SUT decision: Ortofon Verto vs Ortofon STA6600L

Dear Pani: ++++++ " I have noticed that even with a cheap vintage Ortofon SUT there is a clear improvement in terms of musical flow and drama when compared with using the phonostage standalone. " +++++

IMHO a good designed and excecuted active high gain PS normally outperform a SUT. It is not easy to find out that well designed/excecuted PS. Probably your unit is not on that league.

Now, your Skala is a good performer and deserve the best amplification alternative.

A SUT is not a rocket science and forgeret about those transformer names as the ones you named. I think that if you want to experience the SUT alternative then there are some things you need to be informed.

If I was you I will look for a Denon unit. Denon is a dedicated ( for sevral years that I can't remember when started. ) manufacturer not only of first rate electronics and digital equipment but more important first rate: TT, tonearms, SUT, LP recording and especially cartridges ( mainly LOMC ones. ). IMHO these people knows exactly the cartridge needs by first hand experiences.

A good example of Denon knowledge level and skills on the SUT regards is the AU-1000, a stae of the art work. This " bay " weights 12 kg and its frequency response goes from 5 hz to 200 khz, this fr spec is critical when we are talking of SUT's. The AU-1000 is a vintage one but today you can get Denon newes design: AU-S1.

Now, you can get first quality performance with a Denon AU-340 after some modifications you must do it.
What do you get with the AU-340?:

a SUT that permit you connect two different cartridges/tonearms ( two internal transformers for each channel. ) at the same time, each one can be loaded in independent way for 3 ohms or 40 ohms and obviously with each one diffrent gain and additional to these in both cases you can by-pass to use a MM/MI cartridge with.
So, this kind of flexibility makes that unit a welcomed user friendly SUT.

Is there any problem with this kind of vintage units?, yes: internal quality wiring and input/output quality of the connectors and that's why I said: " with modifications ".

As the SUTs are not a rocket science neither the modifications. Simple as to unsoldered, solder and carefully ( make a diagram for you can know wich wire goes where and connect with. ) when you ( or a technician ) do it.

Of course that here you have another advantage that's that you choose the IC cable and its kind of quality connectors ( RCA or XLR. ) quality you want or match the best your audio system signature.
Those input and output IC cables must be soldered directly to the Denon inside board and from there directly to your PS and tonearm(s).

Other good alternative is the Entré ET-100 that permit not two but three toneamr/cartridges, by-pass on each one and three different loads and gain on each one.

IMHO these vintage alternatives not only even the best today ones but in several ways outperform it. I know because I own it and already heard it against other vintage SUTs and today ones.

I started a process to know at what level could be possible to go with SUTs against active high gain units. The ones I modified ( Audiocraft between others. ) told me that we have " something " here.

Don't worry that today SUT design advocates can tell you that the today core ( niquel ) or other SUT build material are way better because is not true: are different but not necesary better. You want niquel well you can get in a Luxman unit for less than 500.00. Do you want silver? well you can get for over 5k+ dollars on the Audio Note ( the AU-1000 beats it. ) or an Ortofon 3000 for 1K.

+++ " Check A.Dudley? " ++++, who is he? what knows he that you or me did not?

I forgot, Audio Technica was and is an especialist on analog too with real good vintage and today SUTs designs: you can check it.

regards and enjoy the music,
R.

Obviously that Ortofon is very good alternative. I think that you need to know exactly what you want about the SUT flexibility on load impedances and gain because today you have the Skala but maybe in the future your needs could be different.

Ortofon has a vintage and today alternatives depending on your needs. Other than the Verto you can look for the t-2000, t-3000, t-5000, etc, etc.

R.

Dear Pani: I don't know but because your thread could be that you are not satisfied by the RCM and as Dover said maybe is time to change it.

The RCM does not needs a SUT to handle any LOMC cartridge and if a cheap SUT ( your words ) outperform it then you are in " trouble ".

A well designed and executed active high gain phonolinepreamp is an expensive unit, only your wallet could tell you on a change about.

In the other side and if you want to add that SUT your RCM can handle with the options I nemed because the Denon and Entré/Audio Technica lower gain option gives you 20db with a load impedance of 40 ohms. Your RCM handle 8 mv, so you don't have problem with but as Dover posted you have to check with other SUTs.

The J.Carr post is useful on the regards.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.

but depends on the unit overload margin at each gain. Maybe the best idea be to contact directly to RCM asking for advise on what you are trying to do.

R.

Pani: You have to take care to even SPL when you are doing comparisons because small differences in SPL couild be take it by our brain as : more alive or dull sound when the only difference in reality is that SPL difference.

An example of that could be and you can test trhough your RCM: load your cartridge at 1 kohms and then change it at 50 ohms: other than difference in frequency response you will have a lower SPL at 50 ohms set up. When you change to n external SUT you have to be sure to even the SPL.

R.