Stereo Equipment I Didn't Know Existed That Makes A HUGE Difference
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- Опубліковано 27 тра 2024
- In this video, I discuss and review the Quadratic Moving Coil Step Up Transformer by Quadratic Audio. I share my experience with this Quadratic MC-1 and the difference it made when added to my stereo equipment. I blind tested four different songs to come up with some interesting results. Is a Step Up Transformer something that can work for you? I will let you know my impressions and whether I think they are worth the purchase. I discuss music by Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Ted Nugent, and the Alan Parsons Project.
Here is the link to Quadratic Audio for more information and reviews for the Quadratic MC 1.
www.quadraticaudio.com/
Here is a list of my stereo equipment
Rega Planar 8 Turntable
Apheta 3 Cartridge
MoFi Sourcepoint 10 Speakers
Rega Aria MK 3 Phono Preamplifier
Emotiva BasX PT1 Preamplifier
Emotiva BasX A-300 Amplifier
2 Rel S/510 Subwoofers
#VinylCommunity #MelindaMurphy #VinylCollection #RecordCollection
What fun it is to hear you reviewing high end stereo gear! You did very well.
Thank you very much. ♥️🤗
Thanks for the information, love your choice of music for your test.
Thank you very much. 🤗♥️
Great idea for a video! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thank you very much! 🤗♥️
I have been looking much more into preamplifiers, etc. lately and i really appreciate you giving me great examples of brands you use and trust
Thank you very much! ♥️🤗
@dimebagdave77…best YT handle ever! 😂🍻
@@jimmyBside thanks Jimmy 😁 I'm more of a Pantera fan than anything else
Love that you are doing equipment videos too. Only so much you can say about the vinyl collection. Now you have more content to work with! Much love!❤
Thank you very much! 🤗♥️
Melinda, great video, i enjoy your down to earth approach to reviewing a product. also kudos to your husband for helping. cant wait for more videos like this from you. also the curls were on point looking great. Brian in Charlotte NC
Thank you for the kind compliments. I definitely owe a big thank you to my husband. He was a tremendous help with this project. ♥️🤗 Take care.
Wow, great video and congratulations on the sonic improvement! I love when the sound improves, it’s kind of like a Eureka! moment. Recently my wife and I had a problem because we needed different volume levels, to the point where we couldn’t listen together, which I hated. I installed monoblock amplifiers (PS Audio M1200) to the front speakers and OMG! We got more & better music at lower volume. Problem solved, what a relief. Please keep up the excellent hardware videos.
I'm so happy for you. What a wonderful way to spend time with your wife. I'm glad that got resolved. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗
Outstanding review!!! Your articulate descriptions and explanations are so helpful! I've been reading hifi reviews for years, and I actually know more now than before about step-up transformers and whether or not I should go that route. And, you somehow look even more beautiful than ever! 🙂
Thank you so much for the kind words. 🤗♥️ Have a wonderful weekend.
Many thanks for the review. I was not even aware of such type of device!
I wasn't either. Lol. It's great to learn something new. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.
@@MelindaMurphy 😂
BTW, did you need to make any adjustments in the Aria? Thanks!
@@MelindaMurphy BTW, did you need to make any adjustments in the Aria? Thanks!
Well if I ever branch out and upgrade my equipment your videos have helped me understand a few things I didn't know. Great video and take care!
I appreciate that. Thank you for the encouragement. Take care. ♥️🤗
I watch you because your gear journey is so very similar to most of us modest HIFI enthusiasts here. Its a very exciting phase of the journey youre in now, learning about little caveats like these upgrades. I'd recommend venturing into room treatment next. Many ways of doing it right while maintaining your decor motif. Good on you Melinda!
Yes. That definitely interests me as well. Thank you and take care. 🤗♥️
That’s interesting Melinda! I’m always curious of different stereo equipment. I think it’s great that your channel includes different equipment options and goes over different pieces that are out there. Maybe in the future more companies will send different turntables, amplifiers, preamps, speakers, etc for you to try. I like the choice of albums that you selected. One of my older amplifiers, a Sansui AU-D33 has two different button selectors for MM and MC. I would like to get a moving coil cartridge in the future and get the full effect of this option.
Yes, learning about and experiencing new stereo equipment is a lot of fun. I would love to do this more often with different kinds of equipment. The only high end cartridge I have owned so far is the Apheta 3 which has been very good for me. Thank you and take care. 🤗♥️
Hi Melinda, Thanks for sharing. I have never heard of that but it does seem very interesting indeed. Thanks and enjoy it.
Thank you very much! ♥️🤗
great, down to earth review of hardware. hopefully you get more hardware to test. the community needs more reviews like this
Wow! Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. ♥️🤗
Thanks for sharing. I’ve seen these devices before at the local Hi-Fi but was too embarrassed to ask for not understanding well about step-up transformers. Your candidness motivates me to dig a little deeper next time :-)
Thank you very much! Once it was explained to me, it was very easy to understand. Take care.
Thanks for doing the research for us, much appreciate anyone who bothers to do good A/B comparisons and reports on them
Thank you very much! It was a lot of fun and a learning experience. ♥️🤗 Take care.
Great video Melinda! Hope all is well with you and family! 😃♥
Thank you! We're doing great. ♥️ Take care.
There’s no way I could afford this add-on but, as usual, I really appreciate the knowledge gained from your videos, Melinda. Thanks again!
I appreciate your kind words. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.
This was a very interesting video to listen to, Melinda! I must say, I was very impressed by your choices of "test" records... the Ted Nugent (self-titled) especially! Bcos 'Stranglehold' is an absolute MONSTER of a 'audiophile' song! Great choice!
Glad to hear about the conclusive impact of the Quadratic MC1. 👍
Stranglehold is a great sounding song and a rock and roll masterpiece. It's one of my favorite songs to play on my turntable. ♥️ Thank you and take care. 😀
Very cool how you transitioned into an Audiophile Stereo Equipment Reviewer, when it comes to playing vinyl records, like I said before, it would be awesome for manufacturers to take notice and send you more gear to demo and review, I love watching those videos as well, great job Melinda!!😎🤘
I would love to review more gear. Thank you for the kind words. 🤗♥️ Take care.
