Murasakino Nobala Step-up Transformer with Original Box

The Murasakino Nobala is one of the most uncompromising expressions of the moving-coil step-up transformer ever committed to production — a device that does its work with zero active gain, no feedback loop, and no power supply to inject noise or coloration into the fragile signal leaving your cartridge. Purpose-built as the ideal partner to Murasakino's celebrated Sumile cartridge, the Nobala is voiced specifically for the most demanding ultra-low-impedance MC designs of 5Ω or less, delivering a generous 26 dB of passive boost while extending its bandwidth to a remarkable 70 kHz — a deliberately high upper limit that pushes phase shift out beyond the audible treble for a purer, more coherent harmonic rendition. What truly separates it from the field is the fanatical attention paid to what a transformer must be protected from: the core is sealed inside a three-layer enclosure of aluminum plate, a 2mm-thick pure copper shield, and a machined aluminum case, with damping materials worked into both the chassis and the feet to silence the metal's own ringing. Fitted with Cardas input and output terminals and built entirely in Japan, the Nobala is a statement of the conviction that the most elegant way to amplify a moving-coil signal is to hardly "amplify" it at all.

Specifications:
Type: Passive MC step-up transformer
Boost Ratio (Gain): 26 dB
Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 70,000 Hz
Recommended Cartridge Impedance: 5Ω or less
Enclosure: Three-layer: aluminum plate / 2mm pure copper shield / machined aluminum case
Input & Output Terminals: Cardas RCA
Vibration Control: Damping materials in chassis and feet
Dimensions (W×H×D): 166 × 95 × 155 mm (6.5 × 3.7 × 6.1 in)
Weight: ~2.6 kg (≈5.7 lb)
Country of Origin: Japan

Details & Testing Notes: