MC phono stage without transformer?


A newbie question:

I read a lot of 'reservation' about using an external MC step up transformer to increase the gain of an MM phono stage. But as I searched around for MC phono stages, I noticed that a lot of these actually have internal step-up transformers, some of these transformers are exactly the same as what some people used to make their external step-up.

So if transformer is no good, I should really be looking for an MC phono without the tranformer? Do these exist though?
viper_z

Showing 2 responses by rsrex

There is nothing wrong with a transformer, but the Herron phonostage uses a jfet to boost the gain to 66dB. There are plenty of others that don't use transformers.
Ralph, what's your opinion on Roy Gregory's writings / reviews on "alternative" LP equalizations and the supposed criticality of adjusting this EQ to fit the label?

He might be on to something, but I wonder if this compensates for EQ differences or just "bad" mastering? Can all DGs be that poorly mastered?