Hana SL + Technics SL1210mk2 + ? SUT ?

[indy]

Today I’ve installed a new cartridge on my vinyl Techie system. I suggested that there must be any time tu burn in for a new cart. And here I ask you to advise me a more suitable Step Up Transformer (SUT) for this cart. In cart manual impedance is 30 Ohm and loading is more than 400 Ohm.

[CageyH]

Do you really want a SUT or would you try a headamp?

[indy]

Yes, I have already a pair of SUTs - Cinemag CMQEE-3440AH (25 dB/1:18) and Fidelity Research XG-5 (26 dB/1:20). And think about which one will be more suitable with this cart...

[chris@panteg]

Try both and see what happens, both should work but you may find a preference.

[indy]

And one more thing - my tube phono stage have its own gain of 39 dB.

[chris@panteg]

How's it going? The Hana SL is a cartridge I'm considering for my next MC.

[indy]

How's it going? The Hana SL is a cartridge I'm considering for my next MC.

It's only in beginning of burn in process. So all is well till now. Hope will be a progress in sound after burn in. I've read about recommends of nearly 50 hours of burn in for this cart.

[Audio Al]

I think the burn in may be snake oil :eek:

If the cart is set up correctly it will sound good , VTA ,Tracking weight , Azimuth ( if thats how you spell it )
Also a proper clean record surface is needed , Get these right and Bingo two fat ladies :D

[chris@panteg]

Not really a burn in, but the suspension settling perhaps.

[montesquieu]

Not really a burn in, but the suspension settling perhaps.

Agree, most new cartridges need a period where the suspension loosens up/beds in. Though 50h is a bit long (120 sides!). 15-20h should do it. If it's not floating your boat by then, it's probably not going to change much.

Agree with Al though that setup matters far more than break-in.

[indy]

I think the burn in may be snake oil :eek:

If the cart is set up correctly it will sound good , VTA ,Tracking weight , Azimuth ( if thats how you spell it )
Also a proper clean record surface is needed , Get these right and Bingo two fat ladies :D
And don’t forget that it’s a LO MC cart. So proper loading is very important here.

[CageyH]

So what is the loading of your cart using your SUTs into your MM phono stage at the moment?

[indy]

So what is the loading of your cart using your SUTs into your MM phono stage at the moment?

Now according a Cinemag SUT specs (better sound is with HI gain settings):

lo gain:
input impedance: 600 ohms
voltage gain: ~9 times = ~19 dB

hi gain:
input impedance: 150 ohms
voltage gain: ~18 times = ~25 dB

But I have one more choice with FR XG-5 SUT specs (here I can't decide which gain is more preferable):

Mid - 3-18 ohm (26 dB) 1:20
High - 18-40 ohm (22 dB) 1:12,6

[montesquieu]

Now according a Cinemag SUT specs (better sound is with HI gain settings):

lo gain:
input impedance: 600 ohms
voltage gain: ~9 times = ~19 dB

hi gain:
input impedance: 150 ohms
voltage gain: ~18 times = ~25 dB

But I have one more choice with FR XG-5 SUT specs (here I can't decide which gain is more preferable):

Mid - 3-18 ohm (26 dB) 1:20
High - 18-40 ohm (22 dB) 1:12,6

What works best is what sounds best. Don't get too hung up on specs.

Regardless of the minutiae of impedance measurements and recommendations, I'd expect this cartridge to sound best out of the options above on the high gain setting of either SUT (both in the region of 1:20 ratio, it would appear) though take care not to overload the MM phono stage. (With a tube phono stage you have more overload flexibility than solid state, so that may not be an issue). My bet on sound quality would be on the FR.

But that's just a guess, go with what your ears tell you.

[chris@panteg]

Yes I agree with the above, and am keen to know what you think of it, I have a Puresound T10 SUT and Guy Sergeant tells me that the Low ratio setting of 1-18 144 ohms will work very well with the Hana SL.

[indy]

Till now I’m use it with Cinemag on Hi gain setting. But the volume is low and normal listening level is on eleven of clockwise. I think it’s too high enough.

[martian sunrise]

My SL sounded better and more open at 470R v 120R

[montesquieu]

My SL sounded better and more open at 470R v 120R

Presumably on an active device? SUTs work differently to head amps or adjustable MC phono stages.