Nice video Melinda, I recently added a Cambridge Audio High Output moving coil cartridge. I use the Pro-ject phono box which has an option for Moving Magnet and one for Moving Coil . It’s a lot cheaper than the step up transformer. I am happy with it. But I live that there are so many options. 🎉🎉
It is great to have options and being happy with what we have is all we can really hope for. That's wonderful! 😃 Thank you and take care.
Very interesting, something to consider, thanks!
Thank you very much! Have a fun weekend. ♥️🤗
I love videos like this when it comes to equipment it's all about making the sounds sound real great im a nerd when it comes to amplifiers , speakers and i love the bass or without bass too wherever you inside your house or outdoors your music definitely got to sound great even im a fan of music in vehicles too when you ride in your car music sounds great and headphones as well it's all great entertainment because music is great for the ears great video Melinda Murphy have a blessed day
This is also something I love learning about. Thank you very much! 🤗♥️
I wholly agree. You only live once. Unless, of course, you're a Buddhist.
GREAT
Another step [pun intended] on your audio journey. Excellent explanation of the benefits for MC cartridge.
Onward & upward in HiFi!
Haha! 😃 Thank you very much!
thanks for sharing Melinda!
You are so welcome! Thank you! 🤗♥️
Great video Melinda! Nice to see you reviewing gear. What I use that makes a big difference in my system is a sonic maximizer. It utilizes the BBE processor.
I have a Sumiko blue point number 2 high output moving coil cart on my project rpm 3 table.
Very nice. Moving up to a moving coil cartridge made a big difference for me. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.
@@MelindaMurphy You’re welcome Melinda. They do make high output moving coil cartridges. Mine has lasted and still going strong. It’s mounted on my project turntable that I bought in 2017. I only play mofi’s and other audiophile records on it. Having a clean record and clean stylus has prolonged its life. Sadly, you can’t replace the stylus. It has to be the whole cartridge. Luckily, I can trade it in on another Sumiko cartridge. Happy spinning! 🤗❤️
This was a very interesting video I'll have to check in to this thank you for sharing very well said have a blessed and wonderful day. 😎👏
Thank you! Have a blessed day! 🤗♥️
Very impressive video Melinda - with a moving coil needle cartridge getting an extra jolt of voltage from the Quadratic MC-1 the stereo landscape becomes much clearer - like when an old movie undergoes digital restoration the picture becomes sharply focused - I really enjoyed when you mentioned the piano appearing stage left with the step up transformer and then appearing behind the vocal center stage without the unit - that's the best commentary you could provide for us - most of us are not tech aficionados my brother is one - I myself primarily listen to music on headphones so I can crank it up without bothering my neighbors - this type of video could be a monthly presentation for us to explore adding to our set-ups using your test results as a guide- Great job Melinda ❤and thanks to Philip for assisting you - See you next week!
Thank you very much for the kind words and encouragement. ♥️🤗 My husband was a big help I'm making this video and testing out equipment is a lot of fun. Take care and have a great remainder of your week.
You have it backwards. The phono cartridge drives the SUT. So there is no extra jolt because the SUT is completely passive. Any electricity going in and out of the SUT comes from the phono cartridge. You may be thinking of a head amp. They do the same thing but they're active.
What the SUT does, has to happen in some form. Before the upgrade, the Rega phono stage amplified the signal using the power amp in the MC part of the phono stage. After that, the signal gets handed off to the MM stage and RIAA EQ. So what's really happening here is the SUT does a better job than the Rega's internal MC amp. But there's no jolt, or any excess electricity. Its simply an upgrade to a better product.
I have been using similar pads under ALL my gear that you have under your records' player). What an amazing upgrade.
Thank you very much! 🤗♥️
That Is One Splendidly Amazing Device...It's Like Instantly Remastering Ur Own LPs...
Yes, it definitely makes a remarkable difference. 🤗♥️ Thank you and enjoy your weekend!
This was such an interesting video! For me, one of the joys of having records is experiencing that great sound quality whenever possible…it’s always such a rush and a great time. Crazy to imagine that Ted Nugent album sounding noticeably better!! It already sounds amazing as is. Definitely something to keep in mind for when I upgrade my setup more. As of now, I’ve been having fun going down the MoFi record rabbit hole a bit. The search and listening experience has been highly enjoyable
MoFi records are awesome. ♥️ I didn't think that Stranglehold could improve that much either. I was very surprised. The difference in the details was quite remarkable. Thank you and take care.
Thanks for your Video. I am thinking about to get a stepup transformer for my phonopre
The MC-1 made a difference and works beautifully with my stereo equipment. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.
Nice one Melinda.. The world of SUTs is fascinating. Enjoy.
Thank you very much! ♥️🤗
Melinda 🎼#2024_more_women_in_vinyl
Never heard of this type of product, in spite of watching multiple UA-cam channels in this subject. I'm sure it makes a very audible difference but at just below $1,800.00, plus shipping and sales taxes, it only makes sense for people with very upscale systems, certainly not mine. New gear is like a bug that, once bitten, it's hard to get off it, because there will be another box, cable, power supply, power conditioner...., you name it, knocking at the door and making that "perfect sound" even more perfect and detailed.
Thanks for another great video.
Yes, I agree that the upgrades can be never ending if you go down that route. Lol. Thank you and take care.
Enjoyed the review.
Thank you! 🤗♥️
@@MelindaMurphy btw congratulations on the Ghostie Award.
@@twofromthetrunk9932 thank you! ♥️
Hi Melinda. I loved your video and you sharing your hifi gear and setups. I am sure you would be able to get some more advice on getting rid of the hum without needing to spend that much.
It's the combination of losing the hum and gaining better imaging, more natural sound and more lower end. This MC-1 did all of that for my system. It is always very smart to do research and seek out advice before making a big decision like this. I appreciate your thoughts. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.
Very cool video I use a high end equalizer and it is amazing when it comes to not hearing certain instruments and vocals etc. But I'm glad you are happy with the new machine
Yes, this made a remarkable difference. Thank you very much. 🤗♥️
Very nice, EQ is an absolute must!
A great review. Nice to see vibration dampeners under your turntable. Another tip: I clean all of the metal connectors on cables and components with deoxidiser fluid every six months or so.
Thank you for the tip. 😃 Take care.
vibration dampeners under your turntable -these work VERY well ! -$9.99 Anti Vibration Pads for Washing Machine Non-Slip Heighten Shock and Noise Cancelling Washing Machine Feet Pads for Washer and Dryer Machine Support Protects Pedestals (4pcs) amazon !
