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.
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.