Premium Phono SUT Transformers for High-End Audio Systems

CineMag started making high quality moving coil cartridge phonograph step-up transformers before 1980.  The earliest ones were marketed as “Jensen Transformers by Reichenbach Engineering.” (Note the part number prefix “JE”.) Phonograph records trailed off in popularity for a number of years as a sought-after resource of recorded sound in the home.  There is a major resurgence in popularity of vinyl disc records.  Because these recordings are recorded and mastered either fully analog digitally recorded material in very high definition, they have the ability to deliver nuances and details that are often lost with “modern” digital systems.

Moving coil cartridges comprise the most popular style of high performance cartridges, with a little competition from optical pickups.  The low mass of the signal generating part of the cartridge gives it a mechanical advantage over moving magnet pickups because less mass needs to be physically moved to generate a signal.  However, the output voltage is very low and it needs to be amplified actively to be useful in a preamplifier or, ideally, the signal level is increased by transformers (2 for stereo) to a useful level.  If directly amplified without a transformer, the noise of the amplifier is added to the signal.  Also, simple voltage amplification only increases the voltage component of the signal. 

A good transformer not only incorporates the voltage from the cartridge, but it also uses the current component to deliver a  faithful voltage signal on the secondary.  The preamplifier can only sense the voltage.  The transformer must deal with the complex and varying reactance of the cartridge while faithfully delivering an accurate voltage signal on the secondary.

Using a transformer yields a better signal-to-noise ratio.  It also helps overcome hum and buzz problems.  

Not all MC cartridges are alike.  CineMag has gone to great lengths to engineer a number of different transformers to properly interface with a large range of MC cartridges.  This work includes exhaustive listening tests and engineering tweaks using many different cartridges.

If you are not absolutely sure which transformer you need, tell us what you are using.  We are here to help you attain the very best performance from your audiophile system.