Dynavector XV1-S and step-up

So you need to step up the voltage by a factor of 10 (from .3mV to 3mV). You can select a SUT with that information. The reflected impedance is related to the square of the turns ratio. With a 10:1 transformer, the impedance seen by the cartridge will be equal to 47K divided by 100, or 470 ohms. Some might say this is a little high for the Dynavector. For best results, you would replace the 47K load resistors with 10K load resistors, so the Dyna would see 100 ohms (10,000 divided by 100). Or,if you don't want to remove the 47Ks, you can calculate the value of the parallel resistance needed to reduce the net resistance to 10K, if you want the Dyna to see 100 ohms. I get 12.7K ohms as the value of that resistance.

In my opinion, gain is not the most important issue in choose the right step-up; the difference in gain of a 1:10 (20dB) to a 1:20 (26dB) step-up are really not that big. 6dB is easily compensated by the volume control. Also, it really depends on what gain your line stage has, some have 6dB, some 10dB some as high as 23dB. Gain is important but it is not the central issues in selecting the right step-up.

When selecting step-ups I would rather focus on the correct loading - The XV-1 has an internal impedance of 6 Ohm and Dynavector recommends 30 Ohm loading which is about right. A 1:20 step-up achieves a reflected loading of 117 Ohm. With a 22 KOhm additional resistor on the secondary (i.e. 15KOhm total loading) you get 37 Ohm. Certainly in the same transformer with more taps, I most often preferred the tap that gives the right loading without using extra resistors, irrespective of gain.

Finally different step-up are designed with different secondary load impedance in mind, loading a 1:10 at 10 KOhm may not necessarily ideal. Instead loading on the primary (i.e. before the step-up) may be preferred. To make a long story short, a 1:10 may work or not and so may a 1:20. The best result is in trying.

Also, does anyone have any practical experience with different step-ups for the XV-1?

Restock, I take no issue with what you say. I was trying to keep the response as bone simple as possible. Your experience with SUTs is obviously more extensive than mine, especially since my hands-on experience is zero. BTW, I think the OP said that the recommended load is >30 ohms, not 30 ohms. Most would use about 100 ohms, which is why I wrote what I wrote. Carry on.

Thanks guys - appreciate all this. Have to read the posts at least 2-3 times, but am starting to get it. Good education.