I have tried many but needed a longer run and made one myself. I used 2 Audioquest Digital coaxial cables and a ground. Wrapped it in McIntosh Green Techflex! Best I ever heard!
Phono cable advice.
What are some good phono cable options for around $150ish and under? So far I’m looking at BJ LC-1 and Zu Audio Mission cables. This would be for between my Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Esprit and most likely (still looking) a MoFi StudioPhono preamp. I have an extra pair of Kimber Silver Streak cables but they don’t look insulated well enough. I’ll be running DH Labs Air Matrix from my preamp to KEF LS50 Wireless speakers. I’d like something I can grow out a little with as I incrementally upgrade things. Stylus (Blue 2M?) is probably next.
Thanks for any input.
Thanks for any input.
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@lewm A big shout-out to lewm for recommending the Anti-cables. I went with the top of the line and had them burned in for 150 hours for an extra twenty bucks. I got them yesterday and am truly astonished by how they have transformed my vinyl playback. Wow! I wouldn't have believed phono cables could make such a difference if I hadn't experienced with my own ears. Thanks! |
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asahitoro Have you had a chance to listen and compare the different (Zu, AS, etc.) phono cables yet? |
Found this thread as I am looking for some phono interconnects, need quite a few. This comment from @lewm as always IMO summarizes it well. I think Atmasphere would agree that in certain environments, like in the middle of any big city, near power lines or large electric devices, it would make sense to use shielded phono cables. Also, if you don't or can't carefully route your phono cables so as to avoid RF and EMI radiating from your own equipment (or your own refrigerator, for example), it would make sense to have shielding. But, like certain calculations in higher mathematics, once you know the rules, it's OK to break them. I make my own cables. I usually twist the strands of wire (hot with ground or the + and - phases of a balanced signal) to cancel noise, rather than to add a discrete shield. (Twisting also adds capacitance; there's no free lunch.) I've never felt the need for a circumferential shield on such a cable. On the other hand, I would agree that most commercial phono cables have an integral shield; you're stuck with it. (I live in a suburb of Washington, DC, where there is not much industry and no power lines nearby, etc.)I have the Atmasphere's MP-1 and MA-1 (phono, pre, amp) and with a Technics TT I get a radio station with my current interconnects made with shielded Mogami when using an Ortofon MM cart, using a Pickering MM cart I don't get the radio station, neither using a Denon MC cart, just switching carts the radio station is gone. So yes "there is no free lunch" in metro areas RFI is an issue that even with shielded cables you might have. I have done RFI experiments with my spectrum analyzer on a different application and shielding unless the shield is thick enough provides "some minimal blocking" but most of the time is negligible. Capacitance (as Atmasphere pointed out) is a big problem with phono cables which is minimized with true balanced connections vs single ended but still present and noticeable. Personally I'm planning on getting my interconnects with no shield if possible or shielded if I have no other choice. Anyone has experience with these? https://www.ebay.com/itm/372605700088?hash=item56c107c7f8:g:6zUAAOSwMVhgabYx and this https://www.shop.back-promo.co.uk/RCA-XLR_Phono_cables/cat4417239_3843420.aspx |