Which SUT to match Koetsu Rosewood Standard in my system?

@rauliruegas You do make a good point, raising the age-old debate of accurate reproduction vs. subjective pleasure. In my experience, having listened to some of the most accurate systems on earth, reproducing exactly what’s in the grooves doesn’t always equal subjective enjoyment—which for me is the sound of live performance.

That said, you’re quite right that the Hegel is a great unit. That’s why I bought it in the first place, after all. Fremmer’s rave review, among many others, certainly sold me on the Hegel.

It’s quite possible that the Hegel sounds “clinical” to me only in direct contrast to the Audio Note’s built-in tube phono stage. Also, I’ve only tried the Hegel with my 540ML (which is ”cooler” and more clinical than the Koetsu, at least to my ears) and only through the Audio Note’s line stage. It may be that the Koetsu + Hegel + AN phono stage combination would work quite well.

And as @elliottbnewcombjr mentions, the Hegel gives nice flexibility with independence gain and impedance control. Perhaps I can find a combination that gives me what I’m looking for, and can hold off on the SUT search. I think the wise thing would be to start there and see what I learn.

I still welcome any thoughts on the SUT in the meantime. I’m a tinkerer, and I know I’ll want to give one a try sooner or later.

Thanks to all so far for the quite helpful advice. In my short time on the forum, I can already see that this is a welcoming, productive, valuable community. 

Also, @elliottbnewcombjr thank you very much for this clarification:

Your Amp's phono specification: phono input sensitivity 3.0mv. Not Ideal, not preferred: That is the MINIMUM signal strength it needs IN to boost the signal up to line level. These amp's phono inputs also have MAXIMUM _____ mv, (before overload occurs) 

I had no idea that’s what that specification indicates. You learn something (or several things) new every day!

Go look for a used Denon AU-340 SUT. They use high end Tamura transformers and can be found under 500 bucks from Japan auction sites. I've had good luck there and got mine for about 400 shipped.

Your cart's requirements are close to a DL-103, that SUT was made with that cart in mind.

BillWojo

I've had great results with my Cinemag 1254 SUT by Ned Clayton. It has 4 gain settings so you can experiment with what works. I found that 1:20 is best for my Koetsu Black, it's nice to have plenty of drive, and 8mV shouldn't overload your phono stage. But there's also 1:10, 1:13, and 1:40. Pretty much future proof yourself for any cart, i.e. the 0.12mV AT Art7 (which is now on my wishlist). The unit also has 3 ground positions, my MC setup has never been so quiet, or had this much dynamics and details. A great SUT that's way under your budget. 

Live Music does produce colour, a visit to a Rock/Blues Concert will put that idea to bed immediately, if the attendee also gets them positioned in the Centre of the Stage and choose a suitable distance from the speakers, the Stereo effect will have a similarity to a Home System.

Music produced at a Live Performance that is not dependent on electronics to present the sound created, will not have a directional sound, the sound will radiate from the instruments used in a multitude of directions and will not be a match to how the same type of music is heard as sound on a Home System, where the Speakers are producing sound that is constrained by the engineering/design and radiates from the speaker in a controlled directivity. This is a condition that is overlooked by most who believe listening to a live performance is able to be replicated through using electronic devices to revisit a version of the live experience encountered.