Cartridge Recommendation for VPI Classic

[richteer]

Originally Posted by John72953

Why not ask your dealer if you can try out the Nordost and do a comparison. If it has no impact then you have your answer and your current Monster HDMI's should be good enough.

John

Joe, I think John has hit the nail on the head here. Ask your dealer to lend you a length of Nordost's HDMI cable (I'm a Nordost fan myself!).

[zicmubleu]

While you guys are talking about cables, what is your recommendation for the TT to the preamp/AVR cabling? I don't buy high end cables but I do believe that in the low power applications like the TT and HDMI, preamp in/outputs better cables could have better shielding and offer significant improvement in signal quality. I would primarily be interested in cables that cost around or under $20 for short lengths, and for HDMI that would be 2 meters.

Steve

[Johnny Vinyl]

That's basically the pricepoint of cables I have (2 sets of Philips analog-1 metre and 2 Philips HDMI -2 metre) Each set of analogs cost me around $25 and the HDMI around $35...Canuck dollars, so yours should be cheaper.

I do however have a pair of Audioquest Copperhead analog cables that cost me around $100 CDN, which I have connected to the analog inputs of the Oppo DV-980H for the fronts (Philips for rear and centre).

Depending on what a potential TT setup would run you, buy accordingly. Don't go crazy. I'd say 15-25% for cabling on a TT setup. A little higher than I would normally recommend, but then a TT deserves to be caressed a little more than other componants.

John

[joe1515]

On a seperate note, I need to buy approx 30 to 35 feet of cable to run from my phono pre amp to my Arcam AVR 600 receiver (I know not ideal, but it is what is). What cables do you guys recommend?

I called Accoustic Sounds, Needle Doctor, and Music Direct and they all recommended Audio Quest. Any thoughts on Audio Quest? My budget will probably allow for either the Diamond Back or the Copper head.

Thanks Joe

[Johnny Vinyl]

You know Joe that you are looking at probably a minimum $500 and as much as $1,000 for that length of cable run. Your system is certainly worth that kind of expenditure, but stilll....that's a shitload of cash!

John

[btf1980]

Originally Posted by joe1515

On a seperate note, I need to buy approx 30 to 35 feet of cable to run from my phono pre amp to my Arcam AVR 600 receiver (I know not ideal, but it is what is). What cables do you guys recommend?

I called Accoustic Sounds, Needle Doctor, and Music Direct and they all recommended Audio Quest. Any thoughts on Audio Quest? My budget will probably allow for either the Diamond Back or the Copper head.

Thanks Joe

I advise against this. Even if you have to rearrange things, try to have some semblance of unity and keep your phonostage, TT and AVR in fairly close proximity. Shorter runs are neater, easier to handle, are less prone to issues and will most definitely leave money in your pocket.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by John72953

Depending on what a potential TT setup would run you, buy accordingly. Don't go crazy. I'd say 15-25% for cabling on a TT setup. A little higher than I would normally recommend, but then a TT deserves to be caressed a little more than other componants.

John

+1

[richteer]

Originally Posted by btf1980

I advise against this. Even if you have to rearrange things, try to have some semblance of unity and keep your phonostage, TT and AVR in fairly close proximity. Shorter runs are neater, easier to handle, are less prone to issues and will most definitely leave money in your pocket.

Agreed, although I'm not sure what the worst sin would be: longer speaker cables or longer interconnects (I usually try to do the former).

Edit: Argh! The latter; I usually try to do the latter (i.e., longer interconnects)!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by richteer

Agreed, although I'm not sure what the worst sin would be: longer speaker cables or longer interconnects (I usually try to do the former).

I'm more than likely going to be faced with the same situation that Joe has mentioned. Whenever (God willing) I am able to get another TT, I do not want it on my current stand. I want a seperate isolation platform of some kind, which unfortunately means getting cables from the AVR to Phono pre-amp of about 12 feet. There is no getting around this issue. Will this have an audible negative effect on playback?

John

[joe1515]

Originally Posted by btf1980

I advise against this. Even if you have to rearrange things, try to have some semblance of unity and keep your phonostage, TT and AVR in fairly close proximity. Shorter runs are neater, easier to handle, are less prone to issues and will most definitely leave money in your pocket.

There is no option to rearrange. Like I said before this is how it has to be. I wish there was. So having said that what cables do you guys think. Audioquest? My dealer keeps recommending Tara Labs.

Thanks.

[joe1515]

Originally Posted by John72953

You know Joe that you are looking at probably a minimum $500 and as much as $1,000 for that length of cable run. Your system is certainly worth that kind of expenditure, but stilll....that's a shitload of cash!

John

Yes I know tell me about it! One option I thought of was blue jeans cable, but I am not sure. I would rather get a higher end cable.

Joe

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by joe1515

Yes I know tell me about it! One option I thought of was blue jeans cable, but I am not sure. I would rather get a higher end cable.

Joe

I'm with you there. Although I don't want to dispute any of our other members' passion for BJC and Monoprice, I personally prefer not to follow that lead.

