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Shelter owners using SUT - share observations?

I'm using a 901 and recently acquired an EAR 324. Using the MC input set to 15 Ohm, I found the sound to be slightly flat, but with the 4 Ohm, things really came to life and I lost a touch of soundstage width for a lot of soundstage depth. Vocals were especially more dimensional than I have ever heard in my system.

I was previously running at 100 Ohm into a regular phono stage.

Given that the internal impedence of the Shelters (I think most of them) is 20 Ohm, what gives?

I know that the MC input of the 324 is similar to the MC3. Does 5 Ohm really mean something else?

Thanks,
Ben
128x128pureretro
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pureretro OP
4 posts
 
Just as I figured - "a starting point". Well, it's like getting a new cart with all these settings, eh? ;-)
danwkw's avatar
danwkw
75 posts
 
Hi, Pureretro.
The "nominal" DC resistance of a stock Shelter 901 is 14 ohms and recommended load impedances are <20 ohms(with SUT) and <100 ohms(with MC phono stage)according to its manual. In my system, 10-20 ohms SUT(e.g.Phase Tech T-3, 26 dB gain approx.)loading sounds closer to my reference, MY Sonic Lab Ultra Eminent BC using its own Stage 302 SUT(for 1-6 ohms MC carts, 22dB gain @2 ohm).

"Things really came to life" may be due to more gain(higher step-up ratio) at 4 ohm SUT loading. Try to play more classical musics with various SUT loadings. It's easier to determine whether the width and depth of soundstaging is closer to ideal.

In my system, if there is something wrong with the soundstage, it could sometimes be solved by changing cart loadings, relocating the loudspeakers & listening position, etc. This is just my opinion.

Dan
gundam91
506 posts
 
Hi Dan,

Wow, a MySonicLab Ultra Eminent! I've been lusting over one for a few years now. I had a chance to buy one when I was in Japan a few years ago, but I didn't. And now the value of USD has fallen, and I've been kicking myself for making the wrong decision back then.....

FrankC
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danwkw
75 posts
 
Hi, FrankC
In my opinion, MY Sonic Lab Ultra Eminent BC is a very good LOMC cart(but there's no "perfect" cart or stuff like that...) and could compete with the best cart designs on the market if used with matching gears...just a bit more demanding on SUT/phono stage when those are not designed for MC with such ultra low internal impedances.

They have just launched a new SUT(Stage 1030) with 26dB gain(1 ohm) specially designed for Ultra Eminent BC and Eminent GL(new). Stage 302 is, as they said, better suited for Eminent, Hyper Eminent, and Air Tight PC-1's line(also made by MY Sonic Lab). Is it a marketing technique? Hmmmm....let's wait and see:)

Dan
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