Phono cable

[DresdenCW]

I’d appreciate some advice on selecting a phono cable.



I have done some research and narrowed my options down to Supra Phono 2RCA-SC and Blue Jeans LC -2 Cable. My setup is a Technics SL-1500C with an Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge, connected to a MOON 110LP V2 phono stage.



I’m looking for a suitable cable to connect the turntable to the phono stage. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.



Thanks.

 

[Roland_606]

Your phono stage has adjustable capacitance (0pF, 100pF, 330pF, 430pF) so you are not restricted to a cable with very low capacitance characteristics for your MM cartridge. You just need a good quality shielded cable, nothing super fancy or ridiculously expensive. I have the same turntable as you and i use Sommer Onyx cable (~ 120pF / metre) with Rean or Switchcraft connectors that i have made up myself or you can buy here if in the UK. Plenty of other alternatives, just don’t fall for the marketing hype and pay more than is necessary.

 

[Redacted]

Plenty on Amazon for under £15.
E.g.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=B00FQK311O&i=electronics

 

[Ruediger]

I’d appreciate some advice on selecting a phono cable.
I have done some research and narrowed my options down to Supra Phono 2RCA-SC and Blue Jeans LC -2 Cable. My setup is a Technics SL-1500C with an Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge, connected to a MOON 110LP V2 phono stage.
I’m looking for a suitable cable to connect the turntable to the phono stage. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

If you are in Dresden, you can look at competitive offers at dienadel f.e.

Something solid from Sommer or GoldKabel and good connectors will be good. Don't buy anything fancy. As explained above you don't need to go for a boutique (expensive) phono cable with low capacitance as your phono stage solves that for you.

If you want to buy low capacitance either way, look at these cables:
Sommer Spirit LLX, 52 pF/m
Sommer Spirit XXL, 75 pF/m
Mogami 3368, 75–80 pF/m

The only trouble I had with turntables is connectors and their terminals. Basic Rean gave me trouble more than once. I prefer DOS champ connectors or alike. But there are plenty of quality choices.

 

[DresdenCW]

Thanks so much for the detailed replies, genuinely appreciate it. I have learned something new here (didn't realise the phono stage's adjustable capacitance took the pressure off the cable choice quite this much). I will digest this and work out my next course of action.

I am actually down under in Sydney, Australia.

Thanks again for the specific cable suggestions (Sommer, Mogami, GoldKabel) and the connector reliability tip, that's a practical warning I need to consider.

Cheers.

 

[Ropeburn]

Plenty on Amazon for under £15.
E.g.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CableDirect-practically-break-proof-flawless-subwoofer-Black/

You may want to remove all that juicy tracking information.

Edit: and of course I had forgotten to remove it on the quote again. Lol sorry, corrected

 

[JP]

Your phono stage has adjustable capacitance (0pF, 100pF, 330pF, 430pF) so you are not restricted to a cable with very low capacitance characteristics for your MM cartridge.

Careful - these settings are most likely additional capacitance and do not account for the baseline circuit and parasitic capacitance. It could be very low, but 0 isn’t 0.

 

[Ruediger]

Ortofon says 150-300 for this system. If we say arm internal 30-40 and a standard RCA 120-150 it's all good.

When buying low capacity it could be in order to add some. But the cable could be more universal in case of a (very) different system.

 

[Roland_606]

Careful - these settings are most likely additional capacitance and do not account for the baseline circuit and

Good point! I can’t see any mention on its specs what the base capacitance is likely to be. Either way, the OP likely has some flexibility here as referred to in Ruediger’s post.

 

[LTig]

I would still go for a low capacity cable. Then the OP need not get such a cable if he later changes the pickup to one which requires a lower capacitance load. And don't get a cable which is longer than necessary.

 

[Ruediger]

Something from an international sender I'd use.

Mogami Twin RCA Lead. Low Capacitance 75ohm Audio Coax Cable. Straight Connectors

These are 'High Definition' audio interconnects. Mogami 2965 is a low capacitance coaxial cable boasting 65pF/m. This super low capacitance value reduces high frequency attenuation, delivering more clarity and sparkle to your music.

www.designacable.com

 

[DresdenCW]

I checked the blue jeans LC 2 product page, and the capacitance is below 11 pF/foot. I plan to go for 1 Meter ( x 3). Not yet checked the other cables mentioned above

 

[Ruediger]

I checked the blue jeans LC 2 product page, and the capacitance is below 11 pF/foot. I plan to go for 1 Meter ( x 3). Not yet checked the other cables mentioned above

I don't see that value mentioned, but if true is super low. The cable seems very well built and optimized strictly for low capacitance. Price is also not out of proportion. Proper choice.

 

[Redacted]

You may want to remove all that juicy tracking information.

Yep. Done it! You can remove it from your reply post too!
I'm sensing an over-spend though!

Keep it short!

here's some measurements, for people with bat hearing:

https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=137127&start=12

 

[DonH56]

I would get LC-2. Very low capacitance, flexible, and well-built. As mentioned before you can always add capacitance, but it is hard if not impossible to remove once you've chosen the cable. You should also use as short as possible a connection (cable) from turntable to preamp.

 

[Redacted]

You could potentially put a pre-amp inside the case of the TT, but it already has one built -in!

 

[Redacted]

Unrelated cartridge question....

Did anyone ever make a cartridge with balanced outputs? It's a fine place to implement a split coil....
You could also build a tiny op amp into the cartridge, perhaps (they weigh almost nothing in the right packaging)

Maybe too expensive to make, or maybe not worth it for a poor source like vinyl ?

 

[JP]

Good point! I can’t see any mention on its specs what the base capacitance is likely to be. Either way, the OP likely has some flexibility here as referred to in Ruediger’s post.

The post that doesn't mention the baseline capacitance of the phono stage at all? I've seen plenty that have 100-200pF baseline.

 

[Ruediger]

The post that doesn't mention the baseline capacitance of the phono stage at all? I've seen plenty that have 100-200pF baseline.

Well, a phono-pre with adjustable capacity wouldn't make much sense if the circuit blindly adds a standard, high capacity anyway? The input circuit design will have a low capacity priority.

We won't get an exact number from them, but I'd say add the tonearm capacity for the input. Max. 50.

Still good with the standard RCA cable, could be on the low side alltogether with a cable of really low capacity.

Users of the 2M also like to use more than 150, more in the 180-200 area. But that's a bit subjective. 150 should be reached though.

 

[LTig]

Unrelated cartridge question....

Did anyone ever make a cartridge with balanced outputs? It's a fine place to implement a split coil....

Every cartridge is balanced. See the 4 pins, 2 for each channel. Two of them are connected together within the TT to the shields of the coax cable.

You could also build a tiny op amp into the cartridge, perhaps (they weigh almost nothing in the right packaging)

Maybe too expensive to make, or maybe not worth it for a poor source like vinyl ?

Well, at least it would fix the problem with the capacitive load. OTOH it removes the possibility to "play" with expensive preamps to improve the sound ...