I'm currently building a Vintage Tube Audio PH16 phono preamp and have ordered a Denon DL-301 mkii MC cartridge (0.4mV, 33 ohm) to go with it. I am new to MC cartridges and am wondering if you would mind providing a little guidance on selecting an SUT.
Since the PH16 is designed for a standard 5mV MM cartridge, it would seem to require an SUT with a 1:12.5 turns ratio (0.4 * 12.5 = 5), and I'll likely have to adjust the value of the input resistors in the phono stage. Am I thinking correctly here?
Most SUTs seem to come off the shelf with ratios of 1:10, 1:20, and 1:40. The Sowter 9580 is right on the money at 1:12.5, although the products overview page lists it for carts with impedances greater than 40, which is 7 more than the DL-301ii so I'm not sure how well that would work. I've emailed Sowter about it an am awaiting a response.
Here are some SUTs I'm considering. Do these seem appropriate to the application? Any others to consider? I'm also wondering which ones you might prefer based on experience.
* Sowter 9580
* Sowter 9570
* Lundahl LL9226
* Cinemag 3440
* Cinemag 1254
* Silk MC-2100a
Thanks!
Since the PH16 is designed for a standard 5mV MM cartridge, it would seem to require an SUT with a 1:12.5 turns ratio (0.4 * 12.5 = 5), and I'll likely have to adjust the value of the input resistors in the phono stage. Am I thinking correctly here?
Most SUTs seem to come off the shelf with ratios of 1:10, 1:20, and 1:40. The Sowter 9580 is right on the money at 1:12.5, although the products overview page lists it for carts with impedances greater than 40, which is 7 more than the DL-301ii so I'm not sure how well that would work. I've emailed Sowter about it an am awaiting a response.
Here are some SUTs I'm considering. Do these seem appropriate to the application? Any others to consider? I'm also wondering which ones you might prefer based on experience.
* Sowter 9580
* Sowter 9570
* Lundahl LL9226
* Cinemag 3440
* Cinemag 1254
* Silk MC-2100a
Thanks!
You could always use a 'head amp' to produce the required gain, instead of a SUT. 🙂 The advantages are twofold, IMO:
1. You generally have a lot of flexibility re. the gain (typically, changing the value of a resistor or two), and
2. You can get the precise R loading you like with your cart (by using a parallel pair of input RCAs). This is difficult with a SUT because, the R load presented to the cart is influenced by the square of the turns ratio (ie. the gain).
Andy
What about the Lundahl LL1681? It's got a 1:13 option which would bring my cart to a 5.2mV output that's probably right around 5mV after internal impedance.
Anyone have experience with the 1681? A sense of how it compares to other SUTs?
Anyone have experience with the 1681? A sense of how it compares to other SUTs?
By 'head amp', you might be thinking of a headphone amplifier?
In vinyl systems, a 'head amp' - aka pre pre amp - is merely a gain stage. I have seen them made with tubes (too noisy, IMO) but these days they are normally made with JFETs.
Have a look on the Hagerman site.
Regards,
Andy
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