Our transformers are made using tape-wound Amorphous toroidal cores.
Why do we choose to make toroidal transformers?
The toroidal transformers have almost perfect magnetic properties and don’t have an air gap. This, together with the fact that the flux stays within the core, helps to reduce leakage, distortions, greatly minimizes losses, and offers better coupling. The efficiency is greatly increased and for given inductance toroidal transformers need less turn count, which allows using thicker wire. This greatly reduces copper resistance and associated losses, noise, and effect of loading. Another important feature is they don’t need shielding.
So,if toroidal transformers are so awesome, why does nobody else make them for audio applications? First of all, they do. The classic Coles 4083, as well as the range of Oktava and Royer ribbon microphones use toroidal transformers, but none of them is readily available. In general, the answer is very simple—this is because they are much more expensive to wind and produce.
Because our main goal is not a cost, but quality, we chose the toroidal transformers because of their unparalleled sonics, low distortions, and 3D sound qualities. We sell direct, with no middleman. That's why with our modern winders we are able to make superior transformers in the USA, while maintaining very affordable prices. We also have a CNC winding equipment and capacity of making regular bobbing trnasformers with interleaved or chambered winding topologies.
Bobbin Transformers
For very low capacitance and excellent high frequency response our High-End bobbin transformers are wound chambered (topology adopted in BV8 and some other expensive transformers). Each layer of winding is soaked and molded in varnish to significantly reduce distortions caused by the coil movement as a result of mechanical interaction with lamination core. Because we use CNC winding machinery, the layers are laid perfectly even and the density of the winding is much improved, which allows us to use thicker gage wire to get lower DCR and copper losses.
These transformers are of very high quality design and can take 7.5V on 20Hz at 3% distortions. Their size allows using them as a direct drop in to popular Chinese FET microphones, such as MXL2001 and V67G, or tube microphones, such as Nady 1050, 1150, Apex 460 and many others. Of course, they can be used in DIY projects.
10:1 transformer can be used for converting the MXL2001/V67G (and many others) microphones into Neumann U87 type of circuit. Those microphones already have the U87 EQ section (de-emphasis, to remove the boost introduced by K67/87 capsules and their clones), so all you need to do is to remove emitter follower driver stage, replace some capacitors for high quality ones, and connect the new transformer. The transformers will also fit Oktava MK319. We can provide instructions for modification.
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CT5 5:1 --$109 (for use with cathode follower tube microphones)
CT6 6.5:1 --$109 (for use with EF86, 6AK5, 5840 tubes)
CT10 10:1 --$109 (for use with 12AT7 tube, or with FET microphones--KM84, or U87 type of circuit)
CT12 12:1 --$109 (for use with 6072/12AY7, 12AX7)
Line input and output transformers
These transformers have a bigger core and even higher overload. Our design has 4 chambers for symmetry, very low capacitance and excellent high frequency response. Currently we have two models: LT1/1 and LT1/2. The LT1/1 has 4 identical windings of 150 Ohm each, and LT1/2 is 150:150:600:600 Ohm. Each layer of winding is molded in varnish. Because we use CNC winding machinery, the layers are laid perfectly even and the density of the winding is much improved, which allows using thicker gage wire to get lower DCR and copper losses.
Pin through design, fits perforated boards, or use your own PCB. Leads are possible for extra charge.
Besides being used for balancing the signals, galvanic isolation, and step-up step down, the LT1/1 can also be used as splitter, or MS matrix converter:
LT1/1--$99
Can be configured as:
1:1:1:1 (150:150:150:150 Ohm)
1:1 (600:600 Ohm)
1:2/2:1(150:600/600:150 Ohm)
LT1/2--$119
Can be configured as:
1:1 (600:600 Ohm)
1:2/2:1 (150:600/600:150 Ohm)
1:2/2:1 (600:2,400/2,400:600 Ohm)
1:4/4:1 (150:2,400/2,400:150 Ohm)