Step Up transformer

@sksos1 

Kondo-san (RIP) taught me over 20 yrs ago to use SUTs. Audio  Note Japan only built MM phono stages and only built MC cartridges so had to use SUTs. Their own KSL SUT was wonderful and a perfect match to their IO-m cartridge. 

Unfortunately I had a listening session on Kondo's full reference system, set up by Kondo personally ( $1m back in the 80's ) - sounded lovely until I put a big orchestral record on, at which point the system fell to pieces - no speed and timing fell to pieces. Other than that it was nice if you like everything coated in sugar.

Other than that it was nice if you like everything coated in sugar.

Agree 110%. When I sold Kondo ANJ gear I would inform ever customer that Kondo gear sounded very earthy, woody, euphonic, but in a pleasing way. This didn't stop me from selling over 6 -10 Ongaku's and dozens of their SUTs. I myself got tired of their euphonic sound, so I moved on, but as I stated, it was a pleasant sound, something you could listen to for hours on end.

What turned me off to the Kondo amplifiers was hearing a comparison between the Ongaku and the Kegon, in the same room on the same day and with all Kondo system components up to and including the speakers.  Both amplifiers sounded "very nice" but were clearly and obviously different from each other in tonal balance. Assuming there should be a final common pathway to excellence, I would have expected the two amplifiers to differ mainly on how much of a good thing each presented, with the Kegon being a bit better because of its cost being about 2X that of the Ongaku.