Quadratic Audio MC-1 Moving Coil Transformer

Phono Step-Up Transformer (SUT) with 28 and 22 dB Gain Options

Quadratic Audio MC-1 Moving Coil Transformer

Quadratic Audio MC-1 Moving CoilPhono Step-Up Transformer

The Quadratic Audio MC-1 exemplifies an evolved transformer-based “Head-Unit” for phono stages. It takes the low level signal from a Moving Coil cartridge and passively increases the level to be compatible with standard phono preamps and receivers.

Commonly known as an "SUT" (Step Up Transformer), the MC-1 is an entirely passive transformer-based stand-alone step-up device for use between a moving-coil phonograph cartridge and a conventional Hi-Fi phono preamp.

The MC-1 offers user-configurable gain options of both 28 dB and 22 dB, accommodating a wide range of MC phono cartridges. If you need help with this, please don't hesitate to reach out to us - we will be happy to make recommendations for your specific equipment mix.

The front panel is made of solid 1/2" (12.7mm) thick aluminum and has a subtle bead-blasted appearance. The rest of the chassis is black-finished steel. With a weight of over four pounds, the MC-1 is heavy for its size, and that weight is representative of the overall build quality. It rests on very nice padded feet, as one might expect with high-end audio gear. It you take a look at our interior photos, a high-quality glass epoxy circuit board is central to the design, and that's where you'll find the user-configurable gain jumpers. Of course, it's hard to miss those custom CineMag transformers, and as you look more closely, you will also notice the coaxial cables, terminated with TNC connectors, where less fastidious designs would get by with unshielded wires and plastic connectors. Also notable are the high-end Neutrik RCA panel connectors.

Here are some key specs:

Gain Setting High: +28 dB
Gain Setting Low: +22 dB
Frequency Response: 10Hz – 100Khz
Recommended Load: 47k
Dimensions: W 6.5” (165mm) D 8.0”(203mm) H3.0”(76mm)
Weight: 4.2 lbs. (1.9 kg)

Hum and Noise Rejection

An important aspect of "High-end" audiophile audio is purity, the pursuit of which is as much about keeping unwanted signals out as it is about accurately transmitting the wanted signals. As you may know, the output voltage from moving coli cartridges is very low, and that makes their signals sensitive to environmental EM ingress. The MC-1's CineMag transformers are shielded by mu-metal cans, which provide more than 30 dB of isolation, while Faraday shielding provides yet another barrier to unwanted noise. These transformers also offer superior common mode rejection ratios (CMMR), which serves to further isolate hum.

With the MC-1, decades of experience in designing audiophile equipment is combined with multiple generations of transformer design and manufacturing expertise to create a class-leading product.

Accolades

Quadratic has earned many positive reviews, many of which can be found online, but here is a quick sampling:

"Should you be in this exact situation, where you have an excellent MM phonostage you love, but just need a bit more gain, the MC-1 is the perfect solution"

"...the Quadratic MC-1 is in a league of its own"

Cartridge Dude, March 25, 2021, New Moving Coil Step-Up Transformer From Quadratic Audio, TONEAudio Magazine

"I've only had the Quadratic MC-1 for a week, but in short I've really enjoyed it and am glad I bought it. It's looking like it'll be getting a lot of play time here!"

"mulveling", January 9, 2022, Review of Quadratic MC-1 SUT With Comparisons to Other SUTs, AudiogoN Forum

"...the Quadratic was virtually immune to hum"

"Does it go so far as to produce a totally immersive listening experience? Absolutely, it does. This is one of the few times when a third-party product with a variety of settings can actually handle and do justice to a wide variety of different cartridges and handle each with ease, poise and dexterity"

Chris Beeching, September 25, 2023, Quadratic MC-1: a positive step-up, the ear HI-FI MUSIC GEAR

"I was very surprised when I tested Quadratic Audio’s MC-1 transformer this time. In addition to providing a powerful gain, it is also quite good at noise control, making the music fuller and denser. Although Quadratic Audio is currently a relatively new brand, if you consider the improvement in sound quality performance, it is really a good deal..."

