A transformer is not a device for amplification, but a device for transformation, as can be seen from the name. In the secondary winding, the power is less than in the primary winding.
It does not add noise, but destroys microdynamics.
Phono Stage and XLRs
- Thread starter jadis
- Start date
It does not add noise, but destroys microdynamics.
sorry, incorrect name transformed
Of course it amplifies the signal, the step up ration gives the factor. Every component through which current flows adds noise, e.g. a resistor. Very good, now everyone is throwing away their MC transformers. then I can buy them cheaply because they can't do microdynamics
This is ansorry
The point is that adding an additional transformer in the signal path because the tonearm/cartridge has XLR connectors is a bad idea.
Very good, now everyone is throwing away their MC transformers. then I can buy them cheaply because they can't do microdynamics
The point is that adding an additional transformer in the signal path because the tonearm/cartridge has XLR connectors is a bad idea.
From my experience I can say that every low-resistance MC cartridge benefits from a good transformer. I keep my tube circuit simple 2 stages + mc sut ( 70db amplification) is enough for the cartridges I know. What is important is interference-free, low-capacitance cabling then there are no problems. I understand even if you just don't like transformer.
To claim that transformers are a bad way to amplify pickup signals is nonsense. Bye
P.S a other question why you buy a nagra phono with input sut?
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Maybe I missed something, but why additional transformer is a must for XLR / balanced input?
Sure, that is the case if you use an input transformer or an MC transformer with center tap. But, how about for phonos with full balanced active MC gain stage, is additional transformer still needed for XLR / balanced input here?
Touching the plates with brushes or striking the triangle can be veiled by the MC transformer compared to the transistor MC preamp. Some like a transformer, others like active amplification, it's a matter of taste.
At the same time, the noise level of active amplification is much lower than when using a real XLR input.
@SVS you mentioned noise level. There’s no denying the benefit of a MC transformer when it comes to noise level. When I read about people having to change tubes to reduce noise in their Aesthetix preamps, for example, I just smile. A stepup transformer can solve that problem (as well as sound better in my opinion).
My phono preamp consists of a 1:10 transformer and a 2-stage tube circuit, and there is no audible noise even at full volume with a 0.2m v MC cartridge. Granted, my tube preamp is quiet to begin with (no 12ax7 or 6dj8 tubes, thank you), but the stepup transformer is what really makes the difference.
My phono preamp consists of a 1:10 transformer and a 2-stage tube circuit, and there is no audible noise even at full volume with a 0.2m v MC cartridge. Granted, my tube preamp is quiet to begin with (no 12ax7 or 6dj8 tubes, thank you), but the stepup transformer is what really makes the difference.
This is usually due to the suboptimal adaptation of the transformer (Ohm & capacity). I think we're talking past each other. For me, XLR cables are only about the wiring, not how the signal is processed. XLR has (two for the signal and one for shield and housing ground). RCA mostly uses grounding and shielding together. This increases the susceptibility to external disturbances. You can use the XLR for SE mode, full balanced mode is not required. Try it, you have a low capacity due to the lack of shielding on the cable in the signal path. Only the same two inner conductors determine the capacity of the phono cable sounds much better.
Pin earth housing tonearm earth
Pin signal ground
Pin signal
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An analogue of the MC transformer is a solid-state amplifier. With the current level of technology, its noise level is slightly higher than that of a transformer. No noise can be heard from the listening position either. But the sound is a little different.
MC preamr on tubes has unacceptably high noise, here you are right.
Capacitance does not matter for MC cable. An input resistance of 10-100 Ohms makes it possible to have a capacity of many thousands of pF.
use ecc808 for inputstage ten times smaller miller capacity than an ecc83. newly developed in 1963-1964 9pin double triode special made for this. First time seen in saba telewatt amp.
*my avatar pic
I went to a Siemens D3a for my input tube nearly 20 years ago. It continues to deliver the goods sonically and it lasts a long, long time. With a lifetime supply of D3a tubes, I doubt I will be making any changes there.
I'm doing it right now. I usually use a cascode at the input, it has high gain and low noise. And relatively high plate current.
Now I have an ECC808 and want to make a comparison. Earlier I made a comparison with the ECC83 and I did not like it.
I use a tube (7308)/FET cascode differential pair for input. No need for transformer. This is followed by another differential pair gain stage and differential cathode follower as buffer. More than 80dB gain overall and no transformer needed. The phases are tightly balanced with constant current sinks. If the cartridge input is floating, it gives 60dB of CMRR. No point in grounding one pin. My cartridge output is 0.17mV (Ikeda 9TT) and the preamp is dead quiet. Some people prefer the sound of transformers, but I don't. BTW, I opted to use Lemo sockets instead of XLR anyway.
Like this sounds damn good.
