Greetings friends, I hope you are well! 🙂

Peter Qvortrup sent me one of his exotic top-of-the-line Audio Note (UK) AN-S9 step-up transformers to pair with his Audio Note (UK) Io Ltd field-coil moving-coil cartridge that is visiting.

Here's a little more about the AN-S9 SUT from the Audio Note (UK) website:

"The AN-S9 is a passive device, designed to convert the mainly current output of your moving coil cartridge (MC) to a higher voltage, low current signal of sufficient strength to allow a moving magnet (MM) phono stage to amplify it to a suitable level."

"Custom Silver Transformers: The internal transformers used in the AN-S9 are manufactured by Audio Note (UK) exclusively. They are the finest possible transformers available today, producing a level of information retrieval that is unsurpassed by any other such devices. They use our own interleaved Super Mumetal 250 cores, 99.99% pure silver wire and are housed in large Mumetal screening canisters to minimise noise and interference. The transformer cans are then secured inside the chassis with a solid copper clamp, offering the best possible support for these delicate devices."

"Output cables: Rather than installing the usual output RCA connectors, we decided to hard wire a pair of our PALLAS low capacitance cables directly to the outputs of the transformers. However, if you would prefer standard RCA sockets, we can provide these as an option. We can also install any other Audio Note (UK) interconnect cable of your choice. Please consult your authorised Audio Note (UK) Dealer for further information."

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Here's a link to the AN-S9 SUT user manual.

When I popped the bonnet off the AN-S9 SUT to have a look inside I was so impressed by the custom Audio Note (UK) transformers I wanted to give you a couple of closeup photos of them to see.

They are extremely impressive, and while it is hard tell scale in photographs, each is the size of a 5 oz coffee cup!

Look at that massive copper isolation clamp, which is in itself an object of beauty. 

I've never seen the likes of step-up transformers like these, and you notice it when you pick up the AN-S9 SUT, as it weighs as much as some integrated amplifiers.

The AN-S9-SUT just exudes quality with its "... interleaved Super Mumetal 250 cores, 99.99% pure silver wire and are housed in large Mumetal screening canisters to minimise noise and interference. The transformer cans are then secured inside the chassis with a solid copper clamp ..."

Wow! Just wow!

Reports from the field to me about the performance of the AN-S9 SUT combined with the Io Ltd field-coil moving-coil cartridge have been extremely positive, so I'm really looking forward to giving the AN-S9 SUT and Io Ltd FC MC phono cartridge pairing a listen.

I'm hoping to get the AN-S9 SUT installed with its intended partner today, the Audio Note (UK) Io Ltd field-coil moving-coil cartridge (more HERE), and give it its first listen, so stay tuned, as there is much more to come!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!