In article , Rob
Fisher wrote:
Can you say what it is about the existing cables that leads pun :-)
you to conclude that they require replacement or 'upgrade'?
Nothing really. I think I've got that "need to upgrade" itch!
Based on my own experience and understanding - If you want a better sound
my personal reaction would be to focus on the speakers, or perhaps the
cartridge... If your cartridge has a low output impedance I would not
expect a change of cable to do as much as a change of speakers - or even as
much as moving your listening position.
I am thinking though that in the twenty or so years since my turntable
was made, cable technology might have moved on a bit. The existing wires
and plugs really don't look up to much, and they do carry the most
important and low-level signal in the system. The arm, the cartridge and
the phono stage have all been upgraded, but the signal still goes
through the same wire.
If the connectors have tarnished they may require replacement. However I
have my doubts that cable technology has "moved on a bit" in a way that
will produce a significant improvement if you original cables are OK.
I'm pretty skeptical about plugs and cables, which is why I canvassed
for opinion, but there does seem to be a certain logic in having this
particular bit of wire be the best shielded one in the system.
Can you hear any hum with the volume set to normal levels and no LP
playing?
When playing an LP with the volume wound up on a quiet passage, is the hum
distinctly louder than the background noise/rumble?
When not playing an LP do you hear any 'plops' or 'clicks'? Or do you
sometimes get local taxi firms, etc, audible via the LP input?
If the answers to the above are "no" then - unless you have some other
reason - there seems to be no reason to feel you need better shielding for
these cables.
If any answer is "yes", then a change of cable *might* be useful. But the
problem may come from elsewhere, so this would not be a certain sign.
I'd agree that this is where the signal level is very low and so needs
careful shielding and conveying. However my experience is that people have
been making cables that do this just fine in most circumstances for
decades. :-)
Slainte,
Jim
--
Electronics
http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc
http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio
http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc.
http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html
LP12 - replacing tonearm cable?
Linear Mode
