Step Up transformer

I have the VDH Grail SB transimpedence (current) phono stage to drop the noise floor, not sure if I have to purchase another phono stage (voltage) in order to try a SUT.

a SUT will not work with the grail.  Of morbid curiosity, a step down transformer will work and in theory give you more output when feeding transimpedance stages.  Want to try a 40Ω denon 103 with your current stage?  Run it into a 4:1 step down transformer and you net 4X the current and a 3-4Ω  source impedance.

dave

this is one of those ideas that works really well In the simulated world where an ideal  2:1 stepdown nets a 2X increase in output voltage.  Real world reality of greater than 0 input Z of the current stage and DCR's of the windings makes the actual measured gain from a stepdown feeding a current stage a fair bit less than expected.  I did net about a 3dB increase in output from my one go at this with a 4:1 but the current stage was less than ideal.   I ended up going for a 1:1 at the input of the current amp since the possibility of DC offset from the complimentary Jfets I was using is a very real problem.

dave