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Advice on SUT for Koetsu Rosewood - EAR MC-4, Slagle/EMIA, other

I recently tried a friend's Sound Traditions Hashimoto hm7 transformer-based sut and overall the sound was substantially more Dynamic and alive and generally better than my current Berning preamp MC section. The problem was the images were just so large and the presentation a little too forward for my tastes. I am thinking a different Sut such as the EAR MC- 4 or an Intact Audio (Slagle) Step Up Transformer, copper.

Has anyone used these Sut's and could advise about whether they might do what I'm looking for? I'm hoping to add more dynamics and life but I do prefer a slightly laid-back presentation to a forward one and I don't want giant instruments in the soundstage. I listen to mostly old Jazz and Blues with some rock and classical mixed in. I am not looking for the last word in in treble detail or "air" and my biggest sonic priorities are organic , rich mids, good sounstaging, and a realistic tonal balance that does not accentuate the top end as so many components seem to do (IMHO). So I guess I am looking for a sut with a reputation for musicality and richness, without javing a forward sound. But I would love somethng as amazing sounding as the Hashimoto HM-7 based SUT.

My system is a Koetsu Rosewood Signature (.4mv), Jelco 850M on a Sota Star Sapphire, Berning all-tube bespoke capacitance coupled preamp (46 dB gain on the MM stage, Jensen transformers on the moving coil stage), Quicksilver v4 monos, Verity Audio Pafisals.

Thanks for any thoughts.


montaldo

Showing 6 responses by tomwh

tomwh
150 posts
 
Talk to Dave.  I have his lcr and Avc stuff.  You are a tube guy and obviously  know what real music sounds like.   Have him build it you can swap  out load resistors.   Then you can find tune any carts you have or will get in the future.

Also the copper , for you , might be a better fit than  silver.  General  rule silver little more detail , copper  more body.

Enjoy the ride
Tom
tomwh
150 posts
 
Can you build any electronics yourself?  A SUT is probably the easiest thing to do.  Then you could try alot of different sut's on the cheap.  Lundal and cinemags also have multiple windings for various ratios.  They all sound different so you can play to voice it to your system.

Dave's intact unit is probably great with the midrange.  He built  stack 57 quads with custom amps.  Need I say more about Jazz/blues  reproduction.

The numbers do not tell alot of the story when it comes to real music.  You have to experiment.  From your original post you showed you are not looking for HI FI, just real music.  

Enjoy the ride
Tom
tomwh
150 posts
 
Mike the the formation so far has been confusing at best.  You might be best served talking again to Dave at intact and call Kevin at K+K audio.  The ratio of the step up is squared then divided into the 47,000 resistor.  So 10 to 1 is 10x10=100 then 47,000÷100=470.  So the cart is seeing a 470 ohm load.  There are ways to parallel resistors to lower that value but not increase it.  The cap is use if you want a zobel network.  Some guys like others do not.  

If you really want total control with step up ratios and cart loading you need have your friend bypass the 47,000 and play with various resistors externally.  Then when have what you want you could replace the 47k with the new value.  If you sell the phono stage latter you could put back the 47k.

Without total control of the step up and loading you never really know what your cart is capable of.  And of course the transformers also have a sound of their own. 

Maybe Dave or Kevin will build you a sut box that you can plug in different resistors and easily change step up ratios.  Then bypass the 47k in the phono stage and you are good to go.

Enjoy the ride
Tom
tomwh
150 posts
 
Dave I am confused on the second variable.  Or what you can do to the transformer to make the cartridge  not need loading.

Let's say you have 5 ohm cart.  We use the 10x rule so 50 ohms is a ballpark load.  We have no input resistor on the phono amp.  Can you build a transformer say 1 to 20 to meet that 50 ohm need.

Or to put it another way on a 1 to 20 step up,  what is the load  variance window you can get by material and or winding?

Thanks Tom
tomwh
150 posts
 
Montaldo it is great to hear your happy.  Dave knows his stuff and can obviously hear music.  He can do all the math and graphs, but when he is done he listens.

Part of the sound difference is in the materials and the build.  Loading and step up are also in the equation.  You changed multiple variables at the same time.  Dave may jump in with some more thoughts.  You may have got lucky and the ballpark is as goods as it gets.  Regardless you seem to be excited about the results so enjoy.

Enjoy the ride
Tom

tomwh
150 posts
 
Thanks Dave

It is one more variable in the 100's so we can black art our way to audio nirvana.  If you are out at a west coast event let the forum's know.  To hear your modified stacked 57's would be a delight!!!

Enjoy the ride 
Tom
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