Yes, most moving coils need a gain boost. Some preamps have gain adjustments built in. Sometimes you have to open up the preamp to get to the toggle switches. Some have the toggle switches on the outside back panel. What you have achieved with your transformer is increase the S/N ratio so the hum is below the noise floor.
Yes. The difference is quite remarkable. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.
You seem to know what you are talking about. Although the signal to hum increases, isn't there technically some loss of transient response and clarity with more transformers in the chain? Magnetic transfer through Steel can't be without some signal degredation.
Hi Melinda I just got a new stereo an Onkyo and it sounds just fine. My Yamaha had it lol. But i'm happy listening to my music again. Have a good evening and stay warm.
Thank you! Staying warm is a tall wish. It's freezing here and even in the house it's hard to stay warm. Lol. Take care.
Well It's going down in the low 30's here in florida so BRRR here also lol. Later!!@@MelindaMurphy
Nice review Melinda. One thing to add, use high quality interconnects when using a SUT and keep them short as possible.
Thank you for the tip. 🤗♥️
@@MelindaMurphy I should have mentioned the IC between the SUT and your Rega phono preamp should be less than 1m if possible. This will keep the signal as pure as possible. I use IC's made by Grover Huffman in California. His prices are reasonable and he makes very high quality IC's. Steve Hoffman loves Grover too. 🤣
Hey Melinda, welcome to the dark side of the force! Glad to see you try a SUT and hear about your impressions.
About 6 years ago I started out with a Dynavector 10x5 HOMC (high output moving coil) cartridge which allowed me to use my moving magnet phono stage in my preamp. I then bought a Bob’s Devices Sky 40 SUT to use with a Denon 103, 103r and Dynavector 20x2L low output moving coil carts (LOMC). I now use the Sky 40 into an external tube phono stage/equalizer from Japan called the Sunvalley SV-EQ1616D with my VPI Scout 1.1 turntable (fully manual) and a HANA Umami Blue cartridge. I use the MM setting. The Sunvalley was recommended by Herb Reichert of Stereophile.
On my second turntable, vintage Pioneer PL630 (fully automatic) I recently bought a Lounge Copla (silver wire edition) transimpedence SUT feeding into the MC setting on the Sunvalley. I use a Denon 103 and a Dynavector 20x2L. The Copla is hand made by Robert Morin and was featured in the September 2023 issue of Stereophile thanks to Herb R.
The Denon 103 is a great MC cart to start with for $349.
It can get expensive going with SUTs, but one can always hunt down used SUTs on HiFi Shark. I bought my first used SUT via Craigslist.
Best to you!
It was great to learn about something new that makes such a big difference . You have very nice gear. 😀 Thank you and take care.
Never even heard of this before M! Very cool!
Hi Brandon! Thank you! 😃
It's always a big thrill to when something noticably improves your listening experience. I've been into nice hi-fi since I was about 17. I think one thing that is really nice is a stereo receiver with a mono select (usually a push button. I do have my share of mono records and I remember on my Kenwood Eleven, if I was playing a mono record and I pushed the mono button, surface noise seemed to drop about 5 or ten db. It was very noticable and on many mono LP (and even 78s) distracting noise would close to vanish completely. Unfortunately finding a new receiver with a mono setting is almost impossible. I have some fine sounding mono records but I miss that mono selector. BTW Eye in the Sky is one awesome LP. All the Alan Parsons LPs are wonderful for audio demonstration. Enjoy
I agree. I enjoy listening to Eye on the Sky a lot. It was well recorded. My favorite is Turn of a Friendly Card. Thank you and take care.
Excellent review... Spot On! I highly recommend the Quadratic MC-1. Jam Somasundram did a phenomenal job in designing the step-up transformer! Using it with a Lyra Titan I cartridge. After it "burned-in", I had to lower the VTA a bit to achieve a better balance. The Quadratic is so "clean" and distortion free, I was getting a bit more treble energy!
Thank you! Jam's the man! 😀 He's very kind and obviously knows what he is doing. I have heard that this MC-1 gets even better with time. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.
Once your equipment reaches a certain level , you will be able to discern changes in equipment and tweaks easier . One of a respected audio designer , i forgot who , said everything makes a difference. The biggest difference is usually changing pieces of equipment but the law of diminishing returns becomes stronger the better your equipment gets. That leaves the area of tweaks , be it cables, isolation devices, power purifiers, cable lifters, grounding devices etc , to be able to make improvement to your system at a more reasonable cost. Although some tweaks can cost more than pieces of equipment ie 10's of thousands of dollars. Unfortunately , not all tweaks work for everybody. Hopefully you can try before buying.I have found that isolation devices to be helpful. It could be a new equipment stand to little devices under your equipment. If you wanted to explore this area, i would try the isoacoustics line especially under your turntable. They either have rubber pucks or turntable stands.
cheap washing machine shake isolators work quite well unless you are a real audiophile snob and want to seriously PAY IsoAcoustics DELOS
2216M1 Isolation Platform Base - 22" x 11" x 1.75" - Maple
Rating
73% (by WHO ? LOL🤣
(1)
$599.99 (for a chunk of pretty maple wood and fancy washing machine isolators!
OR
$9.99 Anti Vibration Pads for Washing Machine Non-Slip Heighten Shock and Noise Cancelling Washing Machine Feet Pads for Washer and Dryer Machine Support Protects Pedestals (4pcs)
for " the isoacoustics line "and i LOVED Danny of GR research cable risers made of tinkertoys ! 🤣
You had my attention up until Ted nugent.
Great breakdown! I am a new sub.
Thank you very much. 🤗♥️
I'm glad that your Apheta 3 played nicely with this SUT. The +28 dB setting is a nearly perfect match for its preferred 100 ohm load.
Thank you! Yes, I was pretty amazed. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.
