Mark Lavigne has recently shared his experience with SUTs. I just went through a similar process over the last months.
Until recently, my only experience with SUTs was that my Allnic phono stage H3000V has a built in variable SUT. I have been very happy with the Allnic. When I acquired the SAT tonearm, I was looking at a way to improve my analog setup and getting in on par with my Studer A80 and Nagra IVS tape decks.
A little flashback. At the 2007 Munich High End show, I stopped by the booth of Calamighty Sound, now Anamighty Sound, and had a very pleasant conversation on cartridge retipping. I kept their contact details. Ked has reported on this Paris based niche analog specialist.
In fall last year, I reached out to François Saint-Gérand, the Manager of Anamighty Sound and purchased a cartridge for my second system. François indicated that he had many SUTs that I might want to try. I did not accept his offer right away.
Several weeks later, Flyer and I attended the Analog Audio Show in Krefeld. One of the rooms that really got my attention was demoing two Primary Control Turntables fitted respectively with a Lyra Etna SL and a Lyra Atlas SL. They were connected to two large cans. These were SUTs from Consolidated Audio Berlin. Michael Fremer has recently reviewed one.
Back home, I found out that François was the distributor of Consolidated Audio. I contacted him an enquired whether it would be possible to test these SUTs in my system.
In early January, François kindly drove from Paris to Brussels and we tested several combinations of SUT (copper and silver wiring) that were matching my cartridge specifications.
I could not believe what these Monster Cans could deliver. There was clearly a significant step up of performance in all areas. I immediately placed an order for a silver wired SUT with a nano-crystalline core. Michael Ulbrich from Consolidated Audio made me a special edition with extra low primary inductance to meet the very low internal impedance of my Transfiguration cartridge.
A pair of silver phono cables from François’ own Brand (Sculpture A) was added to the mix that was delivered in late March. At that time, the cables were a demo pair as François had still to build a pair for me.
We had agreed that François would pay and bring the final phono cables and review the turntables setups. Due to Covid 19, we had to postpone this visit to the summer. In mid-July, François came along with Frédéric Verhoye, his show room manager and we spent the whole day together. It was a very busy day as François and Frédéric had to take care of not one but three turntables.
François and Frédéric are mastering turntable setup like no one else. They spent several hours fine-tuning the SAT tonerarm which yielded in significant improvements. The gap between the main turntable and the tape decks has clearly narrowed.
François had also brought his new baby: a little SUT from his own brand, the Sculpture A Mini Nano Step Up. This SUT has a toroidal nano-crystalline core and the winding is in 99,99% copper. It is available in several ratios. As I wanted to test it in on my secondary system, a ratio of 1:15 was chosen to match the Lyra cartridge.
I could not believe what this humble little box could deliver. Suddenly, there was more air as well as a sense of relaxation and ease. The test was so conclusive that I told François that the little SUT was here to stay. François and Frederic took the time to improve the set up of my Thorens TD124 turntable.
This small SUT can also be paired with its matching phono MM stage, the Sculpture A Mini Phono. It is a made of 100% discrete electronic components and it operates in Class A without feedback. Though I have not tried the combination with its SUT sibling, I actually purchased this little phono stage for my son’s system. All I can say is that it delivers wonders at a very reasonable price. François and Frédéric also took the opportunity to setup my son’s turntable as they installed a new MM cartridge.
I can only concur with Ked’s comment. Anamighty Sound is effectively mastering the science of analog setup in spades.
Until recently, my only experience with SUTs was that my Allnic phono stage H3000V has a built in variable SUT. I have been very happy with the Allnic. When I acquired the SAT tonearm, I was looking at a way to improve my analog setup and getting in on par with my Studer A80 and Nagra IVS tape decks.
A little flashback. At the 2007 Munich High End show, I stopped by the booth of Calamighty Sound, now Anamighty Sound, and had a very pleasant conversation on cartridge retipping. I kept their contact details. Ked has reported on this Paris based niche analog specialist.
In fall last year, I reached out to François Saint-Gérand, the Manager of Anamighty Sound and purchased a cartridge for my second system. François indicated that he had many SUTs that I might want to try. I did not accept his offer right away.
Several weeks later, Flyer and I attended the Analog Audio Show in Krefeld. One of the rooms that really got my attention was demoing two Primary Control Turntables fitted respectively with a Lyra Etna SL and a Lyra Atlas SL. They were connected to two large cans. These were SUTs from Consolidated Audio Berlin. Michael Fremer has recently reviewed one.
Back home, I found out that François was the distributor of Consolidated Audio. I contacted him an enquired whether it would be possible to test these SUTs in my system.
In early January, François kindly drove from Paris to Brussels and we tested several combinations of SUT (copper and silver wiring) that were matching my cartridge specifications.
I could not believe what these Monster Cans could deliver. There was clearly a significant step up of performance in all areas. I immediately placed an order for a silver wired SUT with a nano-crystalline core. Michael Ulbrich from Consolidated Audio made me a special edition with extra low primary inductance to meet the very low internal impedance of my Transfiguration cartridge.
A pair of silver phono cables from François’ own Brand (Sculpture A) was added to the mix that was delivered in late March. At that time, the cables were a demo pair as François had still to build a pair for me.
We had agreed that François would pay and bring the final phono cables and review the turntables setups. Due to Covid 19, we had to postpone this visit to the summer. In mid-July, François came along with Frédéric Verhoye, his show room manager and we spent the whole day together. It was a very busy day as François and Frédéric had to take care of not one but three turntables.
François and Frédéric are mastering turntable setup like no one else. They spent several hours fine-tuning the SAT tonerarm which yielded in significant improvements. The gap between the main turntable and the tape decks has clearly narrowed.
François had also brought his new baby: a little SUT from his own brand, the Sculpture A Mini Nano Step Up. This SUT has a toroidal nano-crystalline core and the winding is in 99,99% copper. It is available in several ratios. As I wanted to test it in on my secondary system, a ratio of 1:15 was chosen to match the Lyra cartridge.
I could not believe what this humble little box could deliver. Suddenly, there was more air as well as a sense of relaxation and ease. The test was so conclusive that I told François that the little SUT was here to stay. François and Frederic took the time to improve the set up of my Thorens TD124 turntable.
This small SUT can also be paired with its matching phono MM stage, the Sculpture A Mini Phono. It is a made of 100% discrete electronic components and it operates in Class A without feedback. Though I have not tried the combination with its SUT sibling, I actually purchased this little phono stage for my son’s system. All I can say is that it delivers wonders at a very reasonable price. François and Frédéric also took the opportunity to setup my son’s turntable as they installed a new MM cartridge.
I can only concur with Ked’s comment. Anamighty Sound is effectively mastering the science of analog setup in spades.
