Vinyl Asylum

Welcome Licorice Pizza (LP) lovers! Setup guides and Vinyl FAQ.

Return to Vinyl Asylum

MC step up transformer

194.90.163.100
Posted on November 2, 2009 at 01:53:30
Tigro
Audiophile

Posts: 12
Joined: April 16, 2001
 I want to build the Audio Note tube phono stage and having a low output cartridg(0.3mV) I need a step up trafo. I read about Sowter, Jensen,Tribute,Electra Print, Silk Audio(Sachthailand)Arriba(Taiwan),
Luhndal and I don't know what to choose.
Can anyone help?

Regards

Tigro

RE: MC step up transformer, posted on November 4, 2009 at 14:39:51
mothra
Audiophile

Posts: 1799
Joined: August 28, 2001
 If you find a jensen that suits your cartridge I would go for it. I cannot say they outdo the bent or some other very high end stuff, but i did a shoot out years ago with the jensen, altec, sowter and lundhal and the jensen was the least colored sounding.

RE: MC step up transformer, posted on November 3, 2009 at 23:17:38
Tigro
Audiophile

Posts: 12
Joined: April 16, 2001
 In response to Mike C

Thank you for your very valuable answer. I came across rewies of the Luhndal SUT-s in 6moons audio ezine.
My setup is as follows:
Thorens TD325 turntable with TP95 arm
Micro Benz Reference 2 Silver cartridge.
Audionote L2 tube preamp
Antique Sound Lab AQ1008DT monoblocks with Sowter output trafos.

Regards

Tigro

RE: MC step up transformer, posted on November 3, 2009 at 12:33:15
Mike C
Audiophile

Posts: 809
Joined: November 23, 2000
 Hi Tigro,
I'm sure you have searched and found the usual problem which is that some of us have tried perhaps two or three SUTs, but as good ones are expensive it is rare for anyone to try several. Myself, I have tried three extensively in my system. Of these I have a preference, it gives extremely good results and I am unlikely to try any more.

So here's my ratings for what they are worth; I hope they are useful.

The system is Teres (acrylic/lead version), Moerch DP-6 arm and Zyx Airy 3 cartridge; DIY valve phono stage, pre and 300B power amp; DIY speakers well matched to the amp. The system is lively and articulate and performs particularly well on vocals, but plays everything well.

The SUTs:
Lundahl LL9206: not a bad performer; vocals sound good; significantly better than the FET stepup in my Sonic Frontiers phono stage which sounded rough by comparison. Well balanced, does everything well but just not quite as much as the others.
The TXs fit onto normal vero strip board so are not too hard to wire up and install. If you buy the raw TXs and do this, they are very good value.

S&B TX103: A bit more detail than the 9206, and noticeably more dynamics generally and in terms of power in the bass. Seem neutral and high quality.

Lundahl LL1931: As the S&B, this has more detail and a lot more dynamics than the 9206. Well balanced sound, powerful dynamics; also delicate and sensitive, highly musical. Personally I prefer it to the S&B (not by that much) for a slightly more natural sound with delicacy etc but then I like these things; I think someone says 'organic' and I know what they mean. These TXs just seem to go so well with the all valve system and 300B SET amp.

All units were fully run in, were used in my system for some months during which I tried different loadings.

Anyway, I've found a favourite which I am happy to recommend to others. The LL1931's are pricey but bought raw it's not too bad. I am unlikely to try anything else unless something very significantly better comes along ... not too likely, within my price range, I guess.

and yet another possibility (either DIY or plug'n'play), posted on November 2, 2009 at 17:45:42
troporobo
Audiophile

Posts: 1386
Location: Manila
Joined: June 6, 2003
 The Hagerman Piccolo looks like a very good solution, with adjustable gain and loading and the choice of either battery or mains power. You can build it yourself or buy it ready to use.