Hey Melinda…Nice to see you popped up, in the feed. Been a while. I need to get caught up and check out the new gear. Especially, those cool looking speakers. Thought of you guys when I got the old Denon 300F out, of the mothballs, a few weeks ago. Been trying to tame a little Klipsch beast. The HO/MC cart, helped a bunch. I’ll have to fire some Uncle Ted after I get in from snowblowing…Hey, small price to pay for record season. ☕️
Yes, Uncle Ted sounds very good on the turntable.🔥 A few months ago, I made a video discussing my new turntable, speakers, everything. If you find that video you will be mostly caught up. I also made a video about my new subs a month ago. Lol. There have been a lot of changes. I remember fondly my former Denon turntable. I have passed it in to a cousin that is also into records. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗
You have a reference System. You have developed over the years an understanding and excellent Audio Analysis. You should review more audio products at the low tier as well as the mid and upper tier as long as the manufacturer embraces you and keep your core record review without alienating the same core audience to which I am a longtime member when you had a small subscription. A thumbs up to a super supportive family in the background yes I see you ❤❤❤.
Thank you very much! I would love to be able to review different equipment for all budgets. I am always going to want to talk about records as well. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.
@@MelindaMurphy Thank You Melinda, I’ll be here enjoying our experience. You and your Family have a wonderful New Year in progress.
Very well done review! I had a similar experience when I changed to an external DAC-- what was a "wash of sound" often resolved into individual instruments (a pleasant shock). Quick vinyl story for you: I've been doing lots of headphone listening, esp after upgrading to a Sumiko Moonstone MM. I'd been using a (recommended) Schiit Vali headphone amp & it was, well, fine. Then I got my old (circa 2010) FatMan tube amp off the shelf & swapped out the Vali. The sound was less accurate, but the fun factor really jumped up with more power + the FatMan has lots of 2nd harmonics!
The "fun" factor is always important. Great sound and fun can't be beat. Thank you for sharing. Take care.
My equipment and ears aren’t at that level which would need this but good to see it all makes a difference. Checking out your Hi-Fi gear - impressive items. I can imagine how amazing it all sounds.
Thank you very much! ♥️🤗
Hi Melinda! The most important thing is that you noticed the difference and you enjoyed such difference so whatever it costs it’s well paid. I’m so proud of you and the more you travel on the audiophile world new positive difference may happen to your listening experience and when it happens it so rewarding. Enjoy your music as much as you can. Peace!!!
I agree. It's exciting to learn about something new and the sound quality improvement was very impressive. Thank you and take care. 🤗♥️
the problem is there is expectations of results bias & there are SO many snake oil scammers selling gear of dubious or NO value ! to make a buck !
Hey ! IF it really works i'm ALL for it !
but SO much is BS hawked by paid shills and hungry YT'ers who get paid to do a video ! they get paid whether it REALLY works or not ! and do not even have to sell them just TALK about them !
ANY improvement should be detectable and measurable scientificly ! good test equipment is FAR better than any human ear!
Will Melinda now we're talking SUT you definitely are now one of the top audiophiles in the VC this for sure. When I heard you talk about the improvements I realized I need something done to lower the noise floor..
My phono section uses a FET to amplify the moving coil. when I saw the price it made me realize I probably need to buy a new phono section instead of an SUT at this point. Thanks so much for the review enjoyed it Also you look great in that dress.
Thank you so much for the kind compliment. This is on loan but I loved the difference in sound quality so much that I am considering buying one at some point. The sound was better and the low hiss was completely gone. Best wishes to you. I have no doubt that you will make a choice that will make your already incredible stereo equipment sound even better. ♥️🤗🔥 I will be listening to the Herbie Nichols album tonight. Thank you for the suggestion. Take care.
@@MelindaMurphy lots of Great piano on this record I think it's the kind of LP you will enjoy. One of the harder things to do in jazz is find a really good jazz piano record it's always dominated by trumpets and saxophones players
Great video. I have always used MM carts and been skeptical of MCs. It would be interesting if you blinded a MC with the step up transformer vs a good MM cart.
That would definitely be an interesting test. Thank you and take care. 😀♥️
Thanks for an enjoyable video. A few thoughts:
1. The hum may have been a ground loop.
2. If the home was still there when doing the tests, would not this easily distinguish which was playing?
3. How do you adjust for the volume differences? Remarkably small differences in tests like these can greatly affect results.
4. Auditory memory is surprisingly short. How long was each sample sand the time between?
Finally, isn't four rather small trial size?
That's so much and keep up the great work!
Thanks for disclosing that it was a loaner, not a gift or paid endorsement...! Great set-up! I have two REGAs - love them.
Thank you! Yes, Rega products are excellent. Take care. 😀
This sounds really cool Melinda. I had a quick search online and unfortunately I can't see anyone who's selling in Australia. Hopefully in time they'll get here so I can check one out.
I'm sorry to hear that. I would think someone could ship to Australia. 🤔 Best wishes and thank you very much.
It all adds up the key is to judge things on sound quality not just how heavy the box is. I noticed some isolation feet under your turntable. I recently stated using some isolation feet made by Stack audio in England. they made a difference in isolating my speakers from the shelf they are on. Better than the previous Isoacoustics separators I used.
I agree. What mattered most was when I closed my eyes and just listened. That's when the truth is revealed. Thank you and take care. 🤗♥️
MC cartridges are sensitive to load resistance. The Quadratic gives you a choice of 82 or 326 ohms. The Rega can be set to 70,100,150 or 400 ohms. Which resistive loads did you listen to ? It can make a huge difference. Lowering the load reduces distortion but can reduce output. In my experience MC preamps have gotten much quieter in recent years and step up transformers are no longer competitive.
Exactly
The MC-1 is set to 326 ohms. The Aria is set to 100 ohms, 1,000 pF loading capacitance and 69.3 dB decibels of gain. Thank you and take care.
Very nice review with the Quadratic Moving Coil Step Up Transformer by Quadratic Audio. Alan Parsons (genius) Project "Eye In The Sky" LP. Indeed. Splendid addition in review.
Personally would be very intrigued, intently listening to Godley & Creme's "Consequences" LP through the Quadratic Moving Coil Step Up Transformer. Cheers.
All of my records have been elevated with this Quadratic MC-1. I'm sure "Consequences" would be a great listen. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗
Great review. I learned about the step-up transfer. Just FYI: My Yamaha C-65 preamp has selectable MM & MC inputs with selectable load/voltage choices. I wonder how this compares to the step-up transformer.
That is an excellent question. I'm pretty confident that this would take care of any hiss in your system and boost the sound quality in a great way. That's just something you would have to discover for yourself like I did. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗
Very nice my friend and great video
Thank you Curtis. I hope you are cranking up the heat. 🥶 Take care.
