Time for me to go back to my 3D printed tonearm project, but before I do I must address this issue!
Where can I get a wire suitable for tonearm use in bulk?
Ordering Cards 4x33 or 4x34 is expensive, and the shielded version is a bit too thick for my use. I did get a piece of shielded 33 AWG cables with a singer conductor, so I use 2 for each tonearm, but that ran out fast and I can't find more.
Would magnet wire work? I saw you can by spools of that for a good price and its super thin and flexible.
Your help will be highly appreciated!
Omri.
Where can I get a wire suitable for tonearm use in bulk?
Ordering Cards 4x33 or 4x34 is expensive, and the shielded version is a bit too thick for my use. I did get a piece of shielded 33 AWG cables with a singer conductor, so I use 2 for each tonearm, but that ran out fast and I can't find more.
Would magnet wire work? I saw you can by spools of that for a good price and its super thin and flexible.
Your help will be highly appreciated!
Omri.
I have seen posters using deconstructed computer mouse cable 🙂 Presumably you don't want anything esoteric as that's easy to find...🙂
i preffer something off a shelf, but thats not a bad idea! i think the IT department at my workplace have a few of those.. ill go check.
Cardas 4x33
I am rewiring my Thorens TP16 tonarm with cardas 4x 33 wire. For my tast it is a little bit for stiff, because of the insulation material