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Is this a bad idea? Replacing integrated RCA cables on turntable with RCA female jacks

Hi all, this is a repost from a thread I started last week under the Analog category, but i didn't get any replies so I figured "Tech Talk" might be the more appropriate forum to ask this question, and thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge in an area where I'm clueless.

Question:
I have a Denon DP31L turntable and was thinking I might cut small ports on the back of the housing to accommodate RCA jacks via one of two ways, which is where I need advice such as "stop now" or "such-and-such option is better bc..." Etc., etc.  :)

Option #1) cutting the integrated/original RCA cable so it's just long enough to reach my jack cut-outs and then solder that cut end to female RCA jacks
                      ------------------or---------------
Option #2) remove entire original RCA cable from the circuitry, and solder a new new cable in its place to run to the RCA jacks.

Option #1 is preferred because I wouldn't have to re-solder new wires onto the circuitry. Is this a bad idea in general or not a big deal?  Will either (or both) option have a drastic impact on the sound, for better or worse? I dont want want to downgrade the acoustics, but I would prefer to have RCA jacks for the convience factor of using different interconnects to run to my phono preamp.

Any advice would be much appreciated as always. Thanks so much!




Additional Note if you've actually made it this far: 
If applicable to how you answer assume I'll be using quality RCA jacks, do a quality soldering job with Mundorf Supreme silver/gold solder, and appropriately ground everything during the modification (currently there is a separate ground wire that runs the length next to the 6’ integrated RCA cable)

hockey4496
5 responses Add your response
williewonka
3,075 posts
 
I tried the Incognito and it was an improvement over the standard Rega wire

I've since replaced the arm and now have an Audiomods Series 3 with a single-run one meter harness from the RCA's through to the cartridge.

The RCA's are KLE Innovations Absolute Harmony, which I believe to be the best on the market at this moment in time.

http://kleinnovations.com/kle-innovations-klei-products/klei-harmony-plug/klei-absoluteharmony-phono...

I've tried the entire Harmony RCA range and they all offer superior transmission compared to the opposition. Each next model up simply offers an enhanced level of refinement.

Jeff at Audiomods will rewire arms with his silver harness and install the Harmony RCA's.

If you don't want to go that nuts, simply try installing the Harmony RCA's on the existing lead - it might just surprise you - they are very good.

I can see why you think installing RCA's might be a good idea, but a one piece harness is the way to go.

Regards....

smotojo
14 posts
 
On my Linn LP-12 I got rid of the original din connector and cables, replaced with Van Den Hull din to switch box with Vampire RCA's and Ground attached to rear of plinth so any cables can be used. I've been using Van Den Hull IC's with very good results. FWIW???
marktomaras
544 posts
 
There are companies like Brit audio that rewire your tonearm and include a higher quality cable from cartridge to RCA. There is a product called the incognito rewire kit that they sell alone or install for you, which is an upgrade that I have had my eye on, though i may upgrade tonearm eventually so I am holding off...
hockey4496 OP
104 posts
 
Thanks for your input, that's helpful. In terms of modifying it to use a DIN connector, would you say that's worth while on a table like this? If so what would be baseline cost doing something like that myself?

I'm looking for another table now, but considering I can only get one if someone is willing to trade, that not pan out for weeks to years.
rcprince
3,073 posts
 
Not being technical, I'll still offer some basic thoughts.  Normally, the less connections you have in the chain, the better the sound, so adding another connection and interconnects could in theory adversely affect things.  That's why many of us use a DIN connector directly from the tonearm to the phono preamp.  If you think that using higher quality interconnects to replace the integrated cables would improve the sound, then cutting the old ones to attach them to the RCA jacks would seem to be the worst choice, since you still have the integrated cable in your signal chain, so why even get rid of it.  Option 2 would be the better choice of your two options, using a higher quality cable than the integrated cable.  But my choice would be to stay with what you have, I think that the difference in cable quality would not be enough to offset the additional connections.  Just MHO.
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