@MelindaMurphy I do my friend you keep warm too.
Great choices of artists, know them all. 😊
Thank you! 😀
A step-up is on my shortlist. I have a very good phono pre , the Pearl2. I will in the near future build a tube-pre and then I can use a SUT to be able to use my MC cartridges (Hana ML, Ortofon Cadenza red ) . Looking forward to comparing those to set-up's will be fun!
That sounds like a great plan. Have fun! 🤗♥️
Excellent review. Good explanation of what a step-up transformer is. Did I miss the price? Also, the sticks you're talking about used on a drum set are brushes. And I think the gentleman's name is pronounce "Yam" instead of "Jam".
The price is $1800. If I have been mispronouncing his name, I sure do apologize. He's such a kind man that he probably wouldn't correct me. 😀 Thank you and take care.
Being a "cartridge swapper" I needed a phono preamp that I can use either MC or MM . I have the Project Phono Box S3B. It handles both types of Carts. It also has controls for gain(step up), capacitance, ohms, & has balanced Ins/outs. Sounds good to me.
Sounds great. I'm not one for switching out my cartridge but I know many of us in this hobby do. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.
@@MelindaMurphyThe only cartridge swap I do is for my mono records, which I have a lot of. It's amazing what sound I get.
I recently bought the impressive Gold Note PH10 + PS10. Still my transformer to MM is a huge upgrade to MC direct. A lot more difference than the separate PS makes.
Better is the nemesis of good. Good enough is a compromise. Once you try, good enough won't last long.
Transformers are often not considered out of ignorance and not understanding.
You are doing well with your hifi Melinda, always trust your own ears, it’s you after all that will be listening to it.
Well said! Thank you very much! 🤗♥️
Interesting piece of equipment, glad to hear that it worked well for you. My 1st thought when seeing this piece of equipment is they need to work on the looks of the item, it definitely sticks out like a sore thumb with your beautiful system & with 90% of any audiophile systems.
I actually like the looks of the muted silver Quadratic MC-1 better than the black but it does stand out with my equipment.
@@MelindaMurphy not sure why you don't mention the price??
For the uninitiated, step-up transformers are designed to raise the output of moving coil cartridges up to a level compatible with moving magnet phonostages. The purpose is not simply to allow moving coil cartridges to be used with moving magnet only phonostages (which most tube designs are, for example), but to allow moving coil cartridges the chance to realize their full potential. I am not familiar with the one mentioned in this video, I have one from the UK, a Rothwell. They make two models, the one I have is excellent and works well with my KISEKI Purple Heart MC cartridge.
Exactly! I already have a moving coil cart and this gives me absolutely everything out of it and got rid of the low hum. Thank you and take care.
I bought an ifi zen phono preamp. It has setting for all cartridges, moving magnet, low and high output moving coil.
Very nice! 🤗♥️
Another one, the EAR MC4 is a phenomenal step-up transformer - the designer, Tim de Paravicini, was a legend when it came to transformers (ask your friends at MFSL, they use his gear). If you can buy one second hand…
TIM spent time in South Africa before he moved on to Luxman in Japan and then back to the UK. He played a role in the Mofi chain AFAIK. The rest is history.
Thank you for mentioning him. I will have to read about Tim and his work. 😃 Take care.
I've got one of Tim's, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at the Bristol Show a while back, called "The Head". Must dig it out of storage. I also had the pleasure of meeting Roy Gandy, the ga of Rega, at the same show years later.
@@patientdog1651 we could share experiences... he used to cr#p me out for non proper grammar. Tim had huge insight into the pressing plants in Africa, and more .. May he RIP... my EAR 834p Original which is one of the most cloned Tube preamps sits here as a testament to his travels, experience and genius.
@@MelindaMurphy 🎼
Great video - I like your very descriptive notes on the differences you hear on specific tracks .. however I’m confused about one point ; you said you would benefit as you have a nice MC cart and a nice phono preamplifier in the Aria Mk3 .. so does the step-up transformer replace the Aria Mk3 or is it added to the existing signal chain ?
It replaced the part of the phono preamp that increases the signal to the moving magnet level but the phono preamp is still needed to help move the signal up to line level. Thank you and take care. 🤗♥️
@@MelindaMurphy thank you .. I think I got it now 👍
The cart stylus combo thats best for the record is the the equipment that was being used at the time of the recording for that's what the industry standards were over the last century. Its sll cartridge load and gear matching.
Nice piece of equipment. Always
appreciated.
I believe for a large cost there is or
was a laser turntable to track a record
without a needle? 😊
Thank you! I haven't seen the turntable you are talking about. Very interesting. 😀
I have never tried a moving coil cartridge. I am really hooked on the Ortofon Bronze MM cart. I recently reluctantly purchased a phono preamp. My stereo amp is the Yamaha A-S1200, which sounded wonderful, without the phono preamp. Yes the Sutherland KC-Vibe did improve the sound. I am not sure it improved the sound $900 bucks worth, but it did improve the sound. I think once you get to a certain level in audio gear, improvements are small, and wanting to continue spending money to eke out small amounts of sound improvements are totally dependent on a persons budget. I am done with my system, as everything is new, except for my old Velodyne sub, which I do love. Have a great day, and enjoy the music.
I agree. At some point, we all have to say enough is enough and weigh the cost vs the reward. Thank you and take care.
This is an interesting topic and glad you covered it. I have an off topic question ❓ do you also play CDs, radio tuner or other media other than your turntable through your system?
I do occasionally listen to CD's but not that often. I do have a small but very cool CD collection. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.
I learned something new today, I did not know that you would still need a phono preamp if you were going to use a SUT.
That is very interesting stuff. Of course my primary amplifier can only function with the help of a step down transformer so I have to go in the opposite direction. Of course I also have a polarity filter, but I will refuse to go into the world of moving coils. I have a clear, audio maestro Moving magnet stylus that stylist cost me over $2000 but what I love is that I have a simplified signal chain, and while this is a hobby, that many of us can never really have the budget to keep trying all different things I would love for you to try that stylus on your set up and eliminate your Moving coil, preamp and additional things and just run your moving magnet stylist straight into the amplifier and I would love to see a comparison, or get your thoughts on a comparison of going the other way. You may well think that it couldn’t be possible, but I have yet to challenge a set up that could be more visible than what I’m using. of course the downside for me is it as ugly as sin but I guess the ears aren’t looking at that always an excellent video more top quality investments, and before you know it, I’m sure you will have a room that is racked up with plenty of PS audio or Mcintosh equipment, have a fantastic day. See you in the next one.
