MC Step-up transformers

mantisory · 10th August 2006, 02:56 PM

Hi there,
I am just wondering if anyone knows any good sources of information on hand winding MC step-up transformers...or would it not be worth my time to try it?
Mantisory

phn · 10th August 2006, 07:35 PM

Do you like the idea of winding 1-2 km magnetic wire 1/4 the size of a human hair 3000 turns on a three chamber bobbin with a few pct tolerance on a core made of a couple dozen paper-thin layers? At least that's how Telefunken used to do it. That's on the extreme end. Most are not made that way.

With good to great step-up transformer around for about $100, you probably have to want to make your own for it to make much sense.

mantisory · 10th August 2006, 07:51 PM

where do you find a

Quote:

good to great step-up transformer around for about $100

? most i've seen have been more in the 4-500$ range for a pair...

phn · 10th August 2006, 08:27 PM

There always seems to be some Peerless 4722 on eBay.

Haufe transformers turn up fairly regularly. T42 has a step-up ratio of 1:20, T41 1:10. My guess is that they come from old Klangfilm gear. They were used as input/balancing transformers.

All tend to bring around $100/pair. More if they are boxed or mounted.

I believe Shindo and Auditorium 23 source their transformers from Haufe. The legendary, and ridiculously high-price, Neumann BV-33 was probably sourced from Haufe as well.

zix · 10th August 2006, 08:45 PM

Mc transformers for less than 500 dollars? How about Lundahls? They have several different winding ratios available

LL1678 1+1+1+1 : 16+16 Moving coil input. Amorphous core. about 60$ each.
LL1681 1+1 : 13+13 Moving coil input. Mu metal core. about 85$/each.
LL9206 1+1+1+1 : 10+10 Moving coil input. Amorphous core. about 60$/each.

I will shortly be using the LL1578 (not the 1578XL, I don't know if the XL will work as an mc stepup trans). The 1578 is listed as a microphone input transformer, but can be used as an mc stepup too. 1:10 or 1:5 ratios is possible. I got lucky, was offered a non-RoHS pair for less money, didn't hesitate.
All of these are probably very good. Prices for these are in dollars as I found them on http://kandkaudio.com/. http://www.lundahl.se/ is the manufacturer web site.

Or how about the Sowters?
8055 Studio Phono 1:10, "fully balanced", about 57 pounds/each
9575 1:20 Low Z, about 49 pounds/each
9570 1:10 Low Z, about 49 pounds/each
9580 1:12.5 High Z. about 49 pounds/each
All of these are also probably very good. Prices for them are in Sterling Pounds as I found them on http://www.sowter.co.uk.

mantisory · 10th August 2006, 08:53 PM

hmmm...for some reason i thought the lundahls and sowters were much more - i guess i had the s&b's on the mind or something

thanks!
Mantisory

phn · 10th August 2006, 08:54 PM

I forgot the new stuff. I have never used anything but vintage transformers. I was going to mention Lundahl, but...

Jensen is another alternatives, and it's on your side of the pond.

SY · 10th August 2006, 09:05 PM

Jensen is a fine alternative. Their 1:10 stepup is (IIRC) about $80.

I've got a pair of 4722s myself. For the era, they're pretty good. But at least on paper, the modern stuff walks all over it.

phn · 10th August 2006, 09:16 PM

I wouldn't get the 4722 myself. But they are common in your part of the world.

I probably will try some of Lundahl's transformers. Like Haufe, they use amorphous core.

enilsen · 12th November 2006, 02:21 PM

I don't know if I’m barking up the wrong tree here, but I've seen microphone transformers with reasonably good specs starting at about $10 and up.

I can only assume the more you pay for a transformer, the better it should be but these low budget items have got me thinking they might be able to substitute the less expensive MC step-up items.

Would I be wasting my time if I was to go out and purchase a pair of CP8201 microphone transformers .

10th August 2006, 02:56 PM	#1
mantisory diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: toronto	MC Step-up transformers Hi there, I am just wondering if anyone knows any good sources of information on hand winding MC step-up transformers...or would it not be worth my time to try it? Mantisory

10th August 2006, 09:05 PM	#8
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicagoland Blog Entries: 1	Jensen is a fine alternative. Their 1:10 stepup is (IIRC) about $80. I've got a pair of 4722s myself. For the era, they're pretty good. But at least on paper, the modern stuff walks all over it. __________________ If there's a sucker born every minute, where do the rest of them come from?

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10th August 2006, 07:35 PM	#2
phn diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	Do you like the idea of winding 1-2 km magnetic wire 1/4 the size of a human hair 3000 turns on a three chamber bobbin with a few pct tolerance on a core made of a couple dozen paper-thin layers? At least that's how Telefunken used to do it. That's on the extreme end. Most are not made that way. With good to great step-up transformer around for about $100, you probably have to want to make your own for it to make much sense.

10th August 2006, 08:27 PM	#4
phn diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	There always seems to be some Peerless 4722 on eBay. Haufe transformers turn up fairly regularly. T42 has a step-up ratio of 1:20, T41 1:10. My guess is that they come from old Klangfilm gear. They were used as input/balancing transformers. All tend to bring around $100/pair. More if they are boxed or mounted. I believe Shindo and Auditorium 23 source their transformers from Haufe. The legendary, and ridiculously high-price, Neumann BV-33 was probably sourced from Haufe as well.

10th August 2006, 08:45 PM	#5
zix diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sweden	Mc transformers for less than 500 dollars? How about Lundahls? They have several different winding ratios available LL1678 1+1+1+1 : 16+16 Moving coil input. Amorphous core. about 60$ each. LL1681 1+1 : 13+13 Moving coil input. Mu metal core. about 85$/each. LL9206 1+1+1+1 : 10+10 Moving coil input. Amorphous core. about 60$/each. I will shortly be using the LL1578 (not the 1578XL, I don't know if the XL will work as an mc stepup trans). The 1578 is listed as a microphone input transformer, but can be used as an mc stepup too. 1:10 or 1:5 ratios is possible. I got lucky, was offered a non-RoHS pair for less money, didn't hesitate. All of these are probably very good. Prices for these are in dollars as I found them on http://kandkaudio.com/. http://www.lundahl.se/ is the manufacturer web site. Or how about the Sowters? 8055 Studio Phono 1:10, "fully balanced", about 57 pounds/each 9575 1:20 Low Z, about 49 pounds/each 9570 1:10 Low Z, about 49 pounds/each 9580 1:12.5 High Z. about 49 pounds/each All of these are also probably very good. Prices for them are in Sterling Pounds as I found them on http://www.sowter.co.uk.

10th August 2006, 08:53 PM	#6
mantisory diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: toronto	hmmm...for some reason i thought the lundahls and sowters were much more - i guess i had the s&b's on the mind or something thanks! Mantisory

10th August 2006, 08:54 PM	#7
phn diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	I forgot the new stuff. I have never used anything but vintage transformers. I was going to mention Lundahl, but... Jensen is another alternatives, and it's on your side of the pond.

10th August 2006, 09:16 PM	#9
phn diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	I wouldn't get the 4722 myself. But they are common in your part of the world. I probably will try some of Lundahl's transformers. Like Haufe, they use amorphous core.

12th November 2006, 02:21 PM	#10
enilsen diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	I don't know if I’m barking up the wrong tree here, but I've seen microphone transformers with reasonably good specs starting at about $10 and up. I can only assume the more you pay for a transformer, the better it should be but these low budget items have got me thinking they might be able to substitute the less expensive MC step-up items. Would I be wasting my time if I was to go out and purchase a pair of CP8201 microphone transformers .