Tobes
Your comparison of phono cables between the step up transformer and the phono stage is irrelevant because the signal coming off a moving coil cartridge is current not voltage. Your step up transformer converts the signal from the MC from higher current/lower voltage to higher voltage/lower current. In this situation the cable impacts from LCR differences in the cable are radically different. Basically from step up to phono you want as little wire as possible because the signal now has very little current after the transformer, signal losses are potentially higher due to the lack of current to drive the wire.
Now as far as phono cables go, the shorter the better. I have compared my own skinned/stripped MIT ( raw cable ) in 18" lengths and these will sound better than almost any phono cable beyond 1.2m regardless of cost.
If you want the best - short as possible, even if you have to rearrange your equipment. Otherwise you are simply swapping tonal colourations and different losses from one cable to another, whichever flavour you like - Neopolitan, Chocolate or French Vanilla take your choice. These flavours will vary again with cartridge/phono stage.
1.2m and beyond, I would use MIT Oracle
Your comparison of phono cables between the step up transformer and the phono stage is irrelevant because the signal coming off a moving coil cartridge is current not voltage. Your step up transformer converts the signal from the MC from higher current/lower voltage to higher voltage/lower current. In this situation the cable impacts from LCR differences in the cable are radically different. Basically from step up to phono you want as little wire as possible because the signal now has very little current after the transformer, signal losses are potentially higher due to the lack of current to drive the wire.
Now as far as phono cables go, the shorter the better. I have compared my own skinned/stripped MIT ( raw cable ) in 18" lengths and these will sound better than almost any phono cable beyond 1.2m regardless of cost.
If you want the best - short as possible, even if you have to rearrange your equipment. Otherwise you are simply swapping tonal colourations and different losses from one cable to another, whichever flavour you like - Neopolitan, Chocolate or French Vanilla take your choice. These flavours will vary again with cartridge/phono stage.
1.2m and beyond, I would use MIT Oracle