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Step Up Transformer Question

Ok, so bear with me as this is new terrain for me. I was quite happy with how things were sounding and then I accidentally bumped the stylus of my Cadenza Black and snapped the cantilever clean off. I did some research and ultimately decided to have Steve at VAS at fix my cartridge but it was going to take a few weeks and there was going to be no way to play the Christmas vinyl that my wife loves so much. She told me to buy another cartridge so we could have Christmas records. I was stunned. I found a great deal on a Winfeld Ti on this site and pulled the trigger. I've got it on my table and it sounds amazing. 

After speaking with Steve though, I'm going to trade in my Cadenza and have him build me a wood body cartridge to have something different. It will also be 0.2mv output. I think I've got the 2nd arm situation sorted (gonna buy a Wand and a pod to mount it on) which leaves the phono pre. I love my Rogers PA-2 and it is switchable between MC and MM with 2 different inputs in the back. Finally got the SUT part. I've been looking and trying to figure things out. I spoke with Roger and he said the transformer built into the PA-2 is 1:10 and with that I can achieve 70 or so dB of gain. I did a lot of reading and looking and while I'm sure a 4k+ SUT is amazing that's just not where I'm at with all the other expenses at the moment. I saw the Bellari MT502 was a stereophole recommended component for many years and Amazon had one on sale for like $349 or something. Figured can't hurt to try it, it's Amazon so I can always return it. I plugged it in with some admittedly questionable interconnects I had lying around and when I put the phono stage k there was a bit more hum than I'm used to but I said let's have a listen. Holy shit. This little thing blew my mind. Better impact, tighter bass, more space around instruments so better staging, improved transients. This puts me in an interesting place. 

This is an extremely inexpensive piece and it has changed my system quite a bit. I think the little extra gain I get even at 1:12 brings the cartridge to life. My question is where do I go from here? Bob's makes the sky 30 which is switchable from 1:15 to 1:30 which I like because I can play with the gain tubes in my preamp and potentially go to a quieter 12au7 than the 12ax7 that's currently in there. Will that be a real improvement? Less hum? Had also considered ordering a Rothwell from jolly old England but can't find much on them. Thoughts? I'd like to keep this sub 1k or so for now. Maybe I'll save up for a big boy SUT later. 

rmdmoore
rmdmoore OP
148 posts
 

@mulveling so the new cables came and I was able to eliminate the hum. Once I did that I played with things a bit. Started at 1:12 with maximum gain in my phononsrage. This sounded great. It seemed to have more body and depth than whatever SUT is in my phono stage. Next, I switched the SUT to 1:30 and decreased the gain in my phono stage a bit. This sounded even better. More air around instruments, felt like I could really hear the room on some recordings. 

Seems to me you were right, that once I got the hum situation squared more gain in the transformer and less in the phono stage was the way to go. Feel like 1:30 with max gain will be too much and overload things. 

I appreciate all the input from everyone regarding SUTs. I think, for now, I'm going to stick with the little Bellari. Seems to be excellent bang for the buck. At some point down the road I'll get something big boy but for now, while I'm adding a second tonearm and cartridge, this will do. 

lewm
12,508 posts
 

How are you reducing phono gain in the Bellari?

rmdmoore OP
148 posts
 

@lewm the Bellari has a switch that changes the turns ratio between 1:12 and 1:30. If you're asking how I'm reducing gain in my phono stage, I'm changing tubes. It's a strange design but in my Rogers PA-2 the way you adjust gain is by switching out the tubes in one of the gain stages. 

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
1,774 posts
 

@rmdmoore

Awesome! That’s great you’re liking the result with new cables and SUT at 30:1. Lowering phono stage gain to compensate could be good when you have the option, but since the cartridge is so low at 0.2mV, it’s probably just fine to run at the higher gain too. If you’re doing tube type swaps for gain, then that itself will impact the sonic result beside just the gain change.

@mulveling Your dislike of Lundahls is interesting. I only have experience with the 1931 Ag, and it sounds pretty good when stepping up my Koetsu.. Not quite as clean or warm as my differential amplifier stage, but close.

Now that I’m using a Grado as my primary stereo cartridge, it’s a moot point

@terry9  They’re fine SUTs. Just not for me, sonically. I’ve tried them countless times, numerous chances, and still never stuck with one. Have LL1931 (copper) built into my VAC phono stage (easily bypassed). Had a K&K box with LL1931Ag (silver). Have LL9206 built into an older full-function VAC preamp - the LL9206 really lacks badly in detail compared to better SUTs, but at least I like its warmer tonality compared to the bigger Lundahls. In the end I still prefer the EAR’s, blue label CineMags, or the Koetsu SUT - though the latter can be a tough fit with non-Koetsu carts because it’s (surprisingly) a little hot up top.

I would still probably take a LL1931 over some/many active MC stages. I did have better results with the copper version in my system.

And I’ve read about your Grado move with much interest! I’ve been wondering if it’s worth "dipping my toe in" at the Mastger3/Reference3/Statement3 level just to get a taste. Or whether I have to go all out to Aeon or Epoch, to be sufficiently impressed.

terry9
2,229 posts
 

@mulveling I was wondering the same thing a year ago. I talked to Mr. Grado about linear tracking, he said that he hadn’t the faintest idea - but I could try a $100 cartridge and see. It didn’t sound all that good (compared to a KRSP !!) but it worked on the LT. Mr. Grado also said that he found the Koetsu to be a little analytical for his taste! So splurged on the Epoch.

Good choice for me. A little smoother, more dynamic, and far better tracking (than KRSP d/c). But last week I tried a sapphire wand in my LT, and now the Epoch sounds a little analytical! So it’s back to natural fibre composites - panzerholz or pampas grass, not sure yet. Will have to optimize. Would you like to be PM-ed?

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