End Game Phono Preamp (tube)

you get the best MC sound quality with a properly matched and loaded SUT into a MM phono. theres no debate on that. 

@cey  Actually there is. Properly matching an SUT is beyond most audiophiles for starters since you need a square wave generator and an oscilloscope to do it properly. 

But SUTs have limited bandwidth- they rob the bottom end of impact and cause phase shift in the highs, which the ear perceives as a coloration. Their primary advantage is low noise with a LOMC cartridge, but even with tubes you can get low noise with them as well. A second advantage is they can receive the balanced signal from the cartridge (which is a balanced source) and neatly convert to single-ended. But there are phono preamps that have balanced inputs as well. I prefer the additional transparency of no transformers. Its pretty easy to hear. 

so ease of switching loading/gain is preferred (soldering resistors is a no go! So are dip switches located inside the unit

 @fastricky If the designer of the phono section went to school and thus understands what happens when you put an inductor (cartridge) in parallel with a capacitance (tone arm interconnect cable) then you don't have to worry about 'cartridge loading' at all since that is done for the benefit of the phono section and does not affect the output of the cartridge at all. So its plug and play. An additional side benefit it less ticks and pops which can be generated by the phono section when the input circuit overloads from the RFI generated when you put the inductance and capacitance in parallel. 

So if you're looking for 'end game', seek a phono section that does not need 'cartridge loading' setup. 

I have been listening to my Thoress Preamp with its phono stage inside, also available as a standalone phono stage. Not cheap but probably the best phono stage I’ve heard up to $25k-$30k. It’s remarkably musical and engaging. Details and free from anything that takes you out of the music in an emotional way. I have to say it just makes music. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a tube preamp or tube phono stage. I think the tube phono stage is around $12k USD ($16k Can$), They do come up used from time to time the. Unique looks in an historic industrial way but very nice.

Just a note, extra inputs usually only mean adding a selector switch and a few wires not that much more cost. Maybe a few loading resistors but not overly more money to add more inputs. So, I would not get hung up on that.

the debate is over,  @atmasphere,  he verdict has been in a long time"you get the best MC sound quality with a properly matched and loaded SUT into a MM phono.t case closed.

improper matching and loading can result in less than ideal performance. the shortcomings of headamps create a tangible, audible shortcomings that  an MC with a  properly matched and loaded SUT dont. that doesnt go both ways. 

I have heard a Sculpture A SUT custom wound for a Miyajima Cartridge.

The experience is written about on the Gon, where I am stating that the impression is very good.

I am not sure if at any time I have been demoed a SUT which is matched to Phonostage? Should I be chasing the Holy Grail and having an experience of the SUT's upstream interface being matched and the downstream interface being matched? Curiosity wins on all occasions when I am involved. 

Currently, I'm all about an SS Phon' with both MC Input in use and the SUT > MM Input in use. Other investigations will need to be on hold. 

My experiences with Valve Phon's have left me unimpressed when JFETs are used to create an MC Input. That is not to say there is not a JFET design in use that does make a good impression. I am only one person, so not too important what I say.  

the debate is over,  @atmasphere,  he verdict has been in a long time"you get the best MC sound quality with a properly matched and loaded SUT into a MM phono.t case closed.

@cey  This statement is false, based on a logical fallacy of limited sample size. 

You cannot get the bandwidth of direct-in from the best SUTs available. SUTs also have distortion due to the sigmoid curve that is a function of all transformers. Case closed on that.

This isn't saying that all SUT setups are inferior to all phono sections that can operate direct-in. But the two parameters I listed are very real. However the question really is: is it worth it going direct in since the extra gain needed will result in more distortion?

A way around that of course is to run the direct-in circuit fully differential. Not only will it be lower distortion; it will also be lower noise. When comparing side by side with the correct loading for the SUT, the direct-in has always been more transparent (BTW the best way to know that is to have access to the master tape; I've been doing recordings and mastering LPs so this is not a challenge). 

We spec our phono section to 100KHz on the RIAA de-emphasis curve. Most SUTs are incapable of that sort of response. Yet we don't have issues with RFI and if a different cartridge is used, its plug and play. No having to sort out what the correct loading is (which, if an SUT is used, will be different from cartridge to cartridge).

The debate is far from over; its not really a debate anyway, since it won by what works the best as opposed to wordplay.