SUT into MM input section of Solid State Phono Stage


Hello,

I was wondering if any of you have experimented with using your Step Up Transformer into the moving magnet section of your solid state phono stage?

If so...

what was the step up ratio you used?
what was the mV output of the cartridge you used?
which solid state phono stage did you use?
did you find that the SUT into the MM section sounded better than just using the moving coil input without an SUT?

I ask because I just experimented with using my Tango SUT into the MM section of my solid state Forte FP-1 and have found that I prefer that over just using the MC section of the Forte.

Best Wishes,
Don
no_regrets
That IS the purpose of a SUT that is properly matched to the LOMC.
Or am I missing something?
Dear @no_regrets : what you are experienced is something that happens to often and depends mainly of the quality level design of the active high gain stage in the phono stages and not because it's better the SUT/MM combination.

Btw, what other gentlemans as @lalitk and @fuzztone posted here is not exactly that way because it's not the cartridge and the SUT impedance what must be matched this is totally false.

A LOMC cartridge is not affected by SUT impedance, it's insensible to loading impedence changes.

   " Loading the transformer does have an effect on the load seen by the cartridge, but any change in sound quality is more likely to be due to altering the performance of the transformer, not the cartridge . "

What must be matched between a SUT and the cartridge is the SUT gain to the cartridge output level, this is the main issue and not impedance loading.Any SUT with the rigth gain can works with any cartridge with the adequated output level it does not matters its impedances.

Low knowledge levels in that subject makes that audiophiles post wrong information/advises.

So, just continue listening where you are satisfied.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
Hello and thank you for all of the replies thus far.
Unfortunately I think I may not have been  clear in my original post and I’m truly sorry for the confusion.
My Hirata Tango at 1:8 step up ratio is a great match for my Zebra Wood Benz Ruby ZH that has a .7 mV output and 38 ohm internal impedance. That should give me about 18 dB and present a load of roughly 738 ohms if I remember correctly,  which sounds great!
I was just curious if any of you had tried doing this into a solid state phono and if it sounded better than using the mc section which in solid state phono’s often use an active gain of fet/bipolar transitors, etc instead of SUT’s.
Thanks much and best wishes,
Don
If we will look on any classic SUTs we will see impedance range stated in the manual or market near the cartridge input on the SUT. In reality a low impedance MC are very low output. When a SUT says primary 3 Ohms connection it means this SUT designed for LOW IMPEDANCE cartridge only (LOMC with 2 Ohm internal impedance for example). This type of SUT obviously can NOT be used with a LOMC cartridge with 40-70 Ohm impedance.

For a high impedance LOMC cartridges there are specially designed SUT, for example a SUT that can handle 40 Ohm or higher impedance.

There is also something in the middle, for example this Luxman SUT can handle MC cartridges with impedance from 3 to 40 Ohm.

Everything marked right on the SUT, all classic Japanese SUTs from Denon, Audio-Technica are all have that marks (to match a sut and cartridge impedance), this is very user friendly! If modern SUT manufacturers can’t give a buyer this information it’s very strange and NOT user friendly!


@no_regrets  : "  what you are experienced is something that happens to often and depends mainly of the quality level design of the active high gain stage in the phono stages and not because it's better the SUT/MM combination. "

So sometimes sounds better with the SUT sometimes not. Even that your unit was designed by Threshold is an entry level and obviously not the best active high gain design and that's why your frefer the SUT.

R.