Topic: LOMC with ADI FS

Looking to move towards digital RIAA via the RME ADI Pro SE.  My turntable is using a LOMC and am wondering if anyone is using some sort of active amplification without RIAA to feed into the RME instead of using a SUT (trying to avoid going this route).

2 (edited by KaiS 2023-09-21 21:28:23)

Re: LOMC with ADI FS

I wouldn‘t hesitate to use a high quality Step Up Transformer.
With proper impedance matching it‘s by far the cleanest way connecting a Low Output MC cartridge.

Quality transformers don‘t come cheap, and they don‘t come from Ali Express and the like.


E.g. a 2nd hand Ortofon T-30 1st Gen. still is ~ $600, but worth every penny.
It‘s switchable input impedance matches with every MC available, with unmeasurable distortions and not the slightest compromise in FR response.

3 (edited by MatrixS2000 2023-09-24 16:46:15)

Re: LOMC with ADI FS

Thanks Kais.

Am also considering a DIY SUT using a pair of these:

https://www.sowter.co.uk/specs/1480.php

4 (edited by KaiS 2023-09-25 10:18:32)

Re: LOMC with ADI FS

MatrixS2000 wrote:

Thanks Kais.

Am also considering a DIY SUT using a pair of these:

https://www.sowter.co.uk/specs/1480.php

If these are suited to your cartridge depends on the MC model and it‘s specs.

The Sowter 1480 has a max. transfer ratio of only 1:10, = 20 dB voltage gain.
Typical Low Output MC SUTs have ratios of about 1:50, = 34 dB gain.

This is 14 dB difference and the Sowter is no good match e.g. for a 3 Ohm MC.

So you might not get enough level for a noiseless operation of the RIAA input.


If you want to save and your MC has:
about 2-4 Ohm and,
ca. 0.1 mV or more output, 1000 Hz, 5cm/s,
look for a 2nd hand Ortofon T20.

They go for 200 bucks and share the specs of the famous T30, minus the switchable impedance.

Re: LOMC with ADI FS

Hi Kais, thanks again for the info!

My cartridge outputs 0.3mV at 3.54cm/s with an internal impedance of 7.2 Ω.

If the 1480 does not provide enough gain, they also provide a 1:20 option.

6 (edited by KaiS 2023-09-25 22:05:50)

Re: LOMC with ADI FS

MatrixS2000 wrote:

My cartridge outputs 0.3mV at 3.54cm/s with an internal impedance of 7.2 Ω.

The 3.54cm/s (one channel only) is a different expression of the typical 5 cm/s (left and right channel driven).
Just a different way of measurement.

This way the 0.3 mV (one channel) equals 4.2 mV (both channels).
Factored with x10 from the Sowter 1480 you’d end up with 4.2 mV output, in the lower part of the normal range of what MM pickups offers.

The load impedance the cartridge sees would be 450:Ohm (ADI-2’s input impedance of 47,000 Ohm is transformed with the square of the transformer ratio), unnecessary high.


MatrixS2000 wrote:

If the 1480 does not provide enough gain, they also provide a 1:20 option.

The Sowter 1990 1:20 transfomer would be a better match:
https://www.sowter.co.uk/specs/1990.php

Output 8.4 mV, cartridge load 113 Ohm.

The 6 dB higher output results in a better S/N ratio.

With it’s widely variable input reference level (gain) ADI-2/4 Pro SE can easily handle the higher input voltage, as my practical experiences showed.


Watch out: the description text for the 1990 primary wiring is wrong:
Primary series connection = 1:10, parallel = 1:20
For 1:20 link grey with red, and orange with white.
For 1:10 link orange with red, and use grey and white for input.

The interconnect cables transformer to ADI-2 should be as short / low capacitance as possible.


BTW: the Ortofon T-20 won’t fit, the T-30 would.

Re: LOMC with ADI FS

Thanks KaiS.

If anyone else is going down this road, here are some useful calculators:

http://mh-audio.nl/Calculators/StepUpTransformer.html

8 (edited by KaiS 2023-10-01 17:21:28)

Re: LOMC with ADI FS

MatrixS2000 wrote:

Thanks KaiS.

If anyone else is going down this road, here are some useful calculators:

http://mh-audio.nl/Calculators/StepUpTransformer.html

Nice, although a bit unusual to view the principle of a transformer based on the impedance.
Usually you look at it based on the transformer ratio.


Watch out:
The last paragraph “Resistor tuning” is complete nonsense.

One should not modify the resistive load on the secondary of a transformer away from what it was built for..
If you lower the load resistor from the standard 47 kOhm, you will have a significant loss of treble due to the transformer’s inductance.

If you load the secondary of the transformer with a higher impedance, for example 100 kOhm, you will have a treble boost due to the insufficient damping of the transformer’s internal resonance.


An MC cartridge doesn’t need a certain load to work best.
This is one of these typical misunderstandings of technically un-knowledgeable people that made it’s way into becoming a myth.

In fact an MC cartridge has a minimum load resistor below of which it starts to lose treble response, again due to its internal inductance.
This is the load resistor value the manufacturer publishes in his specs, and one shouldn’t go lower.

Higher than spec’d load resistors, e.g. 1000 Ohm instead of 100, don’t change anything.