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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 ?
shmelev_dm
alonski
158 posts
 
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!
leemark
21 posts
 

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

leemark
21 posts
 

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

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,116 posts
 

@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).

bobsdevices
104 posts
 

Your Audio Research has 47dB of gain in MM mode. That is a bit higher than a normal MM phono that has 40db.  You  also did not specify which Urushi you have. It is important to know that so you can get the proper match.

 

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