Step Up Transformer

@rauliruegas it seems what you're telling me is that I would need to purchase one of those $25k+ Swiss devices (not sure what Moon is doing in that lineup) to be able to hear the superiority of active gain devices over a passive SUT. This will never happen, so it's a non issue.

But in more practical terms you're effectively saying that at less extreme price levels an SUT is in fact NOT inferior to active gain devices, just a different approach but equally valid. This confirms my own findings and it seems relevant information for folks not into that $$$$$ game. This is not whatsbest forum, so I should think regular music enthousiasts are in the majority here, not millionaires. 

@edgewear  : The Moon is better than hat you could imagine. Anyway, unfortunatelly as me no one else already listen all the phonolinepreamps out there and the " best " out there are not at 25K but over 35K as the Boulder 1110 that I never had the opportunity to listen.

The 1010 is not in that league and I do not want to speak about price but about quality levels design that at the end is what makes the differences. My unit never was on that price levels and never will does but the issue is that is a true challenge for any of the $$$$$ units out there and is a unit where you can discern for sure if any of your SUTs performs as good as the active unit, I'm saying and not posted that the SUT/MM combination performs /" even " my 3180 ( the new unit will be the 3200 ) but a different approach NO I'm talking that the active unit is superior to a SUT connected to a dedicated MM stage in the 3180 and not just any SUT but the modified AU-1000. 

Perhaps what I intent is to say that for a SUT/MM stage combination could really performs at better quality level it needs that that active MM phono stage be a top class dedicated MM design. Normally the phono stages as in Boulder other units the low gain stage for the SUT is the same kind of design for the active high gain stage. I posted that that does not happens in  the 3180/3200 where each phono stage is dedicated to the cartridge needs and in our design that means different active gain input devices.

So maybe for what I posted I left the impression that only the $$$$$ units makes good quality design.

Btw, you are a Boulder oriented gentleman: did you listen the 1110?

@rauliruegas I haven’t heard the 1110, but you do know this is a linestage only? So I don’t see the relevance in the context of this discussion. As for the dedicated phono amp in the 1000/1100 series I have it on good authority that the current 1108 is only a marginally different design than the 1008 that preceded it.

For what it’s worth, the phono stage of the 1010 in MM mode combined with a good SUT can reach the same sound quality level as the 1008 phono amp in MC mode. Provided you hit on a cartridge/SUT combination that meshes really well. There is however a significant sound quality difference between the MC stage if the 1010 preamp and that of the 1008, besides operational differences like limited 60dB gain level (1008 is 70 dB) and the fixed 100 ohms impedance (1008 is adjustable). The Boulder 1000 series components which I’ve owned now for 10 years or more are the end of the amp journey for me. So I have no interest in the newer 1100 series, let alone their higher 2000/2100 series or other ultra $$$$$ stuff, including the brands you named.

However I might still search for a better SUT than Ortofon T-3000, like possibly the Denon you mention or the Audio Technica AT-1000T which is also supposed to be one of the best ever. Just out of curiosity and because it wouldn't require remorgaging the house.

If a search for an alternative SUT does become a interest.

The EAR 'The Head' SUT is one model worth looking into. These are quite rare, but do surface as a sale item occasionally.

A Member of m Local HiFi Group has one, it has been side by side demo'd to a variety of SUT's in a few different systems and has been the model that all attendees have been thoroughly impressed by and unanimously agreed to be something very special. 

I have the EAR Head here - it is ok at best, not the best tranny I have.

Tim told me it was the best he has ever made - exceeds the MC3 & MC4.