Bellari MT502 mu – Moving Coil Step-Up Transformer

The new Bellari MT502 mu is a stereo, moving coil (MC) step-up transformer that raises the low output of a moving coil cartridge up to moving magnet (MM) level—making your MC cartridge compatible with your phono preamp.

As Stereophile Magazine put it:
“The Bellari MT502 transformer: Housed in Bellari’s familiar powder-coated red chassis, the MT502 step-up transformer features hand-wound coils, gold-plated inputs and outputs, and a ground lift. The MT502 produced a quiet background, sharp transients, and taut, fast, well-defined bass. A perfect match to Bellari’s VP130 moving-magnet phono preamp.” — (Vol. 33 No. 11

It’s been on Stereophile‘s Recommended Components list year after year—2012, 2013, 2014, 2015… you get the idea.

Why use a step-up transformer?
Moving coil cartridges perform best when paired with a proper step-up transformer—not just extra gain. Most phono preamps that claim to support both MC and MM simply boost the gain in MM mode, which can negatively affect sound quality. In truly high-end systems, step-up transformers are the standard because they deliver the clarity, dynamics, and fidelity MC cartridges are capable of.

At Bellari, we don’t just boost the gain and call it MC compatible—we build a real transformer: the MT502.

Key Features:

• Selectable Turns Ratio (12:1 or 30:1) – No more worries about matching your cartridge to a specific transformer. The MT502 offers two switchable gain settings to suit a wide range of MC cartridges.

  • 12:1 is ideal for cartridges like the Denon DL-103 or DL-103R.

  • 30:1 provides more gain for lower-output cartridges.

• Mu Metal Shielding – The “mu” in MT502 mu refers to the Mu Metal now used to encase the updated transformers. Mu Metal is one of the best materials for shielding against magnetic interference.

• Premium Construction – The transformers are hand-wound, potted, encased in Mu Metal, and then placed in a gold-plated copper chassis—all done one at a time, by hand.

  
  

  The MT502 mu brings out the best in your moving coil cartridge—with true analog performance, handcrafted quality, and audiophile-approved sound.