Hi! You had me cracking up about the looks of your equipment being ugly. 😄 The sound matters way more than looks although both are nice.
I would love to test out more stereo equipment. That would be great. We'll see what happens. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗
@@MelindaMurphy yes as I described in my episode SPEAKERS I describe them as my ‘beautiful Disgusting garbage angels’. I popped a set of Kef ls50 meta speakers coupled with the PS audio sprout with some Audioquest cables in between that I popped in the nursery for my daughters hifi. NOW it’s a sublime system. And the speakers are great but nothing beats something big. When Angus young from acca Dacca steps up and plugs into a Marshall stack featuring 4-8 10” drivers and strums that SG Guitar I want something that can replicate that spine tingling sound or like when Pete townsened makes the first strike in the who’s pinball wizard and I think the windows are about to bust out of the frame there is something so visceral I know it’s terrible but the best way I describe the moment the stylus kisses my records is that scene from pulp fiction. First I disclose I have never ever done drugs I don’t drink smoke etc and the highest I ever got was installing my antenna. Seriously tht scene in the movie where Vince injects him self we see the needle tear through the skin the blood rush out and he push’s the stuff in reminding me of the the damage done by that Neil young song lol and he collapses in a state is about what happens when the sound does come through. It’s a transformation and I just melt and give into the sound. Well that’s how I describe it anyways.
Hi, this is the first video I've seen of your's. I like it so far. I'm in the middle of building a room just for my music. I have a recommendation for a piece that will really wake up your system, but I don't know if it is available on vinyl. It would be an instrumental called" Playing God" by Polyphia. It's one of my favorites for auditioning a new piece of gear.
Thank you for the suggestion. I can definitely stream it to give it a listen. 😃 Take care.
I have a step up for my cart an Ortafon ST70. As I have a high end cart with low impedance this was recommended by my guys as using what I had previously created to much electrical interference . It was that price but in pounds, definitely necessary for me to
Yes, this Quadratic MC-1 made a big difference for me in the accuracy and overall sound quality. It also took away that annoying small hum. Thank you and take care.
Last year was too expensive for me to give this Quadratic serious consideration at the moment. I got new glasses, mattress, computer, printer, and a scanner (wow). But notice I said "at the moment;" who knows a bit down the road. I have a low-output moving iron cart, so it functions as a moving coil in effect. I knew about step-up transformers, but I've always been a MM guy, Grados in particular, but you have opened my eyes to a new possibility. Thanks.
I completely understand. I have made some big purchases lately as well. My checkbook needs a breather as well. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗
Hey @charlesf2804. Nice to see the Grado love. As soon as I read moving iron, had to be Grado or Sound-Smith. Fun hobby. Too bad life gets in the way, sometimes. Caught a little luck, at the 🎰, just before the holidays. So I picked up a pair of speakers…before I spent it all at the grocery store…🍻
@@jimmyBside Yes, food is overrated. I also made my annual trip to Texas to visit my sister; add that to the bill! And congrats on the speakers.
@@MelindaMurphy You as well. I forgot to mention my trip to Texas for Christmas; add that to the bill. But we'll both be optimistic about our situations. I'll look forward to what happens when your checkbook recovers.
🙂
Bob's Devices makes fantastic SUT'S. I bought one for a friend and it transformed His System.
Very cool! Thank you! 🤗♥️
A decent "line-conditioner" helps the whole entertainment system as well plus a noticeable improvement with video, it makes a reg: dvd look close to blu -ray, providing you're using quality hi-speed HDMI cables:--)
I'm using a vacuum tube preamp"Project tube box S-2" for my turntable which can do MM/MC carts in varying step modes and up +63 db gain.
Sounds very nice! ♥️🔥 Thank you!
Hi Melinda, a great review of this admittedly niche product. As always, there will be those who confuse affordability with value. If this product gives a flavour of the high end audio experience, then it sounds like it is great value.
Will someone with a 5k total budget allocate a third to a step up transformer, of course not. However, if you have a nice system already and are considering your next purchase, this sounds like a worthwhile addition.
In my system I opted for a one box phono stage at a price appropriate to the rest of my gear and I’m extremely pleased with the sound. I have a number of options to improve my system next and, following your review, I may consider a step up transformer at some point, so thanks for that.
Thank you for your comments. You're right about the difference between affordability and value. 🤗♥️ Take care.
Hi Melinda, thanks for replying. I’ve owned several Diana Krall albums on CD for a while and last year I picked up two on vinyl. My favourite of the regular albums, The Girl in the Other Room, and probably my absolute favourite Christmas album, of course, called Christmas Songs. I highly recommend both.
On your recommendation in your video, I bought Turn Up The Quiet too and I’ve just reminded myself how much I like it. The thing I remembered from your video was you mentioning the piano being on your left. You did look like you were a bit unsure when you said it and I’m not surprised, Diana’s piano is always to the right of her.
It was most likely a slip and hey, no worries there, I’m not perfect at all! The reason I mention it is to check you have all your gear connected correctly end to end? Might be worth a quick check. I’ve done this in the past and the way I spotted it was listening to classical orchestral music and finding the violins firmly on the right of the stage! Anyway, thanks again for the video and mentioning the record.
Great review and very special since this is a very underestimated piece of gear.
Once you have a good one it will last forever. It doesn't age and keeps its value. I always kept it in use and it's my oldest component. One I can't do without.
What is does is transform current to voltage (I/V), exactly what moving coil has to what it needs. The ratio of the windings of the coils is what provides a 1:10, 1:14 or some even 1:20 increase in voltage. 1:14 is most common and practical. Because the downside has to do with impedance. Something you didn't mention is that for high impedance cartridges it doesn't work well. An MC needs to see at least 10x the resistance on the amplifier of its own internal impedance. (Calculation is as follows: R=Ra/n² n=ratio FE 47000/14x14≈225 ohms is enough for cartridges up to 25 ohm). 14x 0.4mV = 5.6mV. Easy.
The other specs are often mumbo jumbo. Don't let them dazzle you, its the ratio that counts.