Keith(?), August 2023, Quadratic Audio MC-1 booster boosts performance beyond expectations, AUDIOTECHNIQUE

Loaner Program

The loaner program is available via our main website, only.

Heritage

With so many once-great American brand names being sold to unknown offshore companies, it is really exciting to see Quadratic enter the space in a way that embodies and exemplifies a heritage that we once took for granted. We are genuinely pleased to represent the Quadratic Audio brand, designed and built in the USA, and partnered with CineMag, another great US company with a rich heritage and long history of excellence.

The MC-1 is made in the USA, and is covered by a limited warranty for a period of three years.

Quadratic Audio MC-1, right-front perspective

Here is another perspective.

The high-quality Neutrik RCA jacks and ground terminal can be seen in this photo of the back panel.

CineMag inside!

Here is a better look inside. Jumpers for gain setting can be seen in the foreground, and the custom CineMag transformers are also prominent. Coaxial cables with gold-plated threaded connectors can also be seen.

Here is a look at the bottom of the Step-Up transformer.

Quadratic Audio protects the MC-1 with a nice drawstring fabric bag and molded foam padding. The package includes extra jumpers for gain selection, a printed manual, and the SUT device itself.

This photo shows the sturdy product box (we will also double-box for safe shipment).

Quadratic Audio MC-1, manual, PDF format

Here is the manual, in PDF format.

Dear eBay customer, eBay has made it impossible to include PDF documents in item descriptions, so if you want to see this one, you will need to refer to our website, eBay has also made it impossible to provide outside links, but we are not hard to find: https://www.ebay.com/usr/cable_solutions_one

Why Cable Solutions?

We stock this item locally, ready for immediate shipment, and no one works harder than we do to get your order shipped out to you fast! On business days, orders that are funded by noon will ship the same day. Orders funded on weekends or holidays will ship the next business day.
Cable Solutions is an Authorized Quadratic Audio Distributor, so our customers are ensured full warranty protection and technical support. (Quadratic Audio does not provide warranty or technical support for products purchased from unauthorized resellers!)
Customer service is our first priority. We do our best to help you find the best solutions for your particular application. We're enthusiasts too, so we know what it's like to wait for parts that are needed for new gear. We also know how important it is to be able to get a response when you need help, so you'll often find us working long hours in an effort to get you the answers that you need.
If you have had enough of sellers who have never actually seen the products that they sell, let alone have any idea how to support the customers who purchase them, or worse yet, companies that do not even publish a phone number or a functional email address, we think you will be absolutely delighted that you found our company. We know how important it is to be able to get help when you need it. That's why we have people, right here in Texas, ready to respond to your email or answer your phone call. If English is your language of choice, you will have the simple pleasure of communicating with people whose first language is English. Granted, if you call on the phone, you may detect more than a trace of a Texas accent, but that is to be expected when dealing with a family-owned business run by native Texans. We sincerely hope that you will find our heritage of courtesy, honesty, and an ethical way of doing business to be a refreshing experience.

Design excellence, high quality materials, meticulous workmanship, and superior service...put it all together and you get a superior product. Don't get stuck with bad advice, poor service, slow shipment or an inferior product. If you want the best, here it is.

Shipping/Handling

Please check the "Shipping and payments" tab to see which of the shipping options below we are offering for this item, including pricing and estimated ETA. Please notice that eBay's estimates are not entirely reliable. If you need a better estimate, please do not hesitate to contact us.

USA Shipping Options

USPS Priority Mail
Air service that provides 1 to 3 day delivery to US addresses. It includes basic tracking information as well as Delivery Confirmation. Saturday delivery is included at no additional charge.

USPS Priority Mail Express
Premium air service that provides overnight delivery to most (but not all) US addresses. Better tracking and faster delivery than Priority Mail. Saturday delivery is included at no additional charge.

USPS Ground Advantage
Economy ground service, typically a few days slower than priority mail, depending upon your distance.

Please refer to the Shipping and payments tab to see the actual services, rates, and transit times available for this item.

International Shipping Options

Priority Mail Express International (aka EMS)
Our preferred international shipping method for all international shipments because it offers the best tracking as well as the fastest and most dependable delivery.

Priority Mail International
Available for items under $300 in value. Cost is somewhat lower, although delivery gets less priority than PMEI.

