2. analog
  3. 190271-110858

Do I Need A SUT

I recently moved from a PS Audio BHK Reference pre amp to an LTA ZTOL pre amp.  I found the LTA pre amp to be more detailed slightly warmer and it just sounded better in my system.  I also noticed a big difference in the output volumes between my digital rig and my analog rig. At the same volume level, my turntable volume is now much lower than my streamer volume, as opposed to the way it was before.

Analog gear - Technics SL-1200G turntable w/ Ortofon Quintet Black cartridge and PS Audio Stellar phono pre.  Digital gear: Innous Zenith MK2, Matrix DDC, and PS Audio DirectStream DAC MK2.  Power amp: PS Audio BHK250.  Speakers: Tannoy DC8-Ti.

Before, I used all Transparent Super XLR balanced interconnects, except for the turntable RCA cable into the phono pre.  Now, the only balanced cable is from my DAC to the ZTOL, which has only one XLR input.  I replaced my Transparent XLR interconnects with Transparent super RCA interconnects.

Do I need a SUT to get a higher level of sound at a lower volume setting?  My budget is $1,500.  I know nothing about SUTs other than what I've read. I'm considering the Ortofon ST-7.  Recommendations welcomed.

oldschool1948

Showing 3 responses by lewm

lewm
13,510 posts
 

There is no particular reason to worry that the attenuators need to be set differently for analog vs digital, unless you’re prone to forget to turn down the volume before switching from analog to digital and fear speaker damage. Otherwise I personally set up analog gain for max SQ regardless of high level inputs.

lewm
13,510 posts
 

I am guessing you meant you’re setting the input impedance of the Stellar at 60 ohms, not 60 Hz. Also, I think the LTA is a single-ended device, so no matter what inputs or outputs you use going in to the LTA, the signal out of the LTA is SE

lewm
13,510 posts
 

To the best of my knowledge, the Stellar phono stage has more than adequate gain for your Ortofon Quintet (Stellar offers 44 to 56db gain via MM inputs; 60 to 72db gain via MC inputs). Furthermore the LTA linestage adds additional gain to the signal passing through it. So, in a word, no, there is nothing to be gained by adding a SUT in between those two items. But you provide very little other information. Do you perceive a lack of overall gain in your phono system? How have you connected your phono cable (the output from the Quintet) to the phono inputs on the Stellar (MM or MC inputs, gain setting)? There seems to be a fad around using a SUT whether one needs to or not, which is nonsensical to me. If you notice that you have to re-adjust the attenuator(s) on the LTA for analog vs digital, that is quite the norm and not a reason for concern.  Could possibly be ameliorated by choosing a higher gain setting on the Stellar.

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