Hi All!
I make all my own cables, and I know generally what to look for cable wise but I've never done turntable stuff and want to make sure I build the right cable for a phono-out to pre-amp connection.
It will only be 1.5feet which I know is important, but I am trying to source a cable from parts-express but only see two which may work, but each have their own issue. I am wondering if someone can offer some input or an alternative.
1. Choice one is this mogami 12awg cable https://www.parts-express.com/Mogam...igh-Definition-2-x-12-AWG-103-1023?quantity=1
From what I read, you want 12-14awg for this connection type as voltage drop and resistance is especially important to pay attention to. However, this is unshielded. Everything I read says it should be shielded, but I can't find shielded 12awg wire.
2. Choice two is 22awg shielded belden cable. https://www.parts-express.com/Belden-1505F-1-ft.-RG-59-U-Coaxial-Cable-Black-102-1360?quantity=1
However, this is 22awg which may be too thin for this type of connection?
Any pointers or advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
I make all my own cables, and I know generally what to look for cable wise but I've never done turntable stuff and want to make sure I build the right cable for a phono-out to pre-amp connection.
It will only be 1.5feet which I know is important, but I am trying to source a cable from parts-express but only see two which may work, but each have their own issue. I am wondering if someone can offer some input or an alternative.
1. Choice one is this mogami 12awg cable https://www.parts-express.com/Mogam...igh-Definition-2-x-12-AWG-103-1023?quantity=1
From what I read, you want 12-14awg for this connection type as voltage drop and resistance is especially important to pay attention to. However, this is unshielded. Everything I read says it should be shielded, but I can't find shielded 12awg wire.
2. Choice two is 22awg shielded belden cable. https://www.parts-express.com/Belden-1505F-1-ft.-RG-59-U-Coaxial-Cable-Black-102-1360?quantity=1
However, this is 22awg which may be too thin for this type of connection?
Any pointers or advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
I'd use a good quality shielded microphone cable, something like this:
https://www.parts-express.com/Belden-8451-250-ft.-Brilliance-22-2-Mic-Line-Cable-102-1264?quantity=1
https://www.parts-express.com/Belden-8451-250-ft.-Brilliance-22-2-Mic-Line-Cable-102-1264?quantity=1
Phono out is a very low-level signal (5Vrms into 47kΩ) so you don't need large wires, just good quality ones. Standard connectors in the US for phono are RCA so just use good quality wire typical for RCA. I use Mogami W2964 (or W2965 for double). Remember you also need a separate chassis grounding wire to go between the turntable and phono preamp. Unless both use a 3 prong power cord I guess.
I have used this cable before, it's really nice. Is 22awg not too thin?
Sorry I just mean the gauge. You want a higher gauge (smaller cable) for this? I use 12awg for all my speaker wire.
You don't need gauge as for speaker cables - more important is to be shielded and low capacitance cable.
Look for something specified at less than 100pF per metre - this can be cartridge and preamp input dependent, if you are using MM cartridge.
Look for something specified at less than 100pF per metre - this can be cartridge and preamp input dependent, if you are using MM cartridge.
Oh! This makes total sense now sense you mentioned the capacitance. It connects all the dots I've been reading.
EDIT. Wrong one,.
Meant to link this https://www.parts-express.com/Belden-8412-1-ft.-Brilliance-20-2-Mic-Line-Cable-102-1250?quantity=1
I don't need many feet, so i can just order 4 feet and make two cables and call it a day.
The coaxial cable has pretty low capacitance though.
Line level signals are on the order of 2V, with current on the order of 0.2mA.
So a very thin wire is fine, from 22 to 26 gauge.
Try cables for guitars, they have low capacitance. Mogami has some of these cables. I just use the Mogami 3368.
(WiseOldTech silently flees another potentially wire discussion/debate thread) 
He meant 5mVrms 🙂
RG174... 1.50$ a metre, 30pF per foot.
https://kohen.ca/product/00/517418/RG174U-Coax-Cable-meter
https://www.everythingrf.com/community/what-are-rg174-coaxial-cables
Use #22 for the ground wire.
RG174... 1.50$ a metre, 30pF per foot.
https://kohen.ca/product/00/517418/RG174U-Coax-Cable-meter
https://www.everythingrf.com/community/what-are-rg174-coaxial-cables
Use #22 for the ground wire.
Sure? I would have to measure, of course, but as the cable capacitance has a massive impact on a guitar's sound, I don't see an important reason for it to be impressively low.
Best regards!
Guitar pickup and MM cartridge are basically the same, a very large number of turns, so high resistance (several k), very high inductance (several H), so their source impedance is high at the top of the audio band - this is why you can't afford much capacitance in the cable. The impedance of 100pF at 15kHz is only 106k, which is less that the output impedances of many guitar pickups at 15kHz (due to the inductance).
Fortunately phono cables are less demanding as runs are typically much shorter, so a guitar cable should be good. Low capacitance cable has a very fine inner conductor and a large outer diameter, the geometry determines the capacitance.
Fortunately phono cables are less demanding as runs are typically much shorter, so a guitar cable should be good. Low capacitance cable has a very fine inner conductor and a large outer diameter, the geometry determines the capacitance.
RG174 has copper clad steel inner conductor. I'm not sure I'd choose that for a phonograph cable. There are other types that have copper inner conductor and tinned copper braid. I'd have to look those up from back when I was shopping for a tonearm output cable...
Hi,
I use Mundorf cable 0,5mm made of 98% silver and 2% gold ( they said ) for interconnect from TA to Pre Phono 100Cm long and from pre phono to Integrated amp 70 Cm long.
Separated earth wire for the cable from TA to Pre Phono.
Good RCA connector single contact point with these wires.
Rgds
Adelmo
I use Mundorf cable 0,5mm made of 98% silver and 2% gold ( they said ) for interconnect from TA to Pre Phono 100Cm long and from pre phono to Integrated amp 70 Cm long.
Separated earth wire for the cable from TA to Pre Phono.
Good RCA connector single contact point with these wires.
Rgds
Adelmo
Oh no, Mark, not really.
A MM cartridge's inductance typically is some hundreds of mH, due to the small (in terms of space) generator inductors. And guitarists don't want to see the frequency response hump beyond the audio band. Quite in contrary, an emphasis at some kHz will colour the guitar sound significantly. Hence, the capacitance of guitar cables typically is some nF's.
Best regards!