Other limitations of lesser models is bandwidth limitation on the extremes (subbass and highs fall off). Microfonics (just tap it, or the cable). And RF interference. Also you need to avoid ground loops. Experiment with the grounding wires.
I bought an MC transformer in 1990 when I bought the first AT-OC9. An Audio Innovations T1000 silver wire. The same (almost) as the Audio Note AN-S4. I payed €900 then. I now have two of them in use (2ndH €300, seller didn't know or care probably). On top of my Gold Note PH10 into MM still a huge improvement. More quiet, open, fluid and spacious.
They are often used in combination with tubes since tubes don't work well on 60dB amplification.
On the price of an MC: I recently bought an (er, 3 shhh) excellent MC cartridges from a chinese OEM manufacturer starting at $180 -$1100 and they are excellent. A new stylus for an MM is 80% of a new cartridge. And MC sounds a lot better.
So thank you for this rare and special review. You hit the bullseye IMHO.
Thank you for such a great explanation and all of the details you shared. I agree that the difference the Quadratic MC-1 made was quite remarkable. What's crazy is that I had never heard of a step up transformer until now. Thank you and take care.
Very cool ... you're not alone!
I'd guess a majority of enthusiasts aren't really familiar with phono step-up transformers.
Wherever in the signal path it occurs, ... the playback signal needs to be elevated up out of the noise as linearly as possible ... without negatively affecting impedance compatibility.
fwiw, re step-up/step-down transformers, ... outside one's residence, there's a step down transformer.
It's feeding the dwelling's panelboard by stepping down the distribution voltage to a suitable service voltage (240/120 in North America).
There's step-down and step-up transformers all around us, literally.
Whereas isolation transformers (1:1) do neither, they simply isolate the line from the load with no change in operational voltage.
Hi Melinda. I have heard of step up transformers but never really understood what and how they would effect the sound of my system. I went the route of a phonostage that I could use for either a MM or MC cart. I will definitely look into getting a step up transformer in the future but still have some upgrades to make to my system.
I understand! I had never heard of a step up transformer so I had a lot to learn. The difference in sound quality with this was pretty remarkable. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.
Read my other reaction for more explanation.
They are not all this expensive. I saw Rothwell mentioned here. Some make them at home from Lundahl transformers intended for microphones.
It is a bit of a forgotten art. But there is enough info and models to find.
Remember: ratio is the magic word. (1:14 usually most practical)
First I enjoyed your review, it started out a curiosity and wanted to know more about step up transformers. I do own one but haven't used for so long due to being in storage with the of my system. It is a Fidelity Research, # wise I'm don't remember right now. It was a highly regarded when it first came out. It's over 40 years old.
Thank you very much for watching. Hopefully someday your equipment will be pulled out of storage and enjoyed again. ♥️🤗 Take care.
Very cool video! I've been on the fence about upgrading to a Planar 8 with Apheta cart. My current is a Planar 3 with an Ortofon 2M Black. An audiophile friend said it would be an improvement but not likely the thousands of dollars I'd spend worth of improvement. Sigh.
Hey! My experience was much different. I had a very modest Denon 300F automatic turntable with an Ortofon Blue cartridge. The upgrade was a major step up for me. I still think for you the upgrade is worth it but the difference won't be as remarkable as mine was. You already have a very good turntable and cart. Perhaps a P10 would be the one to aim for? I do love my P8 so I wouldn't discourage you from buying it. 🤗♥️ Thank you and best wishes. Decisions, decisions. Lol.
@@MelindaMurphy Oh, I'd love the P10. I'd just also love to be able to pay my mortgage for the next year...
I see you got the equipment bug. Welcome to the club. Once you get to a certain level of refinement in your stereo system you’ll be able to notice any little changes.
I have the PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamp. It’s can be used with MM or Moving Coil Cartridges like the one I use. Congratulations and I hope you buy the SUT (step up transformer)
Trey
Thank you very much! This is a loaner but I was so happy with the improvements that I am considering buying one at some point. Take care.
I was very intrigued with this. On paper, at least, it has the potential to take my Music Hall mmf-1.5 from MM to MC level performance-ish, while still being cheaper than buying a dedicated entry-level MC turntable. However, after checking the link to the Quadratic Moving Coil Step Up Transformer website, I realized that I would still have to buy a separate phono pre-amp even though my turntable has a decent one built-in. So, perhaps a project for another time for when I have more space for additional components. But thanks for introducing me to this device, which I never knew existed.
I apologize for the delayed response. I had a family emergency. Yes, you would need a phono preamp but this is definitely something worth looking into down the line. I ended up buying one myself because I really liked the improvements in sound. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗
@@MelindaMurphy thank you for the reply, and I hope all is well with the family! Blessings to you all🙏
Interesting video Melinda. That thing is too rich for my blood, but sounds awesome. What if my cartridge is already moving magnet? I’m guessing it wouldn’t be useful for me? 🤷♂️.
Thank you for the kind words. This is for people that are wanting to switch from an MM to an MC and have a good phono preamp. I hope you're staying warm where you are. It's freezing here. Lol. Take care.
It is to bring the MC signal up to the MM level.
I have the PS Audio NuWave Phono Preamp, & the current top line one. {The NuWave converts the cartridge signal directly to a Digital Signal.} They both function with MM, and, MC Cartridges. This company makes excellent gear. The original, slight hiss, hum is because you need very quiet gear for a MC Cartridge, as the output is a small fraction of that of a Moving Magnet Cartridge.
Yes, this Quadratic MC-1 does a great job of passively increasing the signal to the moving magnet line. It completely took care of the hum and helped with the sound quality. Thank you and take care.
If you haven't already done this try running a ground wire between step up transformer and the aria phone preamp it lowered the noise floor another 10db on my setup.
Thank you so much for the recommendation. ♥️🤗 Take care.
Wonderful review! Thank you! I noticed you now have new supports under your P8. Has it made a difference? Do you mind sharing the product info? From a fellow P8 owner! ❤
Hi. Thank you very much! The brand I bought I think is called Pneumatic plus. Take care. 🤗♥️
My Luxman intergrated amp has a moving coil inputs build in but i am happy with my nagaoka moving magnet cartridge
If you have something that works for you, that's great. Enjoying what you're hearing is what it's all about. ♥️ Thank you and take care.
