A23 SUT is home !

[Jerome W]

So, following Matt and Serge 's advices, I ordered to Keith Ashenbrenner a SUT for DL103. Not the Hommage version, the regular one.
It arrived today.
Listened to a few tunes.
Definetely more dynamic than going direct from the 103 to the MC input of the Shindo Giscours. The 3D sense also went a step higher. The sound is more unrestrained.
But it seems to me that the increase in resolution concerns also the surface noise. Moreover, in the MC input, volume turned at maximum on the Giscours, there is absolutely no sound coming from the drivers ! Absolute zero ! While I get a nice hum using the MM input with the A23 SUT.
An other thing I noticed is that the MC input direct gives a sweeter sound, more voluptuous. Probably less neutral but seems warmer.
Need time to confirm but for sure the A23 gives what it is intended to give : higher dynamics and definition.
Do I prefer it over the MC direct ? Not sure yet. Will need more time.

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[chessman]

Jerome, let it break in and then give us a full report. I have been wondering if a SUT would help my analog rig, but now you have me wary.

[PHC1]

Jerome, make sure everything is grounded properly. Also may want to play with the gain on the amp and preamp so that it falls into a better, less noisy range between the two settings. Of course let the SUT settle a little and do some listening.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by chessman

Jerome, let it break in and then give us a full report. I have been wondering if a SUT would help my analog rig, but now you have me wary.

Randy,

This is the question I wanted to ask. Do SUT break in ?

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[fjn04]

Jerome- You also may want to experiment with placement of the SUT itself. That has made a difference in my system.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Jerome, make sure everything is grounded properly. Also may want to play with the gain on the amp and preamp so that it falls into a better, less noisy range between the two settings. Of course let the SUT settle a little and do some listening.

Yes Serge, I started to play with the gain of the amps. Will test that further.

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[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by fjn04

Jerome- You also may want to experiment with placement of the SUT itself. That has made a difference in my system.

Will try that, thanks.
At this time, the SUT seats on a massive wood shelf.

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[chessman]

Jerome, I know next to nothing about SUT's, but I did find this article.

6moons audio reviews: MC Step-Up Transformers - A Primer

[Jerome W]

Thanks Randy.
Not sure I understood the way they make a star ground.
What surprises me is that there is no ground at the input of the SUT. So the ground of my phono cable stays in the air ??

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[turntable]

Hi Jerome

Congrats. the SUT should be used with the mm stage as it needs 47k load.

The mc input is giving you a warmer as it is not loaded at 47 k, unless your mc input has 47k. Also with you mc input you would be going through 2 x suts. It should not sound better after the sut has broken in.
The sut will need at least a 100 hours to fully flesh out. But, heh if it is sounding better into the mc stage keep listening for the burn in period then try the mm.

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As other have indicated, plat around with the sut position and grounding. Run a wire from sit to pre amp, phono stage and even no ground might work. You need to try every option.