Ideas For Phono Cable For My Turntable.

@stereo5 - There are a few options open to you...

EASIEST: Get a Nordost Frey cable - they are very good

IMPROVED: Get a one piece harness installed in your arm - probably cost around $600-$700 and it will sound even better than the Frey

THE ULTIMATE: - buy an Audiomods arm - Jeff at Audomods used to make a special mounting plate just for your turntable. His arms are amazing value and significantly better than what comes with the 1200g

You can order his arms with a silver litz one piece harness and have him install KLE Innovations Absolute Harmony RCA’s. This is an amazing combo.

What if you want to change the Harness? - trust me you won’t - it’s that good!!!

Once you get the Audiomods arm, you sell the arm that came with the SL1200g and install the Audiomods arm.

I purchased an Audiomods Classic (Series III) arm several years ago with the Silver litz harness - added the Absolute Harmony RCA’s myself and have never looked back. A friend purchased the Series V for his 1200 and loved it

By the time you sell the old 1200 arm you will probably have spent around $800 total - but the sound will be superb.

Just make sure you check the compliance of the cartridge matches the arm first - or you'll have a cartridge upgrade to factor in.

Just thinking outside the box

Regards - Steve

@stereo5 - RE:

I plan on replacing my ZU modified DL-103 cartridge for a Dynavector DV20X2L cartridge and thought I would upgrade the cable at the same time.

Here’s something else to consider - replacing the ZU might not be your best option

Just have the stylus and cantilever upgraded on the ZU DL 103 and keep the cables you have - cost around $399 - you will notice a significant improvement - like...

• details
• clarity
• imaging
• dynamics
• bass depth and texture

Cartridge Rebuilding / Retipping | Soundsmith (sound-smith.com)

I was using a stock DL 103 and saw that Soundsmith offered a stylus and cantilever replacement

• I purchased one of their last Denon DL103’s they had upgraded with a Ruby cantilever and an Optimized Contour Contact Line stylus.
• I then epoxied a brass plate to the cartridge - basically having the same impact as the ZU headshell - i.e. improving cartridge rigidity and mounting
• The cantilever/stylus combination allowed the DL 103 to show just how good it can be - which is stunning

I think I might opt for a Shibata profile next time - the Contact Line requires extremely precise alignment using a mirrored protractor and some much younger eyes - but it does sound amazingly detailed :-)

I’m now thinking of having my other spare DL103 "re-tipped" as well

The upgraded DL 103 is an amazing cartridge that is capable of so much more than the stock spherical stylus and aluminum cantilever could deliver and it didn’t lose any of its original "charm"

I’ve read on this forum that there are several other people that can do the same modifications and maybe a little more affordable and timely manner than Soundsmith, so scan the forums for details

Here are some so start with
Worldwide List of Phono Cartridge Retippers and Rebuilders - Audionirvana.org

Some people would say don’t bother upgrading a $230 cartridge - but most people that do this upgrade are extremely happy with the results.

I did read one disappointed post on another forum, but he opted to have a new finer stylus installed on the existing aluminum cantilever - which is not a good option at all

You might want to consider the Boron cantilever - I’ve read some people prefer that, but I will stick with the Ruby

Just something else to ponder :-)

Regards - Steve