My recent experience with SUT is similar to that of Steve Guttenberg. I was so impressed with how much improvement a modestly priced SUT brought to my system that I questioned why I lived without one for the last fifteen years. SUT is the way to go if you're using a LOMC. A simple MM stage such as a Zesto Andros Spirit would do the trick.
Recommendations for MM Phono ~ Tube or Solid State
As title suggests, I am currently using a MC Cart - Etsuro Bordeaux and planning on adding an SUT. The TT is Garrard 301 with Reed 3P tonearm.
SUT under consideration,
1) Etsuro ET-U50
2) Swissonor PPP-PP Hashimoto HM7
3) EMIA Copper or Silver version
On top of my list is Leben RS-30EQ and Accuphase C-47.
Also planning on adding 2nd Reed tonearm with Miyajima Labs Zero or Infinity Cart. From a purist perspective, what would be your recommendation to get the best out of a mono cart.
Thank you!
Showing 3 responses by scar972
@lewm I know it sounds that way but I’ve had several high gain phono stages in here over the last 15 years, they do sound different from each other and some are better than other for sure. But it took just one SUT to make me realize that it provided something I’ve never experienced before with any of my previous phono stages, the top end has never been as open and airy, and the noise floor is so low it’s almost nonexistent. I know it’s still not enough to make a universal statement but that’s how I’m carrying on going forward. Maybe I just got lucky that this SUT has a few loading options that plays well with my cartridges and also multiple inputs for multiple tonearms. |
@lalitk the SUT I experimented with is a modestly priced vintage Japanese unit, Fidelity Research FRT-4, it's been mentioned here quite a few times. Not saying it's the best or anything but I'm impressed with how it plays with my cartridges and I'd like to hear a few more SUT's in the future.
@lewm this is a newly formed bias so it's not etched in stone, I'm always open to learning and being impressed by other ideas.
@rauliruegas impressed that you knew my King/Cello phono is a Colangelo-Levinson design, kudos! I'm actually experimenting with the MM stage of a Manley Chinook at the moment and not the King/Cello. Amongst the high-gain phono stages I've had here are Tom Evans the Groove, Pass Labs XP-15, Linn Linto, King/Cello, Manley Chinook and a few lower priced ones.
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