SUT experience

In the world of science we are learning new things all the time.  From Quantum Physics to Astonomy to medical discovery among many fields things are happening.  There are all kinds of things that are not fully understood.  Don't deny yourself a chance to participate just because the "facts" haven't been able to measure everything in audio yet.  Experiment.  Listen.  Try cables, suts, other things, be open to discovery.  Don't be afraid to be wrong.  Explore.  Discover.  Have fun.  Accept no limits.  What you think is known is expanding all the time.  Be part of it.  Don't be afraid.

This is an interesting discussion.  I generally like the sound of the distortions added when an SUT is inserted into the chain, but find that there is no universal truth.  Of course adding one requires an additional set of phono cables and that can add a considerable expense.  My best SUT, a Consolidated made in Germany, cost several thousand dollars.  At the moment it is not in use.  That is not sensible.  On the other hand, I have several phono stages not in use right now either, such as the one discussed here from PS Audio, and one from Switzerland that cost close to $50k a decade or more ago according the guy who I got it from.  All boat anchors right now.  Currently I am listening to the new Conrad Johnson ART Phono.  Every one of these options is wonderful and they all have distortions.  Don't let anyone try to deceive you.  My advice with respect to any option is to try it and let your own ears tell you what sounds best to you.  Everything will have some distortion.  Who cares?  All that matters in the end is the music.

Raul,

We are discussing our preferred approach to the playing of the music here.  We should be adults and agree that if the elimination of as much distortion as possible were the goal (here let us ignore your frequent protests to the contrary) we would abandon the LP, the RIAA curve and all that goes with them and pursue a digital path such as DSD.  No, we do not do that, so right away we are accepting that there will be distortions.  Okay, let up proceed.  You take one approach which for the sake of this discussion we will call a purist approach.  The goal is the straightest path, with the least deviation from the RIAA curve, the flattest frequency response, the lowest distortion and do forth.  Yes or no?  Correct me if I am wrong.  Of course I can do this too.  I can haul out the two box P1 and all that.  On your recommendation last year I bought a Stellar.  But I also have and prefer, strongly in fact, my new C-J ACT Phono, sometimes with and sometimes without an SUT.  And I accept that there might be more distortion.  Maybe.  I am not sure.  I like the way it sounds.  It sounds like my piano.  Really.  Nothing else sounds like my piano.  It is palpable.  I can feel it as well as hear it and the piano is in the same room.  Yamaha C7.

Raul,

It would seem that we have reached more agreement than difference in this matter.  We both use SUTs on occasion.  (BTW, you can probably find out all about the Consolidated SUT on the OMA website, mine is the silver wire version.)  We  both use live music as our standard.  It has been a pleasure to exchange views.