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DIY MC Step Up Transformer

Well guys
My chassis box and jacks are here, just waiting on the transformers from Cinemag !
Man Im hoping the transformers arrive today, I can be listening tommorow.
bob
 
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Guys
My Cinemags finally came today !!!!!

This is a shot of the output side and input side of the enclosure, I used the same as Redboy did.
I have one more set of RCA's to add. Im doing 2 inputs one for 37.5 ohm and the second for 150 ohm.
I have been working on the ground scheme most of the night, I am down to no hum.
I actually had to run the input side earths to ground, after doing that it is quite as a mouse.
One thing I notice is it is placement sensitive, and you have to watch that if you want hum down to nothing.
So far running my Denon 103 into the 150 ohm load it sounds really nice, very nice detail.
I want to do some listening for a while then check the 37.5 ohm input but so far I am really impressed at the sound.
Very good detail, I hear a definite clarity that my el cheepo Denon SUT does not have.
Don't get me wrong the Denon SUT is very good, with a laid back sound that I can live with, the Cinemags just take the sound up a few levels.

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Man, you guys got to get a bit more creative with your enclosures. How about a hollowed out chunk of maple burle or something, or maybe build it willy-nilly in a glass mason jar then pour epoxy in the jar and when it hardens, break the glass away. Or maybe two pieces of 3" aluminum tube about 7" long. Cut one end of each at a 90 degree angle, then have them welded up so they form a "V". Have one channel in eash leg. Have the inputs in the back and the outputs on the welded on endplates on top of the "V". Mount the "V" on a nice piece of slate.....oh well, I have to go back to work now.....I'm tired.
 
Guys
Got a change to listen to the Cinemag/Denon 103 combo this weekend.
I hear a huge improvment in resolution, for lack of a good description.
I can hear deeper into the music, everthing is more distinct you can actually pick out the different voices in a chorus. What the Denon SUT did, and did well the Cinemag tears it up.
One thing I did, I had to ground the input side, If I didnt I got hum.
Im going to work on the grounding a bit more, I was thinking that adding copper braiding to cover the input leads might solve the problem.


bob
 
Guys
What about grounding ? what I have noticed is I get some hum if I don't ground the earth side of the primary. I am using the 150 ohm windings, Im grounding the earth side and the hum is gone!
Same thing if I use the 37 ohm winding I have to lift the ground from the 150 ohm earth and ground the 37 ohm earth to kill the hum.
Im thinking about adding a switch so I can flip the ground to either the earth on the 37 ohm or 150 ohm earths.
But so far Im thinking the 150 ohm winding sounds best with my Denon 103.
Man I love the Cinemag/Denon combo !! my TD124 has put in more hours this week.

bob
 
New Cinemags SUT

Hi Guys, Just though I would let you know that Cinemags has a new SUT out. It's called CM-1254, got my pair a couple of days ago, wired them up to replace my 3440AH and all I can say is F**K what an improvement. If I was talking about a cartridge change this would represent at least a $1500 step up!! I have never heard my 501 sound so, so magical:banana:
 
I have an ancient Musical Fidelity MC pre-preamp that sounds nice, but I would rather do away with the extra interconnects and wiring, and its silly hard-wired wall wart power supply.

I am considering building a Cinemag step-up stage into my Hafler DH-101. For this one, I would probably use the CMQEE-3440AH, but only if I could directly wire these to the phono inputs. (The DH-101 has two inputs, and I would use Phono 1 for the MC input.)

What I worry about, though, is the hum. I don't know if I'd be better off getting the CMQEE-3440AHPC (the pc-board mounted version) and wiring these into a small metal enclosure. I don't know how hum-prone the "wire" version of the 3440 is, although I see the "PC" version built into kits where the circuit board is perched on top of an enclosure with no shielding around it. Properly dressed, the wired version may be perfectly acceptable. (I am also planning on changing the wiring inside the DH-101 to a "star" ground topolgy.)

I'll save getting the CM-1254 until I get my preamp upgrade in place (going with Audio Research--just deciding on which model). But in that case, I'll have to build something with an external enclosure, as I'm not carving up a $2000+ preamp. :D
 
Reviving an old thread - I'm going to try the Cinemags for an SUT as well. Bought a pair of 3440s, but man, there's so many transformers on eBay I was kind of like a kid in a candy store. I have spare RCA jacks, just have to buy a ground lug and a Hammond box. Wondering what kind of box now...almost kinda tempted by a clear box, but that may just be the beer talkin' (and the suggestion of a glass jar + epoxy). The Eightwood boxes are also nice, would also match the box I used for my passive preamp.

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Wouldn't we want an all-metal enclosure for an SUT?

I'm thinking of trying the Hashimoto HM-3 SUTs. Partly for my current noisy phono stage, but more for when I change phono stages down the road a bit (once I find the exact unit I'm looking for). Seems the Hashimoto transformers are a step up from the Cinemag, and the company was founded by former Sansui employees after Sansui quit making their own transformers in-house.
 
Yeah looking at the Eightwood enclosure now - all metal. Actually having the damndest time finding a ground post - anyone have a part #? Just typing "ground post" into Marktek, Mouser and Digikey either brings up nothing or a huge list that I don't have the time to scroll through.
 
bjlefebvre said:
Yeah looking at the Eightwood enclosure now - all metal. Actually having the damndest time finding a ground post - anyone have a part #? Just typing "ground post" into Marktek, Mouser and Digikey either brings up nothing or a huge list that I don't have the time to scroll through.
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eBay is awesome for this kind of stuff. Try "vintage binding post" and go from there.
 
Jaysus, I didn't expect the Cinemags would be so frickin' tiny. I guess I should have, seeing @MrIgotNomoney 's pictures above. Makes me wonder if I could use an old Hammond box I have lying around, or stick with using the Eightwood enclosure. I might actually be able to fit them inside the Hammond. The Eightwood actually looks too big for these. Hmm hmm hmm. Aesthetic decisions await....

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Redboy said:
Very nice! :thmbsp:

Have you got a ground lug on that thing?

I'll have to shoot some pics of the one I built... :D
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I'm in the process of building a sut with the same altec 15095a what is the best way to set up a ground. And is there good better best wire I should be using.
 
Totally forgot to update this thread - got busy with work. I finished the SUT. Building these are pretty easy - most of the work is sorting out the spaghetti-bowl of wires and punching out the chassis holes (I really, really need to buy a drill press - the drill bit slid comically far from where I originally marked the spot). Still deciding whether to go with the OEM front plate or keep the cherry wood version.

The sound is very nice, maybe a step up from the Denon AU-320 I had. The sound is different than the Tavish's MC setting, but I'm not sure better or worse, just different - the Cinemag SUT has more bass, a little more lush, but the Tavish has a better high end and is quicker, I think. I may try to sell this DIY SUT and go for the updated Cinemags.

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Would Neutrik NTE10/3 transformers work well for an MC SUT? They are on the small side and designed for mics.

www.neutrik.com

NTE10/3

Professional audio transformer 1:3:10 with free wires. Applications: general purpose mic input step-up
www.neutrik.com www.neutrik.com
 
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