SUT help

@billstevenson Agree. I don't want this to turn into a debate on whether one is necessary or sounds different or not, since I'm a pretty firm believer in having to use my own ears to determine that. Even in my own system, what is perceptable to me might not be for others (and visa versa!). I merely want to explore what they have to offer, if anything, beyond the built-in SUT in my MW.

This also brings me to consider, even if I reach out to MW about having something different installed, I have absolutely no clue or reference point on whether anything else would sound different, so it could turn into an expensive back and forth endeavor. It might be better to first experiment with different outboard SET options and if there is one that I like more than the build-in, then I could discuss with MW to see if there is an option to replace.

I may not even perceive any difference on trying one, but mostly just wanted some guidance on how to go about matching with my components and some recommended options to try out.

@tomic601 Sure, but tubes last significantly longer and are significantly cheaper (unless you've got a PSET 300B or something). Cartridges last about 1-2 years max with me as I play quite a bit of records, so the recurring cost there is much more frequent and a lot more expensive. That's all.

@czarivey Sure, and I could probably get a bigger improvement by replacing all of my gear entirely with different, more expensive things, but that's not really the point of this thread. 😂 I'm just curious about SUT options is all, and like Bill touched on in his comment - add 'another tool to the toolbox.' If I try a few and can perceive absolutely no difference, then that'll be the end of that.

;-) Then i would recommend an Entre w Tamura transformers… $400-550 ish… u can flip it for about same…

I have personally tried lots of combinations with the Hana ML and Hana Umami Blue and Red.  1:20 is perfect if you set your phono to 40dB and 47k ohms.  If you have a Hana SL, then 1:10 is the best match.

pindac

nope, nope, nope ...... nope.

Passive, Straight Wire With Gain, ZERO noise: that’s what my Fidelity FRT-4 SUT is.

MM Passed Thru it to my mx110z or MM straight to my mx110z’s MM Phono sound the same. I love the sound of my mx110z’s MM Phono RIAA and would not want it’s sound altered by anything, just a different cartridge to evaluate, hear the cartridge’s differences: ’preferred, not better’.

Disliked my McIntosh C28's Phono, Liked my Fisher 500C and 800C. Liked my Tandberg TR80; Like my Yamaha Receiver's MM Phono. RIAA differences. 

My different MM Cartridges, their differences similarly heard passed thru SUT or direct to mx110z’s MM Phono as above.

MC, the story is the same when listening to mine or friends (who are familiar with my system’s sound), theirs’s sound ’essentially’ like they are used to, the sound they preferred, not any noticeable alteration. Wrong Impedance/xFactor setting, we hear it right away, primarily female vocals changing.

My office Luxman SQ-N150 has built-in MC and MM. Sounds darn nice! I have two MM I play on my TT here, I hear what I am used to hearing downstairs.

I had tried a few Phono Stages, internal riaa, into Line, didn’t like anything except a $14. Pyle.

Cambridge Duo, sent it back, two others highly recommended, sent them back.

It’s the RIAA that sound different, not the transformers in my experience.

Tell me I’m/we are deaf, we can hear differences between cartridges, but me: not ...... fuses.

Phono Stages, with their own SUT within, AND their own RIAA Phono Stage Within, now you’ve got to get your ears polished.

Elliot, So, to boil down what you wrote, your FR SUT used with an LOMC cartridge, has no effect on the overall SQ of your MX110 used straight in with an MM cartridge, even taking into account that the two cartridges themselves are different from one another in SQ, like tonal balance, bass accuracy, etc.  Would that be a fair summary of what you wrote above?  Because I am on your side; a SUT, like any other component of an audio system, ought to be as neutral as possible (even though nothing is neutral except subjectively).