Choosing the right SUT for my setup

I have a SUT that has been built for me using Cinemag 1254's, I also have Hashimoto SUT produced by the same person.

I most enjoy the presentation of the Cinemag, they are less rich than the Hashimoto, but it is difficult to describe the Hashimoto as rich, it the only SUT in use. For the delicacy and refined presentation, the Hashimoto nails it.

Both the above SUT's can be said to have a variance of rich hue in their presentation when compared to a Head Amp.

I have owned a few SS Phon's, a Valve Hybrid Phon, and a Valve Input/Output Phon', I have the two Valve models maintained as keepers.

Additionally whilst on the Phon' Quest, I have experienced through demonstrations, quite a few Phonostages at Bake Off's over the years.

I have heard compared to each other a wide selection of SS Phon's with a 'in built' MC Stage, along with multiple Valve Hybrids and lesser Valve Input/Output.

Not all SS Phon's are equal, I say that with asurity, many topologies are similar and there is a much of a muchness experience encountered, these designs can soon be discovered to not leave too much of a positive impression. Occasionally there are SS Phon's encountered, that are produced using a different topology, and certain models, be it from a Brand or a DIY Build can make a impactful impression and one I would like to experience in my home system. I wouldn't hesitate to try these as a MM > SUT vs the 'in built' MC Stage.

I am yet to discover a Valve Hybrid following a demonstration at a Bake Off, that has made myself want to use it in my home system. The MC Stage does not deliver in a way that I find impressive, and similar designed, but differing models all have a related sonic signature, especially when Jfets are in use. These designs have not conjured up the desire to bypass the Jfet and use the MM > SUT.

My own Hybrid has a different design to a Jfet for the MC Stage, it has a Transformer and has also has been Tube Rolled, I use this most commonly with a SUT, but as it has a multi adjustment function on the MC Stage, I will occasionally use it with a Cart' and produce various settings to see what can be achieved. The Phon' has been given up for extended loan periods and the users have ended up adding a SUT. 

The Valve Input/Output Phon' I use, is a Bespoke Built Design and has developed through a few build guises.  There is an 'earlier prototype version' that has been demonstrated in a Bake Off where Phon's were present up to five figures, it held its own in this Company.  The version I is the latest version with a selection of components in use of my choice. It was also discussed to have an 'in built' MC Stage, but I was reluctant, as I knew the options for it and it seemed limiting to my requirements. I chose to remain MM and have a large selection of SUT's and Head Amp's to experience.

The Valve Input/Output Phon' that I was recently demonstrated the Structure A SUT's through is the referred to 'earlier prototype version' of my own one, hence my keenness to have a home demonstration when up and running once more with the system. 

My experiences of using a SUT and Head Amp in A/B comparisons leads me to suggest that Head Amp's I have used, are best described, as being transparent and the SUT's I have used can be perceived as being Noticeably Rich, Rich, or having a Hue of Richness.

These variations in how a Step Up device presents, allows for a lot of options for a user increase their enjoyment during listening, as their is a option to select a device that will present very closely to their unique tastes and preferred presentation.

If building from scratch, I would advise if using RCA Phono Connectors to consider using designs that are Low Eddy on both Cables and Chassis Connectors.

I am still scratching my head, trying to comprehend the science, about the really positive impression made from being demonstrated the effect of these Connector Types vs Standard Types in use recently.

It is enough to make myself believe there is more to be attained from my own system.

@jctyler Selecting the ideal ratio ?:??, is one part of the selection ratio.

SUT's have a sonic signature, I have been demonstrated quite a few models and own a few models as well.

A range from delivering a very rich, Bass Dominant through to a Hue of Rich, with a balance across the frequency range is to presented from different models.

A Head Amp is the Antithesis of the SUT, the models I have been demonstrated and compared to a SUT are Transparent as a comparison, and can be anchored to a certain range of the frequency where it is perceived as being noticeably present, or alternatively balanced across the frequency range.

It is best to learn which areas of the Cart's frequency range is wanted to be exploited or contained.

A 103r with increased richness presented through a SUT with this sonic trait, might create excessive Bass Bloom, if used through a Cabinet Speaker of a Vintage Design.       

At present when commenting on experiences encountered and the impression made through demonstrations that the New Devices able to offer, I wish the demonstrations had been on my own system, I would feel this method would produce an undoubted assessment and asurity to my comments due to having been able to live with the devices for a period of time.

My HiFi system is being put into storage and is only partially assembled, with CD being the immediate available Source Material.

I have become over the past few months, dependant on visiting homes of friends and experiencing their systems, along with New Devices supplied for demonstration purposes. 

I am a Tube Device user myself and every so often get the chance to listen to very modern designs for Solid State devices..

quite Recently I have been offered demonstrations of Two Phonostages on two separate occasions.

