The purpose is not simply to allow moving coil cartridges to be used with moving magnet only phonostages (which most valve designs are, for example), but to allow moving coil cartridges the chance to realise their full potential. Transformers have much more benign distortion characteristics than active circuits and they are capable of producing a truly sublime soundstage with detail and separation unsurpassed by the more common transistor and op-amp alternatives. Don’t be misled that transformers are an audio anachronism long since made obsolete by the wonders of modern solid state technology – they’re not. The reason that they are so rarely seen nowadays is that transformers are incredibly expensive compared to transistors and chips.

The MC1 is a fine example of a step-up transformer designed specifically for modern low output moving coil cartridges and optimised for use into moving magnet phonostage inputs. It features wide bandwidth, low distortion and carefully designed primary and secondary loading networks to optimise the performance and give beautifully reproduced transients, free from ringing. The step-up ratio and impedance make it compatible with a wide range of cartridges and effective screening against external magnetic fields minimises hum pickup from other equipment.