To perform a meaningful shootout would first require identifying the optimal primary and secondary side load for each SUT/cartridge combination. Balancing even one such combination is a work of several hours, at least. It's also not inexpensive, since multiple sets of high quality resistors are required. I've done this for one SUT and two cartridges. It required $1,000 worth of resistors, which I've still got lying about if anyone wants to repeat it. It's not a task for the fainthearted.A question for Doug, Dertonearm, and the other experts who have responded above, which I'll introduce by saying that I have no experience with SUTs (or with MCs either, for that matter).
Optimizing sixteen cartridge/SUT combos would take weeks (and many more resistors than I've got). Only after optimizing each combo could we begin meaningful A/B comparisons.
Wouldn't it be possible to accelerate the lengthy optimization process, which Doug has done a good job of describing, by using an oscilloscope and appropriate test record to optimize pulse response?
What would be required, I believe, is a test record that provided an riaa pre-emphasized square wave, say with a fundamental frequency of 1kHz, and whose risetime and falltime correspond to spectral components extending some distance into the ultrasonic region. Given that input signal, it seems to me that by using the scope to monitor the resulting phono stage or preamp output, and by substituting resistors until overshoot, ringing, etc. are reasonably optimized, it should be possible to get into the right ballpark much more quickly than by trial and error resistor substitution and listening. Further optimization by listening would then presumably be a relatively rapid process.
I'll add, though, that I am not aware of any test record that would seem to be suitable for this purpose. The Analog Productions test LP, for instance, and others that I have or have encountered, typically just provide sinusoidal waveforms, pink noise, etc.
Thanks! Best regards,
-- Al