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Phono cable advice.

What are some good phono cable options for around $150ish and under? So far I’m looking at BJ LC-1 and Zu Audio Mission cables. This would be for between my Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Esprit and most likely (still looking) a MoFi StudioPhono preamp. I have an extra pair of Kimber Silver Streak cables but they don’t look insulated well enough. I’ll be running DH Labs Air Matrix from my preamp to KEF LS50 Wireless speakers. I’d like something I can grow out a little with as I incrementally upgrade things. Stylus (Blue 2M?) is probably next.

Thanks for any input.
asahitoro
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
The reason you can make an unshielded cable work in a phono situation is that the cartridge is a pretty low impedance. Its hard for radiated noise to impinge the cable when such a low source impedance is present.
A further advantage is that unshielded cables have lower capacitance per foot, which is really helpful when dealing with the resonance that develops due to the cartridge inductance and the cable capacitance.
invictus005
597 posts
 
Anyone even thinking about using an unshielded phono cable has no business giving advice about anything electrical related. 
soundermn's avatar
soundermn
243 posts
 
sorry to chime in here, but invictus, I don't think you can make a blanket statement like this.  I am using Steger Silver Solids on my TT.  They are unshielded, and I have no problems whatsoever with noise.  My rig is dead quiet.

One should never speak in absolutes.  :-)
chakster's avatar
chakster
2,482 posts
 
Phono cable must be shielded, good cables have low capacitance anyway, so we don't have to worry about it. 

With unshielded cables anyone can listen to a radio in the speakers, it's a free bonus of unshielded cables, i don't think this is what we need.

My experience with unshielded cables is very bad, so i would never buy unshielded cable for phono use. 

Have you noticed that the OP is using wireless speakers ? It it a bluetooth technology or radio wave ? I think this is killing the analog, no matter which cable he will use. 

andysf's avatar
andysf
131 posts
 
I took Chakster's advice and got some Zu Mission phono cables off the Ebay auction for $40.00 for my Technics table.  I doubt there is a better deal for phono cables anywhere.  At some point I would like to upgrade them but for now they are fine.
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