Step Up Transformer

@edgewear Your Statement, "But in practice things might work out differently. In my system I have the possibility to choose between various SUT’s, voltage gain and current gain devices and some cartridges have a clear preference for the use of an SUT in the signal path. Others definitely do not, it all depends.

I realise this is pretty much a useless answer to the OP, were it not for the fact that in my experience Ortofon MC’s tend to have a liking for SUT’s."

I read this as the Cartridges referred to having a Clear preference for a SUT' as being more akin to my own experience.

I can use a Cart's with a few options on how to send the signal generated.

I don't rest with one option only, I know how I like a sonic that is produced, as well as knowing how the devices work with different genres of music and how the sonic produced can impact on my mood at the time.

On a Weekday evening the Hashimoto, has a sonic that can keep me in the chair quite docile.

On the Weekend during an afternoon, the Cinemag, will get Air Guitar / Drumming kicked off with almost a immediacy.

I also have a Built In MC Stage and it presents quite satisfactory, I am keen to use it when I want to have the other benefits it offers when worked with. 

@lewm sure, everything is a personal call. And I did say 'in my experience', didn't I? In contrast Raul always presents his opinions as the Gospel, so I figured a contrasting opinion wouldn't hurt.

@fundsgon As a person who really enjoys music, I get the bulk of my musical encounters from the Radio/CD used in my Vehicle.

To extend my enjoyment of music and fit into the usual practices within the home and share time in a room in the Company of loved family, who love to make time for musical encounters, much of the musical encounters is supplied through Alexia.

As an individual with a long term interest in audio and having a decent sized collection of Hard Media, I have across many years, put together a dedicated set of devices to enable a decent level of quality for the periods that are spent replaying the Hard Media music collection. All devices used above are merely Tools to enable a experience of a musical encounter. Each has the capability of creating a stimulation that is enjoyable, otherwise why keep revisiting/exposing oneself to the different experiences.

My advice is enjoy your musical encounters, your first attraction to music, as well as one that set you on the journey of discovering audio, was most likely discovered on what could be called a Low Fi Device. Enjoy the experiences of finding out how there are other methods to be used in your audio interest, for you to experience your Hard Media Music Collection.

Dear @fundsgon  :  Can you explain which are your targets to " introduce " a SUT+cables+input/output connectors and solder joints additionals im that PS Audio phono stage?  is it because you are a MUSIC lover or maybe just for fun?

In the past how many times did you listen an Ortofon Cadenza in an active high gain SS phono stages along SUT's? and know what are you looking for? what do you not like on that Stellar phono unit?

Thank's in advance,

R.

This is just great to hear from all of you. I’m pretty certain that I’ll go with a Bob’s Devices Sky 20, which has a selector switch for 2 gain settings.

For cabling, what would be your recommendations. I’ll keep my existing cables from the table and connect them to the SUT, but what about from the SUT to the phono pre? These will only have to be 18” or less.

All connections are RCA.

edgewear, Wouldn't it be more fair or accurate to say that you are the one who prefers one or the other mode of phono amplification with this or that cartridge?  (Rather than to say that the cartridge prefers a particular sort of voltage gain.) Nothing wrong with that, but we are talking about personal preference, which is always unchallengeable.  Similarly, the OP may prefer a particular SUT vs using his high gain phono stage, and that's OK too, but apart from helping him to choose a "good" one, no one of us can say what particular SUT flavor he will like.

The 1254 @pindac  mentions is indeed very similar to the Sky 20. I’ve had both. The Sky might be a bit sweeter but both have that “boogie” factor and lush midrange that I think really benefits the Ortofon MC cartridges (which can otherwise be too dry for my tastes). Either one is a great choice for your cartridge IMO.

I use Ortofon Cart's, I have friends who also use Ortofon Cart's and between us, there is also use SUT's, Head Amp's, as well as the option to use a MC stage biult into a Phon'.

I and others I spend time with do not set limits on how a Signal from a Cart's is being transferred.

I don't focus too much on the Math, I don't get too much stimulus from number crunching. It is the Sound that is being presented and the variants of the sound (different flavours) that can be created that are maintaining an attraction that I find the most stimulating.

On this forum, I believe I once referred to a experience I had, where a demo was taking place with a Ortofon Cart' that was attached to a SME 3009. This set up was was met with posts where the description of the set up was not too well received  and it was challenged as a concept.

'Nobody Died', "Get Over It". If a individual likes the idea of experiencing a SUT with a particular Model of Phonostage, then let that itch be scratched.

Raul, on paper your argument makes perfect sense. But in practice things might work out differently. In my system I have the possibility to choose between various SUT’s, voltage gain and current gain devices and some cartridges have a clear preference for the use of an SUT in the signal path. Others definitely do not, it all depends.

I realise this is pretty much a useless answer to the OP, were it not for the fact that in my experience Ortofon MC’s tend to have a liking for SUT’s. My SPU’s, A95, Anna and even the old MC7500 all sound at their best with a good SUT. So I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this also goes for the Cadenza Black, which shares many of the basics with these other models. Just give it a try......

Dear @fundsgon  : I can't understand why you ask for a SUT when the Stellar is a great active high gain phono stage and the Cadenza needs no SUT with the STEllar and if you insist for the SUT you will only degrading the Cadenza sensitive cartridge signal.

A SUT can't improve the quality level performance of your Stellar, ONLY can and will does degrades that cartridge signal.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

Never used or heard a ’Bob’s’

I love my Vintage McIntosh’s MM Phono sound, thus only needed to boost a low MC signal up to MM signal strength, to continue to use the mx110z’s tube phono.

AND, I wanted PASS, to simply send (Pass) a MM cartridge’s output out with zero involvement of the transformer.

Like many of us, you might end up with a small handful of cartridges, or, which cartridge is next after the current one wears out?

I chose some flexibility regarding both signal boost (x-factor)

and a few selectable impedances.

I found Fidelity Research, FRT-4. The impedance changes with the x-factor, not independently

this one looks nice and a good price

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304640517447?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=bcb45964-054a-11ee-bde7-653637346133

note: it has selectable inputs for 3 tonearms.

ENTRE ET-100 is somewhat similar (one less x-factor/impedance choice). Also 3 selectable tonearms.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/404323158005?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=1f8a0c3c-054b-11ee-bef1-643464623063

Some SUTs have independent impedance and independent x-factor controls (rear switches, internal jumpers, etc).

I am using Hand Wound Cinemag 1254 Tranx' in my SUT.

At the time of purchase the leader of a Group Buy had made it known as a result of COVID and the manufacturer only running a very small production schedule, these 1254's are to be Hand Wound by the renowned Tranx designer at Cinemag.

A 1254 is quite similar to a Tranx selected by Bob's Devices.

My 1254 has superseded other owned SUT's, of which I retain one other model being the Hashimoto.

The 1254 makes itself known when used in my system, it is happy to get out of the chair and be seen, where as the Hashimoto is much more polite and remains seated. 

I wouldn't bother unless you were moving to a MM tube phono amplifier.