Dear Kleech:Why I already told that a step up transformer degrades the quality of the sound/signal reproduction ? .
Well: for you can use a step up transformer you have to have a preamp with a built in phono stage ( RIAA equalization ), like yours.Now, your preamp is a low gain unit in the phono stage and you need an out board step up transformer for you can listen to a low output moving coil cartridge.Imagine, for a moment, that your preamp has a high gain phono stage: then you don't need the step up transformer and the sound reproduction of the signal it will be more directly and the quality of that sound reproduction is far better than in the step up transformer way.
If you use a step up transformer you are putting an additional stages in the signal chain ( the signal goes over many meters of wire inside the transformer, has to go over additional conectors/cables, the transformer adds it owns distortions, it will be phase shift and more contamination in the signal, etc. ) so ALWAYS degrades the signal.
Now, maybe you like this colored sound, but this don't means that the quality of the sound is better with the step up transformer than with out it.
So the issue here is what are you looking for: this colored sound or the best quality sound/chain reproduction for the music. If you are a music lover then you have to choose the second option.
My advice for everyone is that always have an " open mind " about the audio/home system.
You have to try a preamp with a high gain phonostage, and in this way you can find, hear and understand all these issue. Maybe you like it or maybe not, but this is the only way to conserve in purest form the very delicate signal that comes from the phono cartridge and remember that your reference always has to be: Live Music, not other audio system.
The reproduction of the music at home is very complex task and has many issues. Every day I'm learning about it. My target is , time to time, been closer to the live music, or at least don't stay so far from it.
I'm a music lover, once time I was an audiophile: not anymore.
Best regards.
Raul.