I think you will not find a consensus on which way to go. Some people claim SU transformers cause dynamic compression and others praise them because of their low noise and tonal neutrality. The BENT AUDIO TX-103 step-up device as described by Arthur Salvatore here gets his highest praise. It uses the Stevens and Billings TX-103 transformer. But this gets low marks from Michael Elliot, the designer of the famed Counterpoint SA9/SA11 phono/line stages of the late 80s/early 90s. He is in the process of designing a new preamp as detailed here. If you scroll to the bottom of this report, his findings on the TX-103 indicate a rather dull presentation. So there is not even a consensus on the performance of this one SU transformer.
One additional problem with SU devices, unless they are embedded within the preamp itself such as is the case with the Elliot designs, is that yet another pair of ICs is required. This too can be expensive and can also result in much of the magic lost that would have been attained until that extra cable was added.
And then there's the all solid state or all tube phono stage followers. Again, it's the ultra low noise vs. harmonic textures, decays, etc.
I have had very good results with all of these but currently an all tubed phono stage is providing me with the most 3-dimensional sound I have had in my phono setup. At very high volume, the little bit of noise (on the softest of passages) is easy to ignore because of these other strengths. You have to try some products of each of these designs that you can afford and go with the one that brings you the closest to the music.
I use a Koetsu Rosewood Signature and I have found the 1k load to be ideal. Anything lower and too much is lost in the upper frequencies.
One additional problem with SU devices, unless they are embedded within the preamp itself such as is the case with the Elliot designs, is that yet another pair of ICs is required. This too can be expensive and can also result in much of the magic lost that would have been attained until that extra cable was added.
And then there's the all solid state or all tube phono stage followers. Again, it's the ultra low noise vs. harmonic textures, decays, etc.
I have had very good results with all of these but currently an all tubed phono stage is providing me with the most 3-dimensional sound I have had in my phono setup. At very high volume, the little bit of noise (on the softest of passages) is easy to ignore because of these other strengths. You have to try some products of each of these designs that you can afford and go with the one that brings you the closest to the music.
I use a Koetsu Rosewood Signature and I have found the 1k load to be ideal. Anything lower and too much is lost in the upper frequencies.