Does anyone have experience matching an Icon PS1 MKII with a Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC Star?

Soundsmith specially states a 10:1 ratio SUT is perfect for their low-output MI such as the Star - Transformer use with Soundsmith MI/Fixed coil designs | Soundsmith (sound-smith.com).  A 10:1 SUT should yield 470-ohms load to the cartridge.

However, the Icon manual icon Audio clearly states 100-ohms which does not make sense since their literature on the separate SUT -icon Audio states:   The impedance of a transformer varies according to its load, so in this sense they are self adjusting.

Contact Icon Contact Us | Icon Audio and a get a specific answer.  Does the 10:1 SUT actually load the cartridge at 470-ohms.  Tell them you are using a Soundsmith low output MI that needs 470-ohms.  

Icon appears to be very elusive with giving any kind of definitive answer.  In this review of their PS3 Icon Audio PS1 Mk. II All Valve Phono Stage — Audiophilia Icon expresses their view of step-up transformers stating So, that is why IMHO (and Ortofon + others) a good quality 10x step-up transformer is all you need. (at about 100 ohms).

I am not sure what Soundsmith can add.  They will only know what you know, and be as confused unless they know of a customer who has used an Icon with one of their low output cartridges.  

Here is a review of the Paua and the equipment list is an Icon PS3 which is the reference I found to an Icon and low output Soundsmith.  Just in case, do you have the option to return the Icon, that would be the safest option.

If all you are looking for a SUT, then suggest MovingCoil (erhard-audio.com).  He took over for K&K when Kevin got out of the business.  Erhard builds with Lundahl SUTs and there are a number of different versions (kits can be fully built for a nominal charge) at various price points with most having 2 different ratios such as 5 & 10:1 and 8 & 16:1.  Lundahl does not offer a 10 & 20:1.  The 8:1 should yield about 735-ohms which would be good for the Soundsmith, while 16:1 would offer about 184-ohms which would offer you the opportunity to use a moving coil cartridge.  You can contact Erkhart and see what they recommend for you price point.  Then you just need to mate the SUT with a MM phono-preamp noting that you want to keep the cable between the SUT and the phono-amp short.  Also, the MM phono preamp would need enough gain.  I have no specific recommendation for a MM phono preamp but depending on whether you want SS or tubes, there will many recommendations.  But understand that using an external SUT is just one way of doing this.  

@flash56,

Parts Connection Parts Connexion services Sonic Frontiers components and does improvement mods on some.  I am quite sure they could refresh your SFP-1.