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step up transformer for clearaudio

I have a clearaudio concerto cart with a balance phono stage. It is a dedicated mc only phono stage. Is it safe for me to use a step up transformer without overloading the phono stage? I have tried the ortofon verto with great results but i dont want to continue using it unless im sure it is safe from overloading.
csr827
csr827 OP
6 posts
 
How would i know the overload spec of my clearaudio phono stage? All i know is that it has a 58db gain and input impedance of 5oo ohms/270 pf . Max output is 12v(1hz). Please help if you know the computations to my phono stage overload spec. . Also if im overloading it, will it be obvious immediately or will i hear the distortions with repeated use of the step up? Thanks
axelwahl
788 posts
 
Csr827,
+++ How would i know the overload spec of my clearaudio phono stage?+++

By looking up the spec. sheet, or if not in the spec. sheet asking the man that makes the stuff, no?

Greetings,
Axel
dertonarm
1,042 posts
 
Hi Csr827, it will be obvious audible if you overload the input. The sound will be unbearable thin, distorted and somehow "breathless" (in a most negative sense of the word) and it will be obvious that something is entirely "wrong".

Get the manufacturer contacted and ask him about the maximum allowed input voltage in the phono input.
He should know the answer within 5 seconds, as this is one of the key parameters of any phono stage worth the name.

But please keep in mind, that the influence of a SUT is diminishing with increased source output of the MC. You already have a medium to high output MC. Don't expect even a well matched SUT to make a difference like night and day. What you will get is increased dynamic, punch and "inner gain" (in the sense of more power, as if you are running your car with the next more powerful engine..).
But these effects will be rather small.
rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear Larry: +++++ " any form of active amplification adds noise whereas an SUT does not add noise. " +++++

IMHO your statement is a misunderstood. There is no perfect electronic devices ( pasive or active ). Any SUT has its own distortions ( colorations, noise, inaccuracies, etc, ) as an active amplification.
Which one makes lesser degradation to a cartridge signal?, this deppend on the design and the execution of that design and how you mate it to the cartridge.

So, IMHO your statement makes no sense or means that you don't understand almost nothing about. There is a lot of posts in this forum about SUT and active phono stage amplification, so I don't want to repeat what you can read anywhere in the forum.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
acoustat6
357 posts
 
Raul said to Larryi, "So, IMHO your statement makes no sense or means that you don't understand almost nothing about."

The always tactful and all knowing Raul. Raul this is why I love you.

Bob
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