SKY Step-Up Transformer
New design with switches on front that also includes new laminations inside the transformers. A significant factor in the performance of a high quality audio transformer is the quality of the core material. It takes energy to induce a magnetic field from the exciting signal on the primary winding(s) in the core. MC phono cartridges put out a tiny amount of energy at peak levels. The core material must perform optimally in this operating range. In the new SKY step-up transformers, we use proprietary 80% nickel mu-metal laminations which are processed for optimal performance at very low signal levels. The result is giant crystal structures within the material. When the laminations are stacked into the coils great care is given not to induce any strain. The SKY is designed to match the inductance to most Low output moving coil phono cartridges. Due to the improved laminations, the bandwidth has been extended a little further in both directions than in previous versions.
Hand Crafted, Moving Coil (MC) Cartridge Step-up Transformer (SUT) built with new CineMag SKY (Blue Version) Transformers and gold plated hardware in a hand polished black powder coated cast-aluminum enclosure. All lettering is laser etched. Included are 2 switches: high/low gain and ground/lift.
Includes premium construction with C&K Brand Silver contact toggle switches, and Deluxe Gold Plated RCA jacks.
Optional XLR connectors are available on a larger custom chassis without laser etching
These specially designed transformers are wired to connect a moving coil cartridge (on a turntable) to a phono preamplifier, phono input of a receiver, or your preamp's phono input.
The SKY 30 is switchable for 1:15 (24 dB gain) or 1:30 (30 dB gain). The SKY 20 is switchable for 1:10 (20dB) or 1:20 (26dB), The SKY 10 is switchable for 1:5 (14dB) or 1:10 (20dB). The SKY 40 is available as switchable for 1:20 or 1:40 or as a fixed ratio set at 1:40 (32 dB). Any of the SKY Step up transformers are available at a fixed ratio, eliminating the switch from the circuit, at the same price, just email bob@bobsdevices.com for that order.
Note: The SKY 20 has been improved. The New version is the SKY 20-S. The SKY 20 will be soon discontinued.
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES: All connections are Resistance soldered using the American Beauty system which avoids heat damage to the delicate insulation on the hair-like wires of the transformers. Test equipment used by Bob usess very low current to avoid saturating the transformer cores. This also reduces the burn-in time to about 8-10 hours. You can count on a premier product that is state-of-the-art.
This unit includes a grounding post that can be used to connect your turntable ground and your preamplifier ground. It also includes a ground "lift" switch. In all modes, the transformer cases and faraday shield internal to the transformers are connected to the ground screw. In the "ground" mode, the phono system minus sides (negative sides) are connected to the grounding lug. This configuration works well for those systems where the turntable ground is connected to the negative leads coming from the phono cartridge or where the negative inputs to the preamp are internally connected to ground. In the "lift" mode, none of the conductors in the RCA jacks are connected to the case, ground, or shield and there is no electrical connection between channels. This design allows you much flexibility to mitigate for ground loops regardless of the configuration of your other equipment.
We take pride in each and every set and provide customer support to make sure that they work well in your system.
http://www.bobsdevices.com/Grounding.html
contains information on how to best connect this unit to your system including information on grounding and on proper interconnect construction. Bob's Devices makes properly constructed sets of interconnects should you desire premium interconnects. It is critical that EFI/RFI shielded interconnects are used between the SKY and your phono stage to avoid hum. The current coming out of the SKY is the lowest in your system and must be metallically sheilded.