Is SUT needed for a low output cartridge with a Gryphon Pandora & Legato phono module?
I recently upgraded my cartridge from a high output Sumiko Blue Point Special EVO III to a low output Dynavector DV-20X2L cartridge. I changed the impedance settings on the Gryphon Legato phono module from 47k to 80 ohms and the results are very good. The Dynavector cartridge is noticeably better than the Sumiko. . Some have suggested that a step-up transformer may produce even better SQ results.
I'm hoping that someone with a Gryphon Pandora preamp with the Legato phono module may have already experienced using a low output MC cartridge and can chime in whether a step-up transformer improves the SQ.
Waste of time in my view, SUT's are so variable both in quality and matching you'll be opening a pandoras box (couldn't resist). The Gryphon phonos are very good, no need to look elsewhere. I used one with an ultra low output Ikeda ( 0.15mc ) - dead quiet and very good - better than SUT's I tried at the time. |
Thanks @dover and @jasonbourne52 for your replies. According to the Gryphon Legato user manual, below are the specs including the available gain that @jasonbourne52 asked about. Technical Specifications (Balanced operation) Signal to Noise ratio: MM 86 dB Unweighted Ref. 10 mV MM 90 dB A weighted Ref. 10 mV MC 68 dB Unweighted Ref. 0.5 mV MC 72 dB A weighted Ref. 0.5 mV Gain MC: 68 dB Gain MM: 38 dB RIAA tracking: +/- 0.1 dB 20 - 20 kHz THD: 0.01% Output impedance: 50 Ohms Input overload margin: MC 30 mV pp MM 700 mV pp RIAA out: voltage sving 60 V pp
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68db is plenty of gain for your Dynavector which has 0.3mv output. The Gryphon phono, particularly your version, which is the latest, is superb. No need to look to complicate matters. Gryphon's most famous product, their first, was a superb moving coil head amp. Their latest phono stages are considerably better again. |