First Class Mail International
Economy service for items weighing less than 4 pounds and valued at under $100. This is the least expensive international shipping option, but the savings comes at the expense of tracking - scanning is not mandatory, so this service does not provide reliable tracking information, and the post office will not trace delayed or lost packages.

EIS (eBay International Shipping)
This is a premium expedited shipping service where your total cost, including import duties and taxes, are known and paid during checkout. eBay assumes full responsibility for the safe delivery of your shipment.

If you would prefer shipping via mail, and to take responsibility for your own import duties and fees, we sometimes offer similar listings that offer that option (Search for the same item without "EIS" in the title). If you can't find what you need, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Please refer to the Shipping and payments tab to see the actual services, rates, and transit times available for this item.

Keep in mind that eBay's transit time estimates are not guaranteed. The total transit time to your address can be affected by circumstances in your own country, such as delays at your local customs office, or cases where no one is available to receive the delivery.

With the exception of EIS, International customers should be prepared to pay import taxes and/or duties at the time of delivery. In NAFTA member countries, customs duties should be discounted for products that are made in the USA, but taxes may still be collected. Please be advised that we declare actual contents, value and country of origin for customs and insurance purposes.
No exceptions please.

Warranty

Manufacturer's Warranty Statement

Should any product distributed by Cable Solutions fail due to defects in materials or workmanship within one year of the sale date, we will repair or replace, at our discretion, the defective product at no cost.

This is a limited warranty and is not applicable to products which have, in our opinion, been damaged (including lightning, water, fire, etc.), altered, abused, misused, or improperly installed. Cable Solutions makes no other warranties either expressed or implied, including limitation warranties as to merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Additionally, there are no allowances or credits available for service work or installation performed in the field by the end user.

Return Policy for Custom-built Products

Defective Merchandise

Defective merchandise will be repaired or replaced as described above.

Non-defective Merchandise

All non-defective returns are subject to restocking fees. The restocking fee varies, depending upon the degree of customization. Very common configurations are subject to a 10% restocking fee, while very unusual configurations could require restocking fees up to 60%. We realize that this is a large range, so please contact us if you have questions about a particular cable assembly.

A Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) is required for all returns. Please contact us for authorization and instructions.

Shipping/handling fees are not refundable and you will be responsible for all shipping/handling expenses related to the return. In the case of items with "free shipping", customary shipping/handling fees will be added to your restocking fees.

In order to qualify for the rates shown above, we must receive your return within the specified on eBay's Shipping, returns and payments tab. In cases where the item is returned incomplete, or in less than perfect condition, we will evaluate the restocking fees on a case by case basis.

Warranty Assistance

USA Customers

Defective items must be returned to Cable Solutions for all warranty repair or replacement issues. You will be responsible for all shipping/handling expenses to our location, although we will pay for shipment of replacement or repaired item(s) to your location.

International Customers

Please notice that most of our electronic equipment carries a USA warranty, so all international warranty issues must be handled by Cable Solutions. This means that you must return the item to Cable Solutions for all warranty repair or replacement issues. You will be responsible for all shipping/handling expenses.

All Customers

All return requests must be submitted via eBay's standard return process, but it is well known that eBay handles returns for special orders and custom-built products very badly, so please don't hesitate to contact us if you need help.

Return Policy for Manufactured Products

Defective Merchandise

Defective merchandise will be repaired or replaced as described above.

Non-defective Merchandise

All non-defective returns are subject to restocking fees. Here are some examples of the fees:

Un-opened merchandise

All un-opened returns are subject to a 10% (minimum) restocking fee.

Opened merchandise

B-Stock or "open box" electronic devices - 15% (minimum)

New electronic devices - 20% (minimum)

Manufactured cables that are packaged in a reusable container - 15% (minimum)

Manufactured cables that are packaged in a non-reusable container - 20% (minimum)

In order to qualify for the rates shown above, we must receive your return within the time specified on eBay's Shipping, returns and payments tab. In cases where the item is returned incomplete, or in less than perfect condition, we will evaluate the restocking fees on a case by case basis.

All return requests must be submitted via eBay's standard return process.