Phono recommendations for Koetsu

I have always believed that the best bang for the buck in SUTs must be those made by Jensen in Southern California. Those guys really understand transformers. They offer guidance, and they make a few different models suitable for cartridges with different electrical parameters. Audiophiles don't pay much attention to Jensen, however.

A lot of good recommendations for SUTs. I agree with Lewm that Jensen makes terrific SUTs. I've heard a number of impressive tube phonostages where Jensens were on the front end.

I sort of disagree with the generalization made about the Audionote transformers being overpriced. Audionote's lower line transformers sound quite good and are competitively priced. Like most of the rest of the Audionote line, one pays dearly when moving up the line; the premium stuff sounds better, but, costs MUCH more for comparatively small increments of gain.

Larry, thanks for the vote of confidence on the AN "lower line" transformers. I'm not really prepared to spend more than $1k or so just getting into SUT's. I recently listened to the S8 paired with the M8, AN MC cartridge, and "big" AN table. Not sure which AN amps they were going through. AN E silver sig. speakers, i think. Very impressive.

Jaffeassc,

Where did you hear that Audionote setup? The big table, if it is a TT-3, is extremely rare. It is the best table I have ever heard, but the three large power supplies for the three motors, and the 800 watt draw per per supply makes that table highly impractical.

I use a Nagra VPS with mine and it sounds great. I also tried the BPS and that was very good.