Balanced connections to my VPI turntable?

1. buy from source allowing returns, try, keep, return

2. check with Steve from VAS. He worked with/for VPI, his beloved TT setup is VPI, he sells and installs those VPI boxes, installed VPI box: mini-din to rca (I had Ortofon rca phono cable) when he re-wired my tonearm.

3. Pine Tree will make you anything you want

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=pine+tree+phono+cable&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_odkw=pine+tree+cable&_osacat=0

Made me custom phono, using long small diameter din connectors I sent him, for my Mission arm with long narrow din tube: my length, other end rca with ground for my SUT

4. I like XLR’s positive connection even if no other advantage, Locking RCA jacks with ground other end would have been nice if I thought of it at the time.

Of course, ground wire can be a simple separate wire.

badbruno OP

no, mine was repair: tonearm wires insulation wore off due to maker's error, no protection at a critical location (arm since modified, problem gone).

Steve re-wired with protection at the critical location and changed from soldered to mini-din which allows me to disconnect the arm's wires and lift out the tonearm/board.

prior was a solder connection, had to take the Junction Box with the tonearm board.

badbruno OP

That’s a rush to judgement, it is a terrific Tonearm, very glad I bought it (and the square trade warranty)

This version incorporates an above plinth DIN connector, I could not/cannot use it with my Ortofon Phono Cable.

http://newartvinyl.ru/board/detali_proigryvatelja/tonarm_black_bird12_5_5pin/7-1-0-53

The original design was a ’purist’ design, with tiny litz wires soldered inside this Junction Box

http://newartvinyl.ru/board/detali_proigryvatelja/konnektornaja_korobka_newartvinyl/7-1-0-44.

Perhaps had I been more observant, I would have positioned the litz wires at the tonearm base differently, thus wear of silk insulation would not have occurred.

Here was the original LITZ wire fun. I never saw anything so delicate. Many would prefer Litz wire to what Steve used.

You can see the VPI mini-din Junction Box in two of the photos. I had Steve paint the box to get rid of the VPI Logo.