What tonearm cable are you using?

Manticore · July 2017

I was looking at my tonearm cable and wondering if i can get any improvement from going with a more, much more modern cable than what came with my tonearm ( see sig ) circa 1979. It appears to be overbuilt, more so than the factory supplied generic cables that come with most electronics over the last few decades.

Do the same things apply to tonearm cables as ex; speaker cable or ic's? If so does a bright sounding tonearm cable affect the sound like speaker cables or a bright sounding amp? Just curious as to what options might be available for me. This one connects with the five pin straight not angled to rca.

mikeyb128 · July 2017

I received a fairly nice audioquest tone arm cable with the fancy battery pack on it, with my table. The table sounded very nice, until I tried a home brew cable from a friend. The significance was so dramatic, that my table sounded like shite once I put the audio quest cable back in. I now use a Frey 2 cable and it is a serious eye opener. It seems to be the most important cable in my anolog set up.

The audio quest was such a veiled cable. I didn't think a cable carrying such tiny signals would make such a difference.

Manticore · July 2017

One of the places that I frequent carries Nordost cables. Something to keep in mind.

I must say I am very pleased with the way my tt sounds but, there was such a difference to my sound when I upgraded my speaker cables i was wondering if i could make any gains here also.

Manticore · August 2017

mikeyb128 wrote: »

The table sounded very nice, until I tried a home brew cable from a friend. The significance was so dramatic, that my table sounded like shite once I put the audio quest cable back in. I now use a Frey 2 cable and it is a serious eye opener. It seems to be the most important cable in my anolog set up.

The audio quest was such a veiled cable. I didn't think a cable carrying such tiny signals would make such a difference.

I too feel that my TT sounds very nice. I am almost afraid how much better it might possibly sound. I did price out the Nordost cables & they are starting around $500 to $5400 for the top liner.

My marriage is going so well now...up to this point...goshdarnit. I may have to look into something a little cheaper. I am sure that even the AQ cable would be an improvement for ME with MY setup (over the ancient stock cable) that I am currently using.

I also feel I am due for a retip or replacement cart soon anyway. Long Siiiiiiiigghhh.

SCompRacer · August 2017

I still use flexible center conductor coax IC's for vinyl, from the table to the SUT, to the phono-pre and to my pre-amp. While the RCA terminations on some turntables were cheap, there was a reason they used coax. Low capacitance, shielding and it will pass frequencies higher and lower than vinyl produces.

If you venture into wire IC's, ensure they are shielded and not high in capacitance. High capacitance is your cartridges enemy.

Mike Reeter · August 2017

I've tried several over the years, and the best cable I've found at a "reasonable" price is from

http://audiosensibility.com/blog/products-2/phono-cables-occ-copper-and-occ-silver/

I'm using the Impact SE RCA/RCA and its a very cable for the money. With the Exchange Rate with Canada, I feel these cables are a bargain. Also, there is an additional 12% off sale until 8/25.

Manticore · August 2017

My tonearm connects with the five pin straight not angled to rca.

Manticore · August 2017

Those Impact SE cables look very thick & beefy. Or is that just the photo? I am going to ask the place i frequent if there are any cables i can take home to try. All the info from you guys is priceless. Nice to know what works, sounds good & not so pricey. Thanks

pitdogg2 · August 2017

Yep2 wrote: »

Just hard to find true 75Ω rca plugs nowadays.

What about Canare?

pitdogg2 · August 2017

I always thought the canare rca's were supposed to by 75 ohm. I've used the with the canare coax.
Just inquiring

mikeyb128 · August 2017

Manticore wrote: »

mikeyb128 wrote: »

The table sounded very nice, until I tried a home brew cable from a friend. The significance was so dramatic, that my table sounded like shite once I put the audio quest cable back in. I now use a Frey 2 cable and it is a serious eye opener. It seems to be the most important cable in my anolog set up.

The audio quest was such a veiled cable. I didn't think a cable carrying such tiny signals would make such a difference.

I too feel that my TT sounds very nice. I am almost afraid how much better it might possibly sound. I did price out the Nordost cables & they are starting around $500 to $5400 for the top liner.

My marriage is going so well now...up to this point...goshdarnit. I may have to look into something a little cheaper. I am sure that even the AQ cable would be an improvement for ME with MY setup (over the ancient stock cable) that I am currently using.

I also feel I am due for a retip or replacement cart soon anyway. Long Siiiiiiiigghhh.

If you want I will give you a smoking deal on my audioquest cable. I don't see myself using it anytime soon.

dromunds · August 2017

Yep2: I resemble those cables
Crapshoot.

Ive made a couple:

[/quote]

Dawgfish · August 2017

I use a 5 pin-din to rca junction box by Sumiko with my SOTA Saphire and Sonagraphe SG-3 (my other decks have captive phono cables except for the Harman Kardon T-60 which has rca jacks built into the back of the table allowing use of the cable of your choice). It allows the use of a pair of the same Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval interconnects that I use in the rest of the system. I use a short 0.5 meter pair to keep capacitance to a minimum. It sounds great!

nooshinjohn · August 2017

I am using Analysis Plus Solo Crystal 1.5m.

Manticore · August 2017

/\/\/\ @mikeyb128
If you want I will give you a smoking deal on my audioquest cable. I don't see myself using it anytime soon.

I will keep this in mind, as long as you don't want it sold and gone yesterday.

msg · August 2017

Yep2 wrote: »

I've made a couple:

Nicccce.
which RCA connectors are thoses?

msg · August 2017

I've been curious about this stuff from KAB.
https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/superflex.htm
(partial screencap from page)

SCompRacer · August 2017

msg wrote: »

I've been curious about this stuff from KAB.
https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/superflex.htm

Great for tonearm wiring. I use a silver cloth covered litz on my air bearing tone arms. It offers no significant resistance to tonearm movement. Inside the tonearm and continuing to RCA termination is tiny litz coax.

If you used this for IC's, you'd need to run it through tubing. I'd wrap it in tinfoil then sheath it. Terminations would be sensitive to strain.

Litz is enameled so difficult to clean before soldiering. A solder pot is helpful. Wire brushing or sanding is another way though tedious. Avoid acid dip or acid core solder.

Instead, and back to my favorite, coax, check out the litz coax KAB offers a little further down the page.

Mogami wire is also another good choice for IC's though I'd still shield it. I have a Aaron (ALL212) made Mogami cable for my headphones.

https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/superflex.htm

KAB/Cardas SpiralAir All Litz Coax is $4.50 per foot. Tiny, .180.

You can see the litz tonearm wire at rear of photo. It terminates in an S video connector for easy tonearm with different cartridge swap. Like 30 seconds.

What tonearm cable are you using?

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