No affiliation other than as a satisfied customer. The two products that I have acquired and built from Jim have been absolutely first rate with a very high performance/price ratio

Another DIY possibility., posted on November 2, 2009 at 16:22:22
Ugly
Audiophile

Posts: 1421
Location: Des Moines, WA
Joined: August 22, 2006
 I didn't want to spend the money for the hip prepackaged solution du jour. I was able to find two identical old microphone stepup transformers at a greatly reduced price used which had spec sheets that really impressed me and ensure they will do what I need. I guess one day I'll have to hook em up and try em. heheh

RE: Another DIY possibility., posted on November 3, 2009 at 02:15:08
Tigro
Audiophile

Posts: 12
Joined: April 16, 2001
 Dear Ugly (A)
Thanks for your answer. All those trafo brands I mentioned in my thread
send the trafo and you have to build the box with connectors, wiring and plugs.
Mike trafos might be an option but who knows how will they sound with a
MC cartridge ?

Regards

Tigro

RE: Another DIY possibility., posted on November 3, 2009 at 03:02:25
Ugly
Audiophile

Posts: 1421
Location: Des Moines, WA
Joined: August 22, 2006
 I did find a website (linked below) where a guy is using the same model transformers I bought for moving coil phono step up: Beyerdynamic TR/BV 351 015 006. This person compares them to the Denon AU320 which I haven't heard either if it helps. There are also his thoughts about some other mic transformers on that page which he seems to like.

Don't overlook CineMag (pic and link), posted on November 2, 2009 at 05:26:56
Opus 104
Audiophile

Posts: 2721
Location: Northern Virginia
Joined: June 13, 2008
Contributor
  Since: July 20, 2008



My CineMag SUT built by inmate anumber1 (Al)

The 3440A is the one. It works wonderfully with both the Dynavector 20XL and Denon DL-103, feeding a Hagerman Cornet 2 tube phono preamp.


"It was a dark and stormy night. I had taken a creative writing course." – Crow T. Robot, MST 3000.



Thread Stealing Alert, posted on November 2, 2009 at 05:52:28
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 2367
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2009
 Opus, since you've had experience with the CineMag / Dynavector 20XL combination, I'd like to ask what loading you found best for the 20XL.

I just purchased a barely broken in 20XL, with maybe 40 hours on it. I bought the damn thing largely based on all your previous posts, and can't wait to hear it. I'm going to wait until the new phono stage is broken in though, then I'll be mounting it in place of the Denon 103R. One change to the system at a time, and all that.

Since I'm using CineMags too, I'd like to know what loading you found optimum.

Thanks.

The 37.5 Ohm tap on the CineMag sounds great., posted on November 2, 2009 at 07:39:00
Opus 104
Audiophile

Posts: 2721
Location: Northern Virginia
Joined: June 13, 2008
Contributor
  Since: July 20, 2008
 Dynavector just recommends greater than 30 Ohms. I tried the 150-Ohm tap and the difference was very subtle, but I preferred the 37.5 Ohm tap.


"It was a dark and stormy night. I had taken a creative writing course." – Crow T. Robot, MST 3000.


No internal (or external) resistor change at all?, posted on November 2, 2009 at 07:51:47
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 2367
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2009
 Other than the resistance of the transformer itself, I mean?

Thanks.

Nope. 37.5 and 150 Ohms are stock taps off the Xformers., posted on November 2, 2009 at 09:41:58
Opus 104
Audiophile

Posts: 2721
Location: Northern Virginia
Joined: June 13, 2008
Contributor
  Since: July 20, 2008
 At first Al installed a two pairs of binding posts to allow for resistor installation, but I liked the stock taps fine so I had him remove them. I like to keep low level signal circuits to a minimum in regard to mechanical connections as evidenced by the captive ICs I had Al use (Cardas). I'm a big KISS fan in that regard.






"It was a dark and stormy night. I had taken a creative writing course." – Crow T. Robot, MST 3000.


Thank you sir! (nt), posted on November 2, 2009 at 12:10:18
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 2367
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2009

Page processed in 0.051 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2009, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ] [ Go Green ] [ Take5 ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]