Advice on SUT for Koetsu Rosewood - EAR MC-4, Slagle/EMIA, other


I recently tried a friend's Sound Traditions Hashimoto hm7 transformer-based sut and overall the sound was substantially more Dynamic and alive and generally better than my current Berning preamp MC section. The problem was the images were just so large and the presentation a little too forward for my tastes. I am thinking a different Sut such as the EAR MC- 4 or an Intact Audio (Slagle) Step Up Transformer, copper.

Has anyone used these Sut's and could advise about whether they might do what I'm looking for? I'm hoping to add more dynamics and life but I do prefer a slightly laid-back presentation to a forward one and I don't want giant instruments in the soundstage. I listen to mostly old Jazz and Blues with some rock and classical mixed in. I am not looking for the last word in in treble detail or "air" and my biggest sonic priorities are organic , rich mids, good sounstaging, and a realistic tonal balance that does not accentuate the top end as so many components seem to do (IMHO). So I guess I am looking for a sut with a reputation for musicality and richness, without javing a forward sound. But I would love somethng as amazing sounding as the Hashimoto HM-7 based SUT.

My system is a Koetsu Rosewood Signature (.4mv), Jelco 850M on a Sota Star Sapphire, Berning all-tube bespoke capacitance coupled preamp (46 dB gain on the MM stage, Jensen transformers on the moving coil stage), Quicksilver v4 monos, Verity Audio Pafisals.

Thanks for any thoughts.


montaldo
Which the above answers my thoughts that in the ideal world the SUT would be built and tailored exactly to the cartridge in question.
Makes it a bit of a pain if you swap carts a lot though......
Which the above answers my thoughts that in the ideal world the SUT would be built and tailored exactly to the cartridge in question.
Makes it a bit of a pain if you swap carts a lot though......


I can just swap SUTs for almost any LOMC because smart manufacturers like Luxman made at least 3 different toroidal silver plug-in SUTs for one base connected to the arm and phono stage, very easy to swap in 5 seconds. On that page you see 2 of them, but there was actually one more in the middle (8025 for 3-40 Ohm). There is a SUT for any situation, for carts under 3 Ohm, for carts over 3 Ohm til 40 Ohm, for carts over 40 Ohm. But most of my favorite LOMC are all low impedance, anything from 0.17 mV works fine. 

Any modern manufacturer can offer something like that ?
Not really Uberwaltz, most of the best cartridges now a days are very low impedance. I would just get  transformers for low impedance cartridges.
IMHO an internal transformer is always better. I guess some people are not so hot with a soldering Iron.
Chakster, The Sowter trandformer for low impedance cartridges is good for 1-15 ohms. 1:10 or 1:20. 

Mike
@mijostyn i think we have many good SUTs available today, but the prices are sick for many of them. An old japanese SUTs are great and very cheap compared to modern SUTs, so i’m happy with my Luxman 3 in one.