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Phono cables

OK, I am vinyl newbie so this is probably a very dumb question. First of all I am in the process of putting a vinyl system together. My current system is completely digital with a Wadia CD player directly driving the amplifier (Rowland 302).

I have just purchased a Synergy IIi on Audiogon and I'm patiently trying to locate a Rowland Cadence phonostage. One I have the Rowland stuff, then I am buying a VPI table with JMW 10.5i tonearm and Dynavector cartridge.

My question is are phono cables that connect the turntable and tonearm to the phono preamp different that regular interconnects? I am currently using Cardas Golden Reference cables in my system and looking on the Cardas website they have phono cables that have single ended with ground on one end of the cable and some unusual single connection on the other. Rowland Cadence has only XLR input and outputs. Can someone please explain the differences in phono cables and what I may need if I'm every lucky enough to find a Rowland Cadence?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Phil
philb7777

Showing 1 response by almarg

almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
I'm not sure if Dynavector makes any moving magnet cartridges, but if the one you are contemplating is a moving magnet type you need to take the cable capacitance into account (as well as the input capacitance of the phono stage), and make sure that the total capacitance is within the range recommended in the cartridge specifications.

If it is a moving coil cartridge, load capacitance is non-critical. Load resistance is important, but that is provided by the phono stage and is essentially not affected by the cable.

Regards,
-- Al
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