One being the Phasemation E-350 and the other being a model referred to as the 'Avalon', which is a Bespoke Built MC/MM Design by a very accomplished Electronics Engineer with more than 40 years using LP as their main replays and with a selection of their own designs for use with a Vinyl LP Source.

Each of these Phon's during the demonstrations have made an extremely good impression and very memorable and worthy of informing others about.

Even though the two SS Phon's were not compared side by side, the demonstrations were carried out in short succession and the recollected information was enough to produce a assessment that both were very capable and will need a vast jump in design to be seen as easily bettered.

Here is the interesting bit on the day the Phasemation E-350 was demonstrated, there were two Structure A SUT's and a Degauss Device brought along as well,to be used with the E-350 and a Bespoke Built Valve Input/Output Phonostage.

A Pure Silver SUT to work at 100 Ohms and a Copper SUT with a ratio specifically produced to match the in use Miyajima Shilabe were the Structure A  models to be used.

A degauss was carried out between each of the Demonstrations, to keep the trial with fair lore.

The E-350 was Brand New, as said was exemplary in performance delivered as a SS MC Stage.

Next Up was the E-350 with the the Copper SUT. The impression this combination made was immediate and notable, not at any time can I recollect a replay appearing so effortless, it was as if constraints were removed music was supplied with an ease.

When the Silver SUT was added, this had a projection and a room filling presence in all dimensions of the Soundstage. It caught the attention of all attendees and was appraised in good favour. I felt it had a force in the presentation compared to the Copper version, and detecting this was a detractor.

The question was how the E-350 would compare in the MC Section after a few hundred hours of usage.

The Valve Phon' is one I am very familiar with, I have heard from the day it arrived, I have been party to Tube Rolling experiences, and have been demonstrated it in use with a variety of SUT's and Head Amps.

The resident SUT was used first to get a grounding on how it is usually presenting.

Next in use was the Copper SUT, this blew me away, the ease that was noticed in comparison to the SS Phon' was now so bewildering to comprehend, it was in my mind better than any other replay I have heard in this system.

The Silver was quite similar in comparison to the SS when in use, it took on a room filling presence in all dimensions of the Soundstage, where it was different was in the Voluminous perception it conjured, one attendee made the statement 'now they really know what ethereal means'.   

The Copper was the one for me on the day, it just sounded so correct due to the effortless presentation and dare I say it correct matching.

I can advise the use of Phon' with a inbuilt MC Section, there has been good impressions left from experiencing these designs, I own a Valve Hybrid with a built in MC as my second Phon' and it is a keeper.

When the system is up and running once more, I know a Brand of SUT I will be putting to a home trial.

It is not possible for myself to advise to others to avoid the use of a SUT when experiences such as the one encountered above has been achieved.

Ones ears are the best Judge in these matters, in my view any other methods used to evaluate, where a demonstration is not achieved, is theory or fantastical evaluation.     

  

The individual with the Sculpture A SUT's made it known the Company is willing to wind a Transformer to a Bespoke Ratio. 

@artemus_5  I don't usually buy into a Consumer Product anymore, most of what I own is produced for me as a unique item. This as a purchase method does not  discount me from being a Consumer, it is that the products are not purchased as are the usual methods and are not items from a mass produced assembly.

The most important part of this hobby for me today is the social side, I carry out more social arranged listening now, the idea of shutting the door of a room and listening in isolation is a rare happening. The benefits for myself through being social in this hobby  is that a selection of the arranged social events are with a theme, and this allows for new musical encounters, and sometimes with unfamiliar equipment that can be very impressive.

 Through being demonstrated various devices over time, it is inevitable that a device might be stumbled on that makes a big impression. It is also inevitable that such a device might catapult itself into being an item of interest.

If such an item of interest is able to be home trialed, then all the better for broadening the experience, it does not detract from the enjoyment of the music being replayed, it usually reinforces the reason why this hobby was to be come a mainstay. What usually occurs through encountering unfamiliar equipment,  is that in certain cases a new flavour is supplied to the music that is already much enjoyed, and a preference for how a music is to be replayed can be expanded on .

A fixed, rigid viewpoint does not allow for these encounters to occur, an open mind is best to produce experiences that are the most fruitful, an 'inquisitive nature' and 'what if' approach is a valuable attitude and a route to make new discoveries.

I am not thinking of myself as an audiophile in the basic description anymore, I see this type in my mind and older practices used by myself are more solitary and insular in the activities around music replays.

I today view myself as more of a collaborator. I function very contented within a Group of likeminded enthusiasts who like myself, have a history within HiFi of experiencing a large variety of HiFi equipment and a love of recorded music replays as a shared interest. It is nice to know individuals who are all proud of still owning a Vinyl LP that is 40ish years owned and still proud to play it. These same individuals are as at home with CD and Streaming, so there is plenty to keep a Group on their toes.