Hello,
I assembled a PH-16 tube phono preamp from Tubes4Hifi and have been more than happy with a modest Nagaoka MP-110.
Now I upgraded my cart to a Denon DL-103 which needs a step-up stage. Since I plan to keep the Denon for a while, I thought I could add the step-up stage directly inside the custom-built cabinet of the PH16, and save myself another box hanging around, plus connectors, cables, etc.
I plan to buy a pair of Sowter 9570 (opinions are welcome, including about the OCC option).
I never built a step up stage so I have some basic questions:
Do I need any other components other than the transformers?
Do I need any schematics, or is the wiring obvious?
How much do the Sowters heat up? Do they need special dissipation or air flow?
Any physical layout considerations, e.g. distance from power supply or signal circuitry, etc.?
Thanks,
gm
I assembled a PH-16 tube phono preamp from Tubes4Hifi and have been more than happy with a modest Nagaoka MP-110.
Now I upgraded my cart to a Denon DL-103 which needs a step-up stage. Since I plan to keep the Denon for a while, I thought I could add the step-up stage directly inside the custom-built cabinet of the PH16, and save myself another box hanging around, plus connectors, cables, etc.
I plan to buy a pair of Sowter 9570 (opinions are welcome, including about the OCC option).
I never built a step up stage so I have some basic questions:
Do I need any other components other than the transformers?
Do I need any schematics, or is the wiring obvious?
How much do the Sowters heat up? Do they need special dissipation or air flow?
Any physical layout considerations, e.g. distance from power supply or signal circuitry, etc.?
Thanks,
gm
Wiring diagram should come with the transformers. There is almost no current (unless wired to the wrong spot), so no heat.
You will need to put them for least hum pick up. That's going to depend on proximity to the power transformer, grounding, etc.
Google transformer loading, particularily reflected impedance to load your cartridge correctly.
You will need to put them for least hum pick up. That's going to depend on proximity to the power transformer, grounding, etc.
Google transformer loading, particularily reflected impedance to load your cartridge correctly.
Option #2
Thanks Dan. I also thought that if I can incorporate the SUT in the turntable (a Thorens TD-150 that I don't mind altering) and have the tonearm wires connected directly to the transformers, I might have less signal loss / noise in the turntable interconnects.
Bad idea?
gm
Thanks Dan. I also thought that if I can incorporate the SUT in the turntable (a Thorens TD-150 that I don't mind altering) and have the tonearm wires connected directly to the transformers, I might have less signal loss / noise in the turntable interconnects.
Bad idea?
gm
Sowter is a very good solution.
They sounds great.
No heat just to put attention on wire connection to avoid hum.
On Sowter sie there are also indicaton on wiring.
Walter
They sounds great.
No heat just to put attention on wire connection to avoid hum.
On Sowter sie there are also indicaton on wiring.
Walter
I ordered the Sowters and will first try to attach them to the tonearm wires and from there to the TT output jacks. I have good and short, but not stellar, TT interconnects (0.5m Belden) so I am concerned about the very weak MC signal traveling through them before they reach the step up.
I just installed silver Litz tonearm cables with my DL103. Some other step-up transformer info sheets I saw suggest to twist the tonearm wires tightly. Is it a good advice for the Sowters too?
I just installed silver Litz tonearm cables with my DL103. Some other step-up transformer info sheets I saw suggest to twist the tonearm wires tightly. Is it a good advice for the Sowters too?
Hello,
If you have some space left i would mount the transformers directly under the tone arm so can avoid using connectors for such a very low signal. Take care that the turntable transformer is not close to the Sowter. Once i had a Thorens with its power transformer right under the platter. Moving it further away from the cartridge gave more detail. There was no hum but still an improvement.
Take care that you wont use a very stiff cable between console and arm otherwise the turntable suspension will not work properly. If you tickle the arm cable you dont want the cartridge to pick up the tickle so to say.
If the cables entering the transformer or leaving it you could use them to isolate the suspended part of the turntable from the console. You can use a stethoscope to capture the best way to isolate.
One of the other members wrote a wise remark. The DL103 is a cartridge that is best to be used in a heavy and sturdy arm.
Greetings, eduard
If you have some space left i would mount the transformers directly under the tone arm so can avoid using connectors for such a very low signal. Take care that the turntable transformer is not close to the Sowter. Once i had a Thorens with its power transformer right under the platter. Moving it further away from the cartridge gave more detail. There was no hum but still an improvement.
Take care that you wont use a very stiff cable between console and arm otherwise the turntable suspension will not work properly. If you tickle the arm cable you dont want the cartridge to pick up the tickle so to say.
If the cables entering the transformer or leaving it you could use them to isolate the suspended part of the turntable from the console. You can use a stethoscope to capture the best way to isolate.
One of the other members wrote a wise remark. The DL103 is a cartridge that is best to be used in a heavy and sturdy arm.
Greetings, eduard
Thanks for the advice. And yes, I will follow gigigirl's advice, once I have the budget for a better arm...
gm
gm
I use a Denon AU-300 with my Denon DP45 turn table and DL103 cartridge. It was designed for use with this cartridge.
It works very well.
There are several on ebay that are newer versions than mine currently for less than $200.
Steve
It works very well.
There are several on ebay that are newer versions than mine currently for less than $200.
Steve
Better? Really? I have no experience with this particular transformer but have others that would eat a 797 for breakfast. At least the way i hear it.
Must have? Again, it is a personal preference. Mine is for a mid-mass tonearm.
I see no advantage in placing the transformer close to the tonearm and have longer wiring to the phono stage. None. All the transformer does is trade current for voltage and it is very debatable where the shorter cable should be, i.e. on the voltage or current side.
The high impedance part of the circuit is more sensitive to hum pickup and the cable capacitance is more likely to result in high frequency attenuation.
Fortunately the TD-150 has good separation, with the motor circuitry on the opposite side of the tonearm.
Now I'm really hijacking my own thread, but the advice on Cartridge / Arm Matching seems solid. The problem is that I can't find effective mass mentioned for many older, heavier arms.
I might go for a Denon DA-307 or similar, since these seem to be broadcasting station tonearms made by the same company not much later than the DL-103, so they may have been designed with that cart in mind (DL-103 is expressly mentioned in the DA-307 manual).
I did exactly what you did right down to the Sowter transformers. I used octal based 1990s which are switchable between 1:10 and 1:20. I mounted them on top so I can swap them out or jump them if I want to try something else. I too didn't want another box with two sets of interconnects. I am very happy with how mine turned out. I have it wired so I can switch between the 2 step-up ratios and I can lift the ground and of the shields.
Here is my wiring diagram with help from the HiFiHaven crowd:
Actual wiring:
Here is my wiring diagram with help from the HiFiHaven crowd:
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Actual wiring:
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Attachments
As your links don't work, why don't you upload your pics to the forum for posterity.
jeff
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I used the DL103 with my Ekos (mid-mass) & I assure you can't extract the best SQ of the cartridge, it's simply listenable.
That's a good idea. Unfortunately, the 9570 don't seem to come in that format, so I ordered the ones with wire leads.
FYI, I ordered my SUTs at Sowter in April and they gave me a 12-week (sic) fulfillment time. On top of COVID-19, Brexit and source material shortage, they have been acquired by another company. They could not offer the OCC option at the moment. They better sound great when I get them!
Interesting, I didn't try and complete my order but the options were there for both the octal as well as the OCC wire. The drop down menus were functional. Mine came in at about 8 weeks.
