. Ultrasonic ringing and its audible zone harmonics are another, though they can be tamed with a Zoebel network. What can't be eliminated are the reduction in peak amplitudes, flattening of waveforms and loss of low level detail. Once the rest of a system reaches a certain level these effects become noticeable, especially if you have a SOTA high gain phono stage handy to compare.
Hello forum members ,
I built in the best Jensen xformer in my ARC PH 5 as the Dynavector Te Kaitora has to little output . This combination worked out very well in my system .The cartridge sees also a balanced input .
Sphinx PJ 6 ( Dutch brand ,DD with the same motor as the Goldmund studietto ) with Air bearing ET 2.5 arm .
Greetings from the Netherlands , Hans
Doug,at which University have you been studying?...An embarrasing wealth of knowledge,in the best sense!

Hans,nice to hear from another fellow hobbyist..from afar.

Best
Aw, shucks SirSpeedy! I've met some pretty knowledgeable people here, you included. Correlating what they say with what I hear isn't so hard. What I'm really best at is organizing a structured post. That isn't really knowledge, it's more like bookkeeping. ;-)

Throw in 25 years attendance at the University of Living with Paul, plus 5 years of correspondence classes with the University of Doshi and I realize I *almost* know something. (Neither of them would agree of course!)
Pleeease Doug!!You're too humble,here.Take the compliment,and leave it at that!-:)