Step up transformers, good, bad or maybe?

[Pete]

Gents,

A very timely thread!!

I just picked up a Conrad Johnson Premier 15 MkII phono stage with CJD teflon caps upgrade


Now this phono stage has 53 db gain, as opposed to my Modwright SWP9.0SE phono stage which as 68db from the MC stage. I am using a Zyx cart with 0.34mv output.

So the CJ and the Modwright faced off today, with a good friend of mine adding his fine tuned ears to the evaluations.

The CJ proved the superior phono stage which I thought was no small feat compared to the Modwright. The CJ had more dynamic bass that is better defined and not slightly bloated like the Modwright. The mids are more fleshed out and the highs are more resolving, just a more transparent and natural presentation. The Mod sounded a bit CDish or solid stateish if that makes sense?

In the end we both agreed the CJ had the better presentation.

As with all things audio there are seldom all positives.

Now one advantage for the Modwright is that it has a lower noise floor. At matched listening levels the Modwright had no discernible hiss, while the CJ has some low level hiss which can be heard. Not too objectionable, unless you go for fairly loud listening levels, at which point the hiss becomes distracting on quiet passages.

I plan to put in some better tubes, and this may help somewhat, but ultimately I have been looking into step-up transformers for the CJ, which is essentially an MM phono stage, albeit an incredibly good sounding one.

I'm sure there are insanely priced SUTs, but I was looking into the Bobsdevices SUTs like others here. I had seen some reviews from Jerry Siegel on 10audio, and was intrigued. He had the same CJ phono stage and realized the virtual elimination of hiss and a positive sonic benefit from the higher signal levels going into the CJ.

Has anyone heard the Sowter transformers, or the Altecs that Bob sells?
How about other transformers and how they compare to Bobsdevices?

Cheers,
Pete