When using the Koetsu MC step-up which ARC inputs (low or high) did you plug into?
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Best MC step up transformer
I am trying to find the MC transformer for my system. Now I am using Koetsu Urushi + Audio Research Phono Ref 1 with Jensen inside. The sound is pretty good but as always I wanna make it better. I've tryed to use old Koetsu MC step up trans but was unhappy about it. The sound was dull, not clear. When I've looked through ebay and audiogon, I've recognized that they are a lot of unknown for me variants (from 6k$ kondo to 100-200 $). Could you advise the best variant from quality/price point of view ?
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Transformer Design is based on perfection and knowledge, based on that , their differences are huge. Some of the better ones are made from Cotter, Fidelity Research and Jensen. Most out there do change the sound (color), it can be depressing to work with them, I had also the ones from Koetsu, EAR ... really everything but neutral. Good luck. The Kondo SFz is indeed one of the better ones, but the pricing is "special" :-) You can try to find a technician who replaces your Jensen with those from Jensen's best (no Manufacturer offers top quality here, why should they cut their profit...)..or you buy a better cartridge :-) |
I'm using a Tribute SUT, the current version (with a bigger core) to interface between TSD15 and EAR834. Fantastic performer...lot's of interesting emotional moments delivered. I've checked it with a lab mesuring equipment: flat, no resonances anywhere=safe to use. The real drawback is the waitig time... I'm thinking about a second cart-SUT. Has anyone tried Silvercore SUT's? Esp. mc25 in 100% silver against LL1941Ag? |
I also have Bob's devices top of the line (with Cinemag 1131 tranny's) and it is far more transparent with a larger soundstage than any of the good SUT's that most build into their preamps.... Unfortunately you are going to find that some individuals do not think that SUT's are the way to go. (Reminds me a little of the tube vs SS debate). There are some MC preamps that do a very good job but from a design standpoint it is extremely difficult to properly amplify very low impedence MC's as they behave as a low voltage/high current (relatively speaking) device. It's generally agreed that the best way to convert current into voltage (or vice a versa) is with a transformer. Unfortunately the interaction between the low output MC and the phono preamp input is a tricky one. Although the quality of the step up is important it is all for naught if you don't present a load that the cartridge likes. IME the difference in sound quality of various tranny's (with a properly loaded MC) is very subtle in comparison to a SUT that is not loading the cartridge correctly which is a big reason why the tranny's are available in different step up ratio's and it also explains why most Japenese tranny's switches refer to ohms not to amplification factor. |
Wrm57 The Sonus Veritas Venice is available now. Contact Kevin or Joe, I'm sure either one would be more than happy to set you up with one. And here's a heads up for all K&K phono pre owners: Kevin has a new upgrade in the works that is absolutely killer! This will apply to every phono pre (Art Audio vinyl ref., and Venice too) he has ever sold. So, keep an eye on his forum for an announcement. |
Dear Syntax, no voodoo here. Kevin doesn't believe in it. By changing an active device to one with a different transfer function you can effect a real change. Not the usual audiofool crap. In this case existing JFETs are swapped for MOSFETs at the input. I have been listening to the change for almost 3 weeks now, playing with the bias to find the "sweet spot", and can report that in some ways the change is quite profound. Gone are all traces of the somewhat "wiry" JFET sound; replaced by a more open, nuanced tube-like sound. However, if you are a fan of the JFET sound this mod may not be for you. |
Hey Jjrenman, Well said. Even considering the excellent parts quality in the preamp I tested it with, when you replace a GOOD element in the delicate MC signal path (say, the designer chose an in-built $200 output transformer) with a GREAT $1200 SUT, there's simply no contest. It's probably akin to replacing a $5000 preamp with phono with a $20,000 preamp with phono. And yes, ONLY if your cart likes it. Mine does. Bob made sure of that when I ordered it... No guesswork! |
I have tried just about every transformer out there over the years. The Verion Cotter is at the very top. Lately Quicksilver is making a tremendous unit for a very reasonable price. The Old Denon au 340 is also very good but must be modified to be at its best. I did not like the lundahls. They were highly colored and measured poorly. Also regardless of what people say microphone transformers are deficienct in the midrange and are thick sounding. The best are usually unobtainable. A very good bet is the Music first which uses the Stevens and Billington tx103s. Expensive though |
Least money expenditure is the Quicksilver. Order with RCA's on both sides. No captive cables. Then grab .5 meter of the Neotech two conductor 22 awg solid silver interconnect and build your own cable if possible.In my experience all coax wire is inferior to two conductor with shield wire. The Neotech is very low cap also |
@shmelev_dm Whatever transformer you get, keep in mind that loading it correctly will be the key to getting it to sound/perform correctly. This is why the spec sheet as @syntax points out is so important. Jensen Transformers has a pdf file that shows the correct loading for their transformers (which is a thing that changes depending on the impedance of the cartridge). |
The best, well thats debatable. As mentioned by leemark, the legendary Stevens and Billington tx103 SUT's are as good as it gets. But you can only buy them through Music First now in their own device. I owned the Bent Audio SUT's that used the Stevens and Billington tx 103's. Long out of production and hard to find on the used market. Very high on the "cool factor" and exceptionally well made. If you can afford it, the Ypsilon Moving Coil Transformer is as good as your going to get in whats available retail. Used, almost never find a used one.
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