On my very minimalist system I've been pleased with the offerings from AudioQuest and I wouldn't hesitate using them on the upgrade path to eventual audio nirvana. Lots of names come to mind, Tara Labs like you mentioned, Kimber, Crystal, Transparant, WireWorld, etc....


John

[richteer]

Originally Posted by joe1515

There is no option to rearrange. Like I said before this is how it has to be. I wish there was. So having said that what cables do you guys think. Audioquest? My dealer keeps recommending Tara Labs.

Thanks.

Tara labs make some good cables, but given that you already have an investment in Nordost's cables, I think that would be the best way to go. Nordost cables really start coming in to their own when you use them in the whole system.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by John72953

I'm more than likely going to be faced with the same situation that Joe has mentioned. Whenever (God willing) I am able to get another TT, I do not want it on my current stand. I want a seperate isolation platform of some kind, which unfortunately means getting cables from the AVR to Phono pre-amp of about 12 feet. There is no getting around this issue. Will this have an audible negative effect on playback?

John

It's not an ideal situation, but the good news is that the output from a phono stage is just like any other line level signal. RFI might be a problem with that length of cable, so you might need to consider a shelided cable (or balanced cables if that's an option).

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by John72953

That's basically the pricepoint of cables I have (2 sets of Philips analog-1 metre and 2 Philips HDMI -2 metre) Each set of analogs cost me around $25 and the HDMI around $35...Canuck dollars, so yours should be cheaper.

I do however have a pair of Audioquest Copperhead analog cables that cost me around $100 CDN, which I have connected to the analog inputs of the Oppo DV-980H for the fronts (Philips for rear and centre).

Depending on what a potential TT setup would run you, buy accordingly. Don't go crazy. I'd say 15-25% for cabling on a TT setup. A little higher than I would normally recommend, but then a TT deserves to be caressed a little more than other componants.

John

I guess what I am trying to figure out what about the cable seems better than the BJC or Monoprice cables? It is difficult to determine much from an online picture about how the cable is constructed, they do say whether it is gold plated or something like that and if they truly used a significant amount of gold the cable cost would be fairly high. I make Ethernet cables at work and have found huge differences in the quality of the wires based on how well the wire has been annealed, to how well the pairs are twisted, to how flexible and durable the sheathing is. Once the cable is constructed only the flexibility is visually/physically apparent, and with Ethernet data there is a lot of forgiveness that we don't have in audio. So I guess the question is do the cables you use 'feel' better, give you less problems than a low end Monoprice cable? I have bought some Monoprice items and was surprised at how well they seem to be made for such a minimal price. I have bought coax cables from Philips and don't remember them as standout to me, but I wasn't necessarily focussed on their build quality that well at the time.

Originally Posted by richteer

It's not an ideal situation, but the good news is that the output from a phono stage is just like any other line level signal. RFI might be a problem with that length of cable, so you might need to consider a shelided cable (or balanced cables if that's an option).

I am surprised that you would ever use something other than shielded cable in the lower power connections. Anything feeding to an amplifier stage can benefit from shielding, balanced pairing and impedance matching and you definitely strive for perfection. I don't normally worry about it but this forum is making me rethink that more and more every day.

[joe1515]

Originally Posted by richteer

Tara labs make some good cables, but given that you already have an investment in Nordost's cables, I think that would be the best way to go. Nordost cables really start coming in to their own when you use them in the whole system.

I agree totally, I just cant afford purchasing the Blue Heavens. Blue Heavens that length will be well over $1,500. So I am considering the Wyrewizard line from Nordost.

Joe

[richteer]

Originally Posted by zicmubleu

I am surprised that you would ever use something other than shielded cable in the lower power connections.

Let me be more clear: for a turntable to phono stage connection (be it MM or MC), you definately need a sheilded cable. But for line level signals, sheilding isn't always a necessity. It depends on who much RFI your system is subjected to.

That being said, with the exception of a 1m length of Nordost Blue Heaven between my CD player and preamp, all my ICs are sheilded (a combination of Nordost Frey and some home made stuff).

[richteer]

Originally Posted by joe1515

I agree totally, I just cant afford purchasing the Blue Heavens. Blue Heavens that length will be well over $1,500. So I am considering the Wyrewizard line from Nordost.

Joe

I know what you mean about Nordost sticker shock! The Wyrewizard stuff will probably be OK, but it might be worth trying to save up for the Blue Heaven. It wouldn't hurt to ask your dealer for a quote (or keep your eyes on AudioGon).

[joe1515]

I spoke with Nordost this morning and he recommended going either with the Enchantress or Dreamcaster. He actually thought the Dreamcaster was a better value because he did not feel the Enchantress was an additional $500

He also did not recommend blue heaven becasue he thought it was to long of a distance for that cable and it would pick up interference.

I think I am leaning towards the Dreamcaster.

Joe

[joe1515]

I just ordered the Nordost dreamcasters. I will let everyone know how it turns out.

Joe