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

Thank you Antin for the Soundsmith link. I could not find it. That is reasurring.

I have been in contact with Icon. They made the comment that transformers are largely self adjusting.  I also asked them for a schematic of the MC input. They are telling me that there is no schematic since it is merely a 1:10 ratio passive transformer with a required output load of 47KΩ. And that I should follow Soundsmith's advice.

I have contacted Soundsmith, and supplied them with the PS1 MKII Specs. I  am waiting for a reply.

I am also confused about the 100 Ωs. If Icon is using a 100 Ω resistor across the secondary. Then they should have notified me of that, or sent, what amounts to a schematic showing the 100 Ω resistor across the secondary. Which could easily be removed from the circuit.

My calculations were exactly the same as the Soundsmith link.. The source should see a 470 Ω load. Which is perfect. If the Sussuro is seeing 470 Ω. Then that is what I should expect with the Zephyr Star.

I am anxiously waiting for Soundsmith to weigh in on this. I will let you know what they say. But from what is stated in the link. It seems to imply that a 1:10 SUT should do the job of delivering a 470Ω load.

I am also going to supply Icon with that link. And inquire how the 100 Ω load is being calculated.

Since I am unfamiliar with SUTs. This has proven to be an education for me.

Thanks to all for your responses.

Icon has yet to respond to my question as to how they calculate a 100Ω load. I ask them if they were using a RC across one or both ends. It seems as if they are ignoring the question.

After sending Soundsmith the specs of the PS1 MKII. And describing what my concerns were. Explaining to them, that I felt that I was out of my depth concerning SUTs and asking for any advice that they could give me concerning the issues. After waiting two days for a response. The response that I received was, "Peter says that the Zephyr needs a ≥ 470Ω load." WELL, NO S###!!! I may be unfamiliar with SUTs. But I can read basic specs. Thank you.

Quite frankly, I am disgusted with both companies at this point. I spent $2,000 on a  SS cartridge and that is the best advice that SS can offer?

And as far as Icon is concerned. Give me a break!. You haven't discovered cold fusion, or room temperature super conductors. It is a SUT for god's sake! Why all of the covert BS?

I have another question for this forum that is related to this thread. Can anyone recommend  a company that makes a SUT with a reflected load of 470 ohms or greater, at a reasonable price? I can't seem to find one. I would welcome any suggestions that might steer me in the right direction. I have, once again, ask Soundsmith for suggestions. I will wait to see if Peter has the time to give me a useable response this time. Until then, I must rely on this forum for information.

BTW, I have yet to purchase the Icon PS1 MKII. And I seriously doubt, at this point, that I will. And, as much as I like the Zephyr MIMC. I don't like to be boxed in with no options. I am rethinking my entire approach at this point.

Thanks again for your advice. It is highly appreciated.

An update.

I take back what I said about Soundsmith. Peter Lebermann quickly responded. He said that he would supply me with a stand alone SUT for the Zephyr MIMC for a very reasonable price of $500. I have taken him up on his offer. So that problem is solved.

I am currently using an old Sonic Frontiers SFP-1. Which is a tube phono pre that uses a FET MC step-up pre. I am going to use the SUT with it through the MM inputs. And see what a SUT sounds like. Maybe I will like it, and maybe I won't. But I am intrigued enough that I want to find out. The Sonic Frontiers is getting old. The company no longer exists. And I have yet to be able to find a schematic for it. If anyone should know where I might find one. Please pass that information along, If you would be so kind.

As far as Icon Audio is concerned. Now that I will have a stand-alone SUT that matches the Zephyr. I would consider purchasing the Icon PS2 MM phono pre. But the fact that they have not yet bothered to reply to my very valid questions concerning the PS1 MKII causes me hesitation about doing business with them.

Thanks Antinn! I will definitely check into it. It would be nice to have it refurbished. It is a good preamp. Much like the design of the Manley Chinook but without the loading resistors and capacitors being installed into dip switches. There are posts in which to solder the needed resistive or capacitance loads. It uses the same 6922s for the gain stage. It differs from the Chinook by using12AT7As for the output stage.

I want to apologize again to Soundsmith. I was just frustrated and had hoped for some guidance. I should not have taken my frustration out on them. It is really Icon that deserved all of my frustration, not Soundsmith.

In fact, it was Peter Ledermann who told me, in the first place, that if I could get a schematic from Icon that he would be happy to look at it and tell me if the circuit   allowed for a simple modification. That is what started my whole quest with Icon. Only to be told half-truths. Saying that there was no schematic simply because all that the MC circuit consisted of was a simple 1:10 transformer. They knew that I was looking to alter it to fit my needs. And when I had managed to educate myself enough, thanks to this forum and other publications, to question them on the 100Ω impedance. Simply because the math didn't play out, if it was, indeed, only a simple 1:10 transformer. And requested for a second time to be given a schematic of the MC section. That request has resulted in silence. Not even giving me a response at all. Or so it would seem. Quite possibly they are working on a response. And I will receive one eventually. If I do. I will let you know what that response is.

I feel good that Peter is doing the SUT. He will make sure that it is done correctly. As he states. Not all 1:10 transformers are necessarily a good match. The impedance of the transformer windings come into play. That can differ by the construction. How tightly together they are wound. The core. All of which can make a difference in the impedance. He designed the cartridge. And I have absolute confidence that the SUT will do the job correctly.

Thanks, one more time, for everyone's feedback and advice.

Another update.

Icon finally responded today. I said that I would post the response. So here it is. Just to put things in prospective, I am going to post my question also. David at Icon had said that it was strange that there was no mention of SUTs on the SS site. And speculated that the cartridges were designed for MC head-amps only. Antinn had been kind enough to post the link.

Question:

Hi David,