Blue Jean/Belden LC 1

I  get an occasional hum from my turntable setup, a VPI Classic 2, hooked to a new Parasound JC3+,  then to a line stage on an older Yamaha integrated.  While turning the light dimmer switches off, or all the way up, reduces it, it did not eliminate it.  At least not all the time. I'd get rid of the dimmers, but we are also thinking of marketing the house in the spring, so for now, they stay. 

So, I tried a couple things: 

One, per Parasound's instructions, I switched the turntable interconnect ground from the back of the JC 3, to the back of the Yamaha integrated, just for grounding.   That further reduced hum.

Then, I ordered a Bluejeans/ LC 1 interconnect, to replace an older Cardas set that I got on a blowout from Audio Advisor maybe 8-10 years ago. The Cardas was not a crazy expensive set, maybe 60.00-80.00, my price, marked down from 150-200?  Thick, reddish insulation, but no braid visible on the outside.   Nonetheless, the  Cardas set sounded fine to me, I was just looking at eliminating the hum. 

So, I installed the LC1.  Listened to a few vocal heavy albums.  First, I could detect no hum whatsoever after switching cables.  The instrumentation sounded very distinct and the soundstage no better though no worse, but the vocals were off just a bit, to my ear.  I tended to think beyond a certain basic pricepoint, interconnects were interconnects, but to my ear, the LC 1 colored the vocals, or the Cardas rendered them a little more clearly. So I switched back. 

Couple thoughts:

One, the LC-1 cost less than the Cardas, any way about it.  Probably still a decent cable for the money. 
I might try it on my work system. Or give it to my youngest if she gets a turntable.

Two, the LC 1 does seem to knock out the hum. But to my ear, it kind of colors the vocals or muddies them up slightly in a way I don't appreciate.

Three, the LC 1 did not seem to have a directional indicator for the signal, where the Cardas definitely does. 
Not sure if that is a lot of hoo-ha, but if the manufacturer indicates a signal path, I go with it.

Four,  I know the topic of cable burn in is, uh, polarizing. On one hand, I'd think conductivity and a solid connection is all you need.  On the other hand, other components supposedly have burn in periods, albeit more complicated components.

Anyone else have similar experience with LC 1 or other shielded cables?