I'm thinking of rewiring my Rega RB250 arm with shielded Cardas 4x33 AWG and have been considering two options:
For the approx. 16 inch run I will strip approx 12 inches of the jacket and shielding to run through the tonearm to the cartridge and keep whatever is required from the base plug to the female RCAs. This option will give me the ability to do some cable rolling to the preamp.
The 4 foot run will have again have approx 12 inches stripped and then 3 foot of unstripped cable terminated with 2 RCAs. Obviously, no cable rolling, but some research has shown that some people think there are some sonic advantages to a continuous run from cartridge to phono preamp.
In both cases a separate ground wire will be used, attaching to my preamp.
Anyone got any thoughts on either solution ?
Any issues with using a 4ft length of the 33AWG, which I am basing on the length of wiring for the tonearm and the current size of RCA wires ?
I'm concerned that soldering 33 AWG wires to the male RCAs is going to be too fragile. I don't plan to unplug from the preamp that much, but am wondering how best to make this connection?
- An approx. 16inch run - Cartridge to 2 x female RCAs mounted on underside of the plinth
- A 4 foot run - Cartridge to male RCAs
For the approx. 16 inch run I will strip approx 12 inches of the jacket and shielding to run through the tonearm to the cartridge and keep whatever is required from the base plug to the female RCAs. This option will give me the ability to do some cable rolling to the preamp.
The 4 foot run will have again have approx 12 inches stripped and then 3 foot of unstripped cable terminated with 2 RCAs. Obviously, no cable rolling, but some research has shown that some people think there are some sonic advantages to a continuous run from cartridge to phono preamp.
In both cases a separate ground wire will be used, attaching to my preamp.
Anyone got any thoughts on either solution ?
Any issues with using a 4ft length of the 33AWG, which I am basing on the length of wiring for the tonearm and the current size of RCA wires ?
I'm concerned that soldering 33 AWG wires to the male RCAs is going to be too fragile. I don't plan to unplug from the preamp that much, but am wondering how best to make this connection?
I use thin silk insulated litz wires from cartridge to solder plug. I found litz have better frequency response and sonically more satisfying, possibly cheaper to acquire in small reel. 30 strand thin litz will is very flexible and will not impede any lateral movement. Personally I like the sound of litz wires over copper wires which depending on type can be a little stiff, and not as flexible as Rega original wires. For practical purpose and intent, I do not do a single run all the way to RCA with litz as they've tendencies to pick up radio frequencies or interferences if externally unshielded in any manner. I run litz from cartridge to connector, then use a custom delrin plug with shielded microphone cables to RCA. There will be a soldered joint at the base of the column. Also I do not run a extra ground cable for Rega, retain the internal ground to the LH negative/ground point. That's how I'd do it.
Thank you for your response.
I looked at some of the pre-built looms by Incognito and Britaudio and they seem to use Cardas 33AWG cable which looks to have litz connectors.
For flexibility I see some folks use KAB Superflex which 34 AWG and quite nicely priced.
The litz wiring with no shielding would only be run from the cartridge to the plug, the run from the plug to RCA would be shielded.
I looked at some of the pre-built looms by Incognito and Britaudio and they seem to use Cardas 33AWG cable which looks to have litz connectors.
For flexibility I see some folks use KAB Superflex which 34 AWG and quite nicely priced.
The litz wiring with no shielding would only be run from the cartridge to the plug, the run from the plug to RCA would be shielded.
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