Turntable phono cables -will I improve by spending more?

[Laurence]

I have Hovlund Music Groove 2 from turntable to phono amp. Back in the day the reviews were good. So would something like Synergistic Research SRX (US$9000) really improve over these? I appreciate this is all guesswork and no substitute for trying but there is a price to pay for borrowing cables these days that is not insignificant, let alone doing this in Australia. Thoughts???

 

[Alrainbow]

Shorter cables matter less , do you have other low capacidence cables on hand to compare . If you dont you can try a brand far less to try but well made . Bluejeans is one
I feel for you thats a lot of money

 

[Lee]

I have Hovlund Music Groove 2 from turntable to phono amp. Back in the day the reviews were good. So would something like Synergistic Research SRX (US$9000) really improve over these? I appreciate this is all guesswork and no substitute for trying but there is a price to pay for borrowing cables these days that is not insignificant, let alone doing this in Australia. Thoughts???

Yes, absolutely. Phono cables are an area where it makes a huge difference.

 

[djsina2]

Must need head examined if spending $9k on a phono cable.

 

[Solypsa]

I am more of the 'spend the $9k on setup, carts, suts, preamps' school but I know that's not the question, nor particularly helpful. I would say start where @Alrainbow said; low capacitance cable, this usually means a pro mic cable. Then if you have to satisfy the itch try a silver cable. People usually love or hate silver in the chain. Diy isn't so hard for a cable project. Is yours din-rca or rca-rca?

 

[Lee]

I am more of the 'spend the $9k on setup, carts, suts, preamps' school but I know that's not the question, nor particularly helpful. I would say start where @Alrainbow said; low capacitance cable, this usually means a pro mic cable. Then if you have to satisfy the itch try a silver cable. People usually love or hate silver in the chain. Diy isn't so hard for a cable project. Is yours din-rca or rca-rca?

Nah. Much more to this than pro mic cables. They are mediocre in my experience.

 

[Solypsa]

Its a baseline. They may be bettered subjectively, but knowing what a 'technically good' choice sounds like is good to know. Also costs less than $100 not $9000.

 

[Laurence]

Thanks people - I have tried a pair of Kubla-sosna interconnects but it doesn't work for phono nearly as well - to the question DIN/RCA mine are RCA-to-RCA. Will ponder more if worth risking or as one response said "get my head examined"!!

 

[Lee]

Its a baseline. They may be bettered subjectively, but knowing what a 'technically good' choice sounds like is good to know. Also costs less than $100 not $9000.

Agreed. They can be a bargain. But I would not dismiss the added benefits of the upper end phono cables.

 

[Maril555]

Agreed. They can be a bargain. But I would not dismiss the added benefits of the upper end phono cables.

If you not averse to DIY, I can recommend VH Audio DIY recipe, which is posted on their website.
I’ve just made a few cables using it and they are really very good.
I’ve made shielded phono cable using the same recipe and it’s very quiet

DIY Silver Interconnects

How to construct DIY Fine Silver Interconnects

www.venhaus1.com

 

[Maril555]

I used this copper wire from VH Audio

UniCrystal OCC Copper wire w/ AirLok and WBT 0102 connectors​

 

[jfrech]

I have Hovlund Music Groove 2 from turntable to phono amp. Back in the day the reviews were good. So would something like Synergistic Research SRX (US$9000) really improve over these? I appreciate this is all guesswork and no substitute for trying but there is a price to pay for borrowing cables these days that is not insignificant, let alone doing this in Australia. Thoughts???

Hi I used to have your Hovland cable. Then I tried a Cardas Golden Cross, then a few Purist Audio phono cables (Venus's and Dominos). Ultimately I settled on Transparent. They are are very good.

I highly recommend contacting a local Transparent dealer in Australia. They should be able to arrange a loaner. These cables are tuned to your cartridge and phono preamp. I am using RCA to RCA as well...

I will say spending as much on a cable as your cartridge, might seem nuts, however my results have proven it's worth it. (Now my cable are more than my cartridge). In a good vinyl set up, this is as important as the everything else....

 

[Laurence]

Ok ok now that is a very useful response!!! I have a Simon Yorke S7 with Goldfinger statement cartridge feeding Manley phono into Pass Labs mono amps and Magico speakers - so not shabby if not absolute top end. It is enough to discern 'differences' right? With demise of bricks and mortar outlets here not easy to borrow cables but I will investigate. Again many thanks for the direct response.

 

[jfrech]

Our Goldfingers are amazing cartridges. Given the level of your vinyl front end, you really need to explore this. it's like getting a better cartridge...(which you can't do since you have one of the very best

Click here, Transparent XL will blow you mind vs what you have, but Opus and Magnum Opus are even better. Good luck !!!

https://www.transparentcable.com/products/xl-phono-interconnect

 

[Laurence]

Thanks again and will do my best to try Opus ...yes the Goldfinger is very good BUT BUT BUT I also have Air Tight PC 1 and have to say that is my favourite--Goldfinger is super clean but almost sterile to listen to whilst the Air Tight injects an emotion into the music as if the edges were coarse not smooth...I would have to go way back to my old old Supex 900 to get the same emotion

 

[jfrech]

Thanks again and will do my best to try Opus ...yes the Goldfinger is very good BUT BUT BUT I also have Air Tight PC 1 and have to say that is my favourite--Goldfinger is super clean but almost sterile to listen to whilst the Air Tight injects an emotion into the music as if the edges were coarse not smooth...I would have to go way back to my old old Supex 900 to get the same emotion

I am the same as you. I love my Goldfinger, but I also have a Allaerts Formula 1 which tugs at my heart quite a hit. I used the Goldfinger on a unipivot for years, Spiral Groove Centroid. I found that the Kuzma 4 point brought out a warmth the Goldfinger that didn't exist on the unipivot.

Good luck with the tonearm cables...

 

[Laurence]

Thanks again. It's not easy to borrow cables and most shops do not carry the ranges. In an ideal world would love to try Synergistic Research vs Transparent but where can one do this? I'm surprised the manufacturers do not offer the service - ie take the money on card but await decision of buyer etc. In old days I did use USED Cables but their new loan policy and lost deposit simply is prohibitive. On an $8k cable you lose $400 if you do not buy it +postage - go figure!! On cables back in the day I found Kimber select did it for me against all wannabes ...

 

[nickif]

give Enrico at Vyda cables a call, he will handbuild a silver phono cable for you to evaluate and if you like it, keep it.

I found his cables very natural sounding and reasonably priced.

 

[Loheswaran]

Thanks again. It's not easy to borrow cables and most shops do not carry the ranges. In an ideal world would love to try Synergistic Research vs Transparent but where can one do this? I'm surprised the manufacturers do not offer the service - ie take the money on card but await decision of buyer etc. In old days I did use USED Cables but their new loan policy and lost deposit simply is prohibitive. On an $8k cable you lose $400 if you do not buy it +postage - go figure!! On cables back in the day I found Kimber select did it for me against all wannabes ...

What did you buy in the end? The Hovland MG is already a superb cable from what I read from a stereophile cable test where fremer said it was the best all rounder