I just wanted to make sure people don't waste there money on cheap transformers. And remember that transformers are like microphones you would not use a $20 mic why use a $20 transformer
well, it might be worth-while to check out a cheaper transformer and see how it sounds to you. for a short while, I used a pair of radio shack transformers, and I was happy with the results. in fact, I thought using a Denecke PS2 for phantom power and the RS transformers produced better results than my Beyer MV-100 pre-amp. and then, after 5 or 6 months with the transformers, I bought my V3.
anyway, my point is that if you spend $20 on a set of transformers, you might find that they fit your needs just perfectly. now, it won't sound like an oade 148, or a Neve Portico, or any other really nice transformer-based pre-amp... but you might be surprised by what you hear. and if you don't like it, you are only out $20.
as an example, here's a real nice Karl Denson show that I taped with those radio shack transformers:
http://www.archive.org/details/kdtu2003-04-09.shnf
Cheap transformers do not have the low end response or the high end response of good transformers, there are no shortcuts. If someone wants to send me a good transformer over and a radioshack I can measure it and show the difference, now I am not saying rely on measurements alone. You might not hear it if you have nothing to compare it to, but when you do it will be very obvious.
Transformers are more important then wire in the audio chain they are more important then the type of recorder being used. I can't stress this enough that you can spend lots of money on a great mic, but if your using cheap transformers you would be better off with cheap mics. There is a reason why not to many companies get into making transformers it's because alot of it is science and some of it is luck.
Take for example a guitar amp (tube) change the output transformer, you change the sound big time. The same goes for audio input transformer's. You might have a very nice recording with Radio Shack transformers, but I will bet you put the same mics up in the same concert in the same exact mic position, with good transformers and your jaw will drop. You will want to burn your radio shack transformers.
A transformer is like a transducer, there is an electro magnetic transfer function going on inside this thing, that when its done right is very good when its done wrong is very bad. I know so much about transformers because as a sound system designer / engineer, I used them all the time, and I have heard cheap transformers right along side good ones. The one companies I did some work for, did not just take my word for it, they listened them selves decided that the $30 transformers were not acceptable and went with the $150 transformers, in a project that required 128 of them. I am just putting my two cents in rant over
Chris Church