I also have a original Acoustic Research Turntable from 1985 that I just had to upgrade the Tonearm
Fascinating review, I am in the camp who did not know this existed too. Btw way, how well does putting your turntable on smores help with dampening? Just kidding. Great video as always!
Haha! It's cool to learn about something new and even cooler to hear great results. ♥️ Thank you and I hope you're doing well.
In the '60s '70s and early '80s, there were Swctable inputs for Moving coil (preferred due to slightly higher signal strength/voltage ) or Moving magnet cartridges. in the separate preamp or preamp section of your mid to high-end stereo amp/receiver by changing the switch position to match the cartridge type and any needed step-up would be done so that the output of the phono preamp was the same for MM and MC cartridges; it's not a wonder you heard a difference. I know MC is out there but these days MM rules right now. and your setup is great.
Yes, I could really hear a difference. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.
It would be interesting to see a comparison to the Darlington Labs SUT. To understand the difference between these devices at different price points.
That would be interesting. It would be fun to have the opportunity. Maybe someday. 😀 Thank you and take care.
Well done Melinda. I like how open and transparent you were at the start laying everything out on the table for all to see. Good job! LOL, I found it ironic that you choose a record titled "Turn Up The Quiet". (See what happened there?) See? This is why even though I know what I know about gear and setup and such, I am more music oriented than gear oriented in a sense. Silly jokes like that point that out.
I did not realize you were running a MC cartridge without a step-up transformer, yes, that would make a big difference! Most (not all) MC carts almost require a step up transformer. Perhaps some high output MC carts may not benefit much from a step up transformer or maybe they also would, I don't know. I'm a MM cart guy myself, but I do have a MC cart I have never mounted waiting in the wings to try one day. My phono preamp can more than handle it, but I would still consider a step up transformer if I find I need one. (That is partly why I have not tried out my MC cart yet, the possible added expense I can't handle right now. If I don't need one, then good). I have a Parasound JC3 Jr phono preamp and it can handle a $10k cart MM or MC no sweat as it is designed for that, but that doesn't mean I would not benefit from (or indeed, need) a step up transformer if I were running MC carts.
I have heard the opinion that MC carts are better than MM carts for decades. Perhaps back in the day that rang more true, but nowadays there are some MM carts that are just as good sounding as MC carts. One is less likely to miss with an MC cart, I agree, but that means that one must pay 5 figures for it and one must replace the whole cart when worn (usually 1000 hours and some less than that) instead of just the stylus. MC carts are also almost always far more expensive. I think though we are also at the point that one can pick up a good MC cart for the same price as a good MM cart though (starting around $400 to $500). Moving to a $10,000+ cart really makes no sense at the end of the day. How much better is the $10k or more cart than the $5k cart or $1k cart? Answer: not counting bragging rights, about 1% on the luckiest day of the year.
When it comes to step up transformers for audio, one really can't go too wrong with almost any of them on market these days as long as one stays away from cheap ones from China off Amazon or something. I know of at least a couple of step up transformers that are very good and well under $1000 and made in the US.
Also, it is indeed possible that a single piece of kit can make a significant difference in the sound of one's system. It should also be noted that it can have zero effect or a detrimental effect as well, it depends on the piece, the downstream gear, etc. This is why research and caution when buying gear is so important and it is why brick and mortar shops are sorely missed as they made it more convenient to get familiar with a particular piece of kit and try it out both in shop and sometimes in home as well (depending on ones relationship with one's local shop).
Haha! You have a great sense of humor and know about vinyl and equipment - very impressive. 😃 The MM/MC debate can be discussed forever. I think we should use what we prefer. They can both donate good job. Thank you and take care.
To nuance your experience; I am not afraid to try new things. I bought several MC cartridges from China. And several phono amps. And my FFYX turntable. Chinese products often are far superior to Western products of the same price. The world is changing rapidly.
I enjoy a €350 Zhige MC cartridge as my main choice. It has silver coils, no front yoke, Ti cantilever, super elliptical stylus and a rosewood body.
I also have a range of MC's from Koetsu, Kiseki, Dynavector, Audio Technica and Miyajima (mono). And another new Chinese brand called LP-Audio Ruby II which costs €1700.
You can buy them from western brands too, as OEM, rebadged or made to spec at more than double the price (or 5x).
Yes, there is some risk. But the benefits far outweigh them.
Don't misunderstand, I agree with you. Nowadays the Chinese can produce some very good audio gear! The trick is learning and carful choices. I mean look at Topping, Amiya, etc. those makes have some rather good units. One just has to know the good ones from the bad, which is not that hard because we have reviewers all over the place reviewing them. It seems like every few months they come out with an improved version.
I only have one MC, an OG Denon DL110 I have not opened. I have had it for years and it goes for 7 times what I paid now. I paid around $60 brand new if memory serves. I bought it around 15 years ago or so on a special deal. I now have a Ortofon 2M Bronze on a Denon DP47f (which is nearing stylus replacement time), a Shure M97XE with about 4 hours on it I bought new back in the day and I just got a new Sumiko Olympia I need to mount on my Pioneer TT. If I did not have the phono preamp I have I would not have the 2M Bronze, but the preamp I use balances it out it sounds quite nice, enough detail with just enough slam. I'm sure there is a list of better carts, but they are not affordable for me and likely would not work well with my Denon TT. The bronze is pushing the envelope as it is. My vintage Pioneer TTs would likely have no problem using almost any cart with medium mass as they are different animals from the Denon. By the way, that Shure cart is famous, but doesn't sound that great even with my high end phono preamp. I wonder what made it so famous? I'm going to put another 30 hours on it to see if it changes although in this case it likely won't or may change for the worse I fear. I have it on my Pioneer PL530.
You are one of the few who understand my humor it seems. Usually to most it is like Mr. Spock being funny, they don't get it.
Back in the day and only a few years ago it would have been fact that MC carts would always sound better than MM carts. Nowadays, while the debate rages on by choice, we now have MM carts that sound just as good as MC carts. It really depends on the downstream gear and turntable setup. You know if anything is 1mm off or less, the whole thing is bad and has to be done over. Also, as the case for both MM and MC carts, most are not perfect in cantilever position or SRA whether the cart is $50 or $50,000 as has been discovered by J.R. of Wally Tools who has done an extensive study of this. So indeed, it is down to preference.