tonearm cable

[john999]

which tonearm cable sound better,
natural,dynamics,3D...
the Siltech Avondale2 or Furutech Silver Arrow 2?

cheers

[tom_hankins]

I used the Furutech for a short while. It's pretty good, better (to me) than the Audioquest Leopard I had at the same time. I have since worked my way through some of the Kubala-Sosna line and liked all of them over any other phono cables I have had so far. They are a more natural, fleshed out sound, and very quiet cable. Happy cable hunting

[Speedskater]

You have to look at it from a system point of view. Phono cartridge >> cable >> pre-amp input stage. It's a synergy thing.
You also have to look at it from a mechanical point of view. Is the cable compatible with the tone-arm.

[Joseph R.]

I had a situation where the cable was not compatable with the tonearm. I owned an SME 3009 series III tonearm. I ordered a Morrow cable. This arm uses all RCA phono connectors (no DIN). Since I needed a 90 degree bend at the input end, Mike Morrow fabricated the cable with no connector barrels on the turntable side. It fit my Denon DP755 TT perfectly. It also brought new life to my rig. The turntable sparkled.

A few years later I purchased an SME M2-9R tonearm. This is the latest version of the SME 3009 series II. I affixed the Morrow wire with disastorus results. I could not believe the tonearm was so bad. After contacting SME it wss determined to be a wire mismatch.

Presently I am convinced the supplied Van den hull 501 cable is restricting my turntable performance. Since I need a 90 degree bend at the cable input, I am reduced to $2.50 adaptors between the tonearm output and the cable input. I purchased higher end adaptors (Audioquest) but they don’t fit. SME does not recommend aftermarket cables or provide a cable upgrade. So now I have a $4,500.00 analog rig connected via $5 worth of adaptors. Discouraging.



Does anyone know of a phono cable manufacturer that will customize cable configuration ?

[Try1256]

Joe, I have an SME M2-9 mounted on my vintage Thorens TD-160. I am using a Morrow PH-3 with good results. Quite a step up from the VDH. When I connected the Morrow directly to the arm, it interfered with the suspension but not the sound. I solved the problem by making a connection plate that allows me to connect at the back of the plinth. I uses Cardas connectors and shielded tonearm wire and it does the trick. It puzzles me that the Morrow cable had an adverse affect on the sound of your rig. With my SME arm it is not a miss match at all.

[aKnyght]

Does anyone know of a phono cable manufacturer that will customize cable configuration ?

alp-tone audio... looks like they do custom work. i use their speaker and rca i/c cables and absolutely love the sound in my system.

https://alp-tone.com/

[Joseph R.]

Dear Try: The SME M2-9 and M2-9R are different kettles of fish. Very different tone arms. As you know the 9 is a new straight design whereas the 9R is an “S” shaped refinement of the 3009 Series II. I am guessing here, but this could be the cause of my mismatch. I was as supprised as you are, given that the SME series III was such a perfect match. I am reluctant to use the Morrow phono cable after the bad experience. I am now trying to use Stager solid core silvers as a phono cable. If this does not work out, I will try Quicksilver silvers. Both wires not designed as a phono cable. The quicksilvers are shielded, the Stagers, unshielded.

I am impressed at how you solved your suspension problem.

[Joseph R.]

Thanks for the tip aKnyght. I will contact them.

[Joseph R.]

Contacted Alp-tone. Yea they are willing to make custom phono cables, but at a price in the mid five hundreds , it’s too much chance to take on sight unheard cables. If anyone knows of any other cables that are tried and true with SME, I would appreciate a recommendation. Has anybody had any experience with the VPI phono cables ? I think I can pick up a 1.2 mtr pair of these for $300.