Is a "phono" cable necessary instead of an interconnect?

Hi -

I'm hooking up an entry/budget level turntable to a new integrated amp (RA Sphinx). The amp has a phono input for mm and high output mc carts. I'll be using an AQ Evergreen interconnect (rca to rca) cable once the amp is delivered. I'm interested in auditioning a variety of cables from the Cable Company and need some help deciding which cables to select.

My question - Is it best practice to run a "phono" interconnect instead of a regular interconnect in this instance? Some insight would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe

 

Hi Joe,

A phono cable in its truest sense has rca plugs on one end, and a tonearm din plug on the other end. It also has a ground wire with a spade lug on same side that the rca's are on.
Some turntables have rca's on the back so you can use regular interconnects with rca's on both ends. Some of these cables may have a ground wire attached with lugs on both ends as well (like VPI), most do not.
Either way you should look for a well shielded cable with low capacitance, and use the shortest run you can get away with.

Regards,
Paul

 

Yeah, I think "phono cables" is a bit of a legacy term that's been, as far as most people will ever need to be concerned, repurposed. I certainly found it confusing when I was starting out. I think now a "phono cable" is, most of the time, just a well-shielded RCA cable, where that shielding may not be necessary in other connections. When you do get your system set-up, if you find that it has a low-level hum, it may be worth seeing if the hum disappears when you use a more well-shielded cable between the table and the phono pre/integrated receiver.

 

What table is it? Does it have the cables built in (2 rca + ground) or does it have female RCA's? If it's the one in your profile you will need properly shielded cables. Without them it will hum, and IIRC Grado carts are sensitive and will certainly require a good shielded cable.

 

Here are some pics to show what I was talking about.

 

Yes it's the Uturn Orbit with Grado. The deck is basic RCA connector and internally grounded.

 

I have the same amp, a Rogue Audio Sphinx. Let us know how you like it! Mine is with a VPI Scout. I am waiting to get new interconnect cables that are better shielded, since my older interconnects had a bit of a hum. It's a great amp, so enjoy it and give some feedback!

 

By the way, if you're swapping cables to solve a problem like hum, go for it. If you're swapping cables to improve/change the sound, I think you'd be better off spending money on, say, the acrylic platter for the Orbit if you haven't upgraded that yet, or ultimately a better turntable. I think even those who insist that cables make a difference will argue that, as long as you don't have a cable-induced problem like hum, it's the change you worry about when you've set pretty much everything else up to your liking. If that's the case and you're happy with the Orbit and just want to tweak for tweaking's sake, though, have fun! And apologies if you know all this already, but speaking from experience, I know how this amazing forum of incredibly helpful people can nevertheless cause priorities to get little skewed for folks newer to the world of vinyl.

 

That evergreen looks to a well shielded cable, should be just fine. And I think they are directional cables, so make sure the arrow pointing towards the amp side is right

 

Ta

Thanks! I'm looking forward to its arrival. It'll be replacing the NAD C 316bee that's running KEF LS50s. Once I'm settled with the new amp, I thought about auditioning new cables, especially if a 'phono' cable was recommended. However, looks like a well shielded cable should do the job for now.

 

Get the best interconnect cable you feel comfortable buying.

 

I've been happy with the table thus far and completely understand the benefits of upgrading it down the road. I think auditioning other cables in my specific setup would be enlightening, but in no way required. I would then have some experience in the "cable debate" and be able to thrown in my 2 cents - not that it's needed

I've thought about the acrylic platter upgrade. U-turn indicates an improvement of 0.05% in w&f between the mdf and acrylic platter....

 

I think that's totally reasonable.

It doesn't hurt auditioning different cables to see if it has a positive outcome. If so, I think roughly 10% of the overall stereo value is a decent budget for such a thing...

 

Incidentally, Rega owners won't see the ground spade wire. The company takes care of that via the RCA cables instead.

 

...But use the cable that U-Turn includes first.

 

Knowing AQ, it's probably not shielded well, if at all. I wouldn't touch their stuff with someone else's 10' pole, FWIW.

 

Well, their website said it was.....(sarcasm)

 

Audioquest cable works fine as a phono interconnect, ignore the haters.

 

I replaced my stock Music Hall phono interconnects with a Signal Cable's Silver Resolution Phono/Tonearm offering, fantastic sonics IMO and very affordable at $79 for 2 ft. or $99 for 3 ft. ith longer versions available too: http://signalcable.com/silverresolutionphono.html

 

I ordered the Signal Cable's Silver Resolution Phono cable. For $99 bucks I figured I'd give it a try. I'll provide feedback once I've had some audition time with it.

 

Seancito - so I've had the amp for a week or so and I'm really enjoying it. It has definitely elevated the performance of the LS50's! I'm utilizing the phono stage and have found it very pleasing. The line stage has vastly improved the sound coming from my connected DAC.

I am dealing with a little more hum/buzz then when I had the NAD amp in my system. I'm troubleshooting to see if it can be eliminated completely - fingers crossed. Did you notice an increase in hum/buzz when you installed the Sphinx?

 

I hope you like it Joe!

 

I dont think the Sphinx is the reason for the hum, but the AT440MLA cartridge that I hooked up. I have used a Soundsmith Otello and Dynavector 10X5 with no problems. The hum isnt terrible and I can deal with it. It's mostly at higher volumes with really quiet passages. When a standard recording is playing, it is unnoticeable. I love the Sphinx. I can't wait to upgrade my speakers next from my Rega R1's on stands!

 

For some reason I can't explain, I had issues with two different Audioquest cables on my phono preamp. I am thinking maybe the cables got damaged when connected to my ARC preamp. The AQ lower end cables do not allow much spread between the Jack's and were maxed out connecting to the preamp.

The July case I can give to a dedicated phono cable would be f you needed a predictable capacitance as some who go a bit nuts wth their TT setup!