Question: Should you ever use an external Step Up Transformer (SUT) (lets say it's matched with your cart) on a phono amp that uses internal SUTs to boost gain? (I.e. not a MM input). My understanding is that many phono amps use SUTs on their MC inputs but these are not necessarily matched to your cart so you double up on SUTs using a matching one first before your phono amps' one or is that sacrilegious? Assume that the overall gain is not excessive.
Question: Should you ever use an external SUT (lets say it's matched with your cart) on a phono amp that uses internal SUTs to boost gain? (I.e. not a MM input). My understanding is that many phono amps use SUTs on their MC inputs but these are not necessarily matched to your cart so you double up on SUTs using a matching one first before your phono amps' one or is that sacrilegious? Assume that the overall gain is not excessive.
Question: Should you ever use an external Step Up Transformer (SUT) (lets say it's matched with your cart) on a phono amp that uses internal SUTs to boost gain? (I.e. not a MM input). My understanding is that many phono amps use SUTs on their MC inputs but these are not necessarily matched to your cart so you double up on SUTs using a matching one first before your phono amps' one or is that sacrilegious? Assume that the overall gain is not excessive.
i'm an SUT rookie that got my hand held firmly to find my 'happy place' with a pair of SUT's. so not an expert.
but my sense is that getting the magical synergy from the right SUT is a balancing act and more than just doing the math. so stacking SUT's as you suggest would defeat the minimalist aspect that makes SUT's greater than the sum of their parts. it would get in the way of that ease and musical connection and nuance that they can bring.
you do need a proper 40db, 47k ohm MM input to have a chance at the right balance. but you might investigate your EMT phono and see if there is a circuit adjustment that might allow for one of the inputs to be set at 40db of gain. it's such a swiss army knife of a phono stage you would think it could be made to accommodate an SUT. it might need to be sent back to the factory but my guess is it could be done. in essence it would be wiring around the internal SUT for that input.
You should match the one SUT to your phono stage taking into consideration the gain you need and the specific electrical specification of your cartridge.
i'm an SUT rookie that got my hand held firmly to find my 'happy place' with a pair of SUT's. so not an expert.
but my sense is that getting the magical synergy from the right SUT is a balancing act and more than just doing the math. so stacking SUT's as you suggest would defeat the minimalist aspect that makes SUT's greater than the sum of their parts. it would get in the way of that ease and musical connection and nuance that they can bring.
you do need a proper 40db, 47k ohm MM input to have a chance at the right balance. but you might investigate your EMT phono and see if there is a circuit adjustment that might allow for one of the inputs to be set at 40db of gain. it's such a swiss army knife of a phono stage you would think it could be made to accommodate an SUT. it might need to be sent back to the factory but my guess is it could be done. in essence it would be wiring around the internal SUT for that input.
Thanks Mike. Alas I don't have the EMT anymore but a Zanden Jinpu. It has settings for different gains but I need to see if any of them can accept a MM input through a SUT.
Never do such thing. The goal is to bypass the internal SUT by a much better one. My Allnic H3000V phono stage is fitted within an internal SUT and I have a bespoke SUT built by Consolidated Audio to match the specs of my cartridge.
Never do such thing. The goal is to bypass the internal SUT by a much better one. My Allnic H3000V phono stage is fitted within a internal SUT and I have a bespoke SUT built by Consolidated Audio to match the specs of my cartridge.
i'm an SUT rookie that got my hand held firmly to find my 'happy place' with a pair of SUT's. so not an expert.
but my sense is that getting the magical synergy from the right SUT is a balancing act and more than just doing the math. so stacking SUT's as you suggest would defeat the minimalist aspect that makes SUT's greater than the sum of their parts. it would get in the way of that ease and musical connection and nuance that they can bring.
you do need a proper 40db, 47k ohm MM input to have a chance at the right balance. but you might investigate your EMT phono and see if there is a circuit adjustment that might allow for one of the inputs to be set at 40db of gain. it's such a swiss army knife of a phono stage you would think it could be made to accommodate an SUT. it might need to be sent back to the factory but my guess is it could be done. in essence it would be wiring around the internal SUT for that input.
I never owned the EMT phono but I sent Tang a cartridge with built-in transformer and he couldn’t use it in his phono. Zanden’s other top phono stages oddly lack a MM input, might be the case with Jinpu too.
I never owned the EMT phono but I sent Tang a cartridge with built-in transformer and he couldn’t use it in his phono. Zanden’s other top phono stages oddly lack a MM input, might be the case with Jinpu too.
I used a couple of SUTs on my EMT mm inputs but I think you’re right about the Zanden. It seems to only have 4 MC inputs (2 balanced and 2 rca), although you can select low or high output MC on each input.
I used a couple of SUTs on my EMT mm inputs but I think you’re right about the Zanden. It seems to only have 4 MC inputs (2 balanced and 2 rca), although you can select low or high output MC on each input.
I used a couple of SUTs on my EMT mm inputs but I think you’re right about the Zanden. It seems to only have 4 MC inputs (2 balanced and 2 rca), although you can select low or high output MC on each input.
it won't hurt to ask Zanden if one input can be made for 40db, 47k ohms MM. the fact that you can choose between low and high gain likely indicates that there is a 40db gain then + 15db or + 25db or something like that. if so it might be doable and something they have done before. the literature on the unit might get into that aspect of the design.
it won't hurt to ask Zanden if one input can be made for 40db, 47k ohms MM. the fact that you can choose between low and high gain likely indicates that there is a 40db gain then + 15db or + 25db or something like that. if so it might be doable and something they have done before. the literature on the unit might get into that aspect of the design.
As far as I can tell the gain is 65 or 71db but this would be rather close! As you said 40db and 65 would make more sense.I am trying to verify with Zanden.
Never do such thing. The goal is to bypass the internal SUT by a much better one. My Allnic H3000V phono stage is fitted within a internal SUT and I have a bespoke SUT built by Consolidated Audio to match the specs of my cartridge.
Question: Should you ever use an external Step Up Transformer (SUT) (lets say it's matched with your cart) on a phono amp that uses internal SUTs to boost gain? (I.e. not a MM input). My understanding is that many phono amps use SUTs on their MC inputs but these are not necessarily matched to your cart so you double up on SUTs using a matching one first before your phono amps' one or is that sacrilegious? Assume that the overall gain is not excessive.
