Best suited phono stage for ZU 103?

[Theo]

Just picked up an Esco-re-tipped (Paratrace stylus) ZU 103 cartridge. Will initially use it with my Whest stage, but wondered what experience people here have of other suitable phono stages for this revamped Denon beastie? It will sit in the Trio arm, not the SME V.

[Riislingen]

Broadly speaking: SUT+Valves !

This of course covers a LOT of options - the combination of a suitable SUT (100 Ohm load and 10-15X step up) and a valve based MM stage absolutely does it for me.

Suggest you look at: Auditorium23, NOS Partridge, Bob´s Devices/Cinemag, Marthas SUT and similar for stepup. In the valve department Croft springs to mind :cool: but also EAR and lots of others are great.

[Barry]

Just picked up an Esco-re-tipped (Paratrace stylus) ZU 103 cartridge. Will initially use it with my Whest stage, but wondered what experience people here have of other suitable phono stages for this revamped Denon beastie? It will sit in the Trio arm, not the SME V.

I would commend the Haufe T-7883 10:1 SUTs with 12kOhm resistors across the secondary windings.

[Marco]

Hi Theo,


Just picked up an Esco-re-tipped (Paratrace stylus) ZU 103 cartridge. Will initially use it with my Whest stage, but wondered what experience people here have of other suitable phono stages for this revamped Denon beastie? It will sit in the Trio arm, not the SME V.

Like Mikkel and Barry, I'd thoroughly recommend using a quality step-up transformer, in conjunction with the MM section in your Whest phono stage, as it will bring out the magic in vinyl like very few standalone MC stages can do. An obvious candidate is the Hashimoto H7, as I've heard it with Martin T's PS-30R, and the combination is to die for - very good indeed!

I guess it depends on how much you want to spend... Another candidate would be the Ortofon Verto, which has a low and normal impedance setting, and would thus suit both your 103 and Cadenza, in particular.

Another option is to go the high-quality vintage route, as Denon made some very good (sadly now discontinued) SUTs specificially designed to match the DL-103 and their other 'desirable' MC cartridges. There are a few I could recommend, but the one which stands out most is the AU-S1:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Denon-AU-S1-MC-Step-Up-Transformer-Made-in-Japan-/280452123882?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item414c3fccea

It's a superb sounding SUT, and no doubt would also work very well with your Cadenza (although, here I would expect the Verto to sneak ahead). Auditorium 23 SUTs are also superb with DL-103s, although less so with other cartridges, as they've been specifically voiced to match the Denon and SPU.

The decision is yours, however if you haven't tried a quality SUT before with your Whest, then quite simply, you haven't heard your records properly yet!! ;)

Marco.

[Riislingen]

Obviously I completely forgot about the Whest and just babbled on :mental:

Marco is right, using the MM stage of the Whest with the SUT is the way to go in this case. Only price will be the limiting factore going forward..

I´m using the vintage apparoach with Partridge tranformers loaded down with a couple of resistors like Barry is suggesting - works fantastic.

[Theo]

Guys

Thank you all for the advice :) Hadn't really considered SUTs in the past, but am looking at various options. The Auditorium A23 looks interesting...

[Marco]

They're very good indeed, Theo (as I used them for years), and the UK distributor, The Sound Practice, are brilliant to deal with:

http://thesoundpractice.com/index.html And for info on the A23 SUT: http://thesoundpractice.com/new-products.html#D103

The main man there is James Almey (also of Tom Tom Audio). Thoroughly recommended! Just tell James that you know me :)

Marco.

[Theo]

I will do that :)

[Marco]

Nice one, mate. Let us know how you get on! :cool:

Marco.

[Mika K]

One of my carts is Zu 103 and have used few SUTs with it and good quality MM-phono with tubes. Would definitely start looking the Auditorium 23 if pricing is ok as know it works extremely well.

The black horse for the race could be the Silvercore MC One To Ten, which have not been testing myself but have heard very good feedback of that one even when compared to A23.

http://www.oswaldsmillaudio.com/Products/silvercore.html

[Theo]

The problem I've got is finding a SUT that ideally suits both cartridges, as swapping the internal MC and MM settings within the Whest is a PITA, and negates a quick change round. This may discount the Auditorium A23 if it is not ideally suited for the Ortofon (which sounds fabulous through the Whest's MC setting). I'd like to try the Choir Audio / Hashimoto one, but it's a bit pricey.

Alternatively I could look for a separate MM stage to use alongside the Zu103/A23. Decisions decisions...

[Marco]

Hi Theo,


The problem I've got is finding a SUT that ideally suits both cartridges, as swapping the internal MC and MM settings within the Whest is a PITA, and negates a quick change round. This may discount the Auditorium A23 if it is not ideally suited for the Ortofon (which sounds fabulous through the Whest's MC setting).


So, from that, I presume that you've now tried an A23? Thanks for telling us! Lol... ;)

What you're saying is exactly what I've said before. The A23 is specifically designed to match the DL-103 and SPU (a different version). It is not specifically designed to match your Ortofon Cadenza.

For that, your best bet would be a Verto, as it should sound fabulous with both the Denon and the Ortofon, when used on its appropriate settings. I would also expect the Cadenza to sound EVEN BETTER, through the Verto, and into the Whest's MM stage!


Alternatively I could look for a separate MM stage to use alongside the Zu103/A23. Decisions decisions...

Indeed, you could do that, but it would be a bit of a faff. If you really want the best sound, then buy the A23, for the Denon, and the Verto, for the Cadenza, and simply swap between SUTs, through the MM stage of the Whest, depending on what cartridge you're using :)

Marco.

[Theo]

Nope, haven't tried the A23 yet. Trying to get one on loan as step 1. Step 2 is a Verto loan ( have a source for both). Pushing it to get a Choir loan as no uk dealer ( I believe that's correct?). Can hopefully then make an informed decision.

ZU 103 sounds pretty good directly into the Whest, btw. Always nice to play though. Thanks for the many pointers :)

[Marco]

Ah, sorry, I misread what you wrote earlier... Good move, btw!

The Zu will sound pretty good into the MC stage of the Whest, but when Martin T (who owns a PS.30R) and me have tried it, at his place, his Shelter cartridge, and my SPU always sound WAY better, through his Hashimoto SUTs, and into the Whest's MM stage, than directly into the MC stage of the Whest.

The difference is pretty much night and day! Let's hope that you can achieve the same :)

Btw, if you really want to max-out on the Cadenza, the Ortofon ST80SE is most likely to be the one. I'm using one now with my SPU, and the sound produced is stunningly good!! :eek:

Marco.