I have the ARC SP-8 preamp with a MM phono section for years. I have gone through many step-up transformers including the last one I had (Counterpoint SA-2 Tubed pre-preamp) which I thought was the best of them all. In my opinion, even the best step-up will deteriate the sound quality to a certain extent. The best sound is the most direct path from your source to your speakers. Anytime you add another piece of component and interconnect you will loose in sound quality. I had the Benz Ruby (0.35mV) and had experimented with or without any step-up. The results have always been better in sound quality without step-ups but without the proper dynamics. I love the SP-8 and don't want to replace it with a MC phono stage which could be very expensive. I have always liked the details coming from MC cartriges and don't want to use a MM catrdge. The problem was just about all MC cartridges are low output. In recent years, there are many very good quality HO MC cartridges coming onto the market. I finally sold the Ruby low output and bought a HO MC cartridge. Now, the sound quality remains and the dynamics is there too. To me, the best step-up should be right at source. Most MC phono stages have built-in step-up transformer as well as tubes to reach the gain they need. Most tubed MM phono stages use only tubes for the gain. I think that makes a difference. Before, we didn't have too many choices but now we have choices of many good quality HO MC cartridge. Good luck.
Step-up Transformer, what's lost?
Hello all:
I'm currently on my third phono-pre, and I still don't have enough volume! My cartridge is a low output MC (0.23mv), so, by the time I get the volume to my listening level, I get a hiss from the tubes, or a scratch from solid state during the quiet passages of music.
I'm thinking about adding a step-up transformer but I'm afraid of losing detail.
What is the collectives' experience with the trade-off when adding a transformer?
I'm currently on my third phono-pre, and I still don't have enough volume! My cartridge is a low output MC (0.23mv), so, by the time I get the volume to my listening level, I get a hiss from the tubes, or a scratch from solid state during the quiet passages of music.
I'm thinking about adding a step-up transformer but I'm afraid of losing detail.
What is the collectives' experience with the trade-off when adding a transformer?
- ...
- 15 posts total
- 15 posts total