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XLR vs. Phono Cables

I am in the process of purchasing a new phono preamp -- the reason being is that my turntable is a distance from my preamp and I need a slight boost of signal. The wires must travel about 12 feet from my turnatble behind a television set to my preamp. This is probably not ideal, but I really don't have a choice.

Earlier I posted recommendations for phono preamps in the $500 to $1,500 price range. I received some very nice feedback. Some of the phono preamps have XLR support, while others only support standard phono cables.

Would I be better off buying a phono preamp with XLR outputs, or will standard phono cables be ok for my purpose?

Thank you.
-Greg
fremonthills
11 responses Add your response
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
Don't do this - phono signals are miniscule it should have a pre-pre nearby.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,383 posts
 
it has been my experience that components are designed either single ended or balanced. Yes some of them can do either, but they sound much better in their preferred mode. Ask your manufacturer about that. I have all Ayre equipment, and indeed every component sounds better balanced than single ended. There are components that sound better single ended.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,410 posts
 
I second what Shardone wrote - Don't do it. Not only that levels are small but also low frequencies are boosted by phono stage. In addition cable's capacitance my interfere with your cartridge.
albertporter's avatar
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 
Good advice from Stringreen on XLR and RCA, but I adamantly agree with Shadorne on the issue of distance.

You're far better off with a tiny phono stage hidden behind and below your turntable, than running 12 feet of interconnect to the best phono preamp made. It's simple, once the signal is ruined it cannot be reconstructed.
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fremonthills OP
15 posts
 
Perhaps I didn't make this clear, but the phono preamp will be placed right next to the turntable. The long cable will connect the phono preamp to the actual preamp. I believe this is the recommended way to do it.

TT -- 1' --> Phono Preamp ------ 12' -----> Preamp

What I'm wondering is whether XLR is preferred over standard phono cables for this 12 foot length of cable.

Sorry for the confusion.
-Greg
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,383 posts
 
As I said in my post above..if your preamp/line stage is better at XLR then the preferred termination would be blanced...if and only if you're terminus/arm is balanced. If you have RCA's at the end of your turntable, use RCA's into the preamp. Wonderful results can be accomplished using either RCA or XLR. I would not use any adapters to change XLR to RCA or reverse. I tried that and could certainly hear any and all adapters...even the hundred dollar variety.
albertporter's avatar
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 
Perhaps I didn't make this clear, but the phono preamp will be placed right next to the turntable. The long cable will connect the phono preamp to the actual preamp. I believe this is the recommended way to do it.

OK, now you have no problems other than deciding on cable. Stringreen has accurately answered the second half of your question. Time for you to enjoy some music.
fremonthills OP
15 posts
 
The preamp that I will be using is a McIntosh C2200 with both XLR and RCA inputs. Everything that is connected to it has XLR, so I am motivated to pick up a phono preamp with XLR outputs. There are three that look good:

PS Audio GCPH ($1000)
Aqvox 2CI MKII ($1400)
Simaudio Moon LP5.3 ($1400)

All of these have been very well reviewed.

-Greg
juanpablocuervo
19 posts
 
depens on the quality of the cables you use.
usually XLR should be better,
but if the XLR cable has low propagation velocity and high capacitance, or bad shielding
vs.
a rca with the opocite, high V.P. and low capacitance ,and copper shielding

the rca will win.
its all relative
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,410 posts
 
Propagation velocity is not important with analog cables.
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