What's a good step-up transformer?

You might want to try K+K audio's kit. It only requires a couple of solder joints and you can set it up for 5/10/20 times the gain. It only 199.00 and it uses lundal transformers. It sounds great.

Regards Tom

How much is the unit by Cotter? Where can I find out more information about the Cotter unit? I couldn't find the company's website.

FrankC

I have seen a couple of Cotters for sale and they are around a grand. You can buy a new Audio Note for less than a grand (not silver, of course). There is a Kondo S9 Transformer on Audiogon now at 1700/bo; if you can afford it you could probably pick it up for a price that would allow you to use it and then sell it for not much less than what you paid for it as the major depreciation has taken place at the prior owner's expense.

EAR also makes a nice transformer you can buy new but it somewhere between 500 and a grand is my recollection.

There is an Audio Innovations transformer for 200/offer. That is the company where Peter Qvortrup worked at prior to doing the Audio Note UK business. Might be worth checking into.

Frank, Cotter has been out of business since the 80's. You can only get used or NOS units. They do typically go for about a grand, as stated above. They are very good sounding units, though. However, they are difficult to change cartridge loads on, and you have to perform some surgery, and have the correct jumper diagram. I have the diagram if you need it.

While not strictly a step up transformer, the Dynavector PHA-100 head amp is very good. It also has a cartridge impedance matching switch. Wally of Wally tractor fame put me onto it.
It is transparent to the source and adds a degree of bass slam compared to just using my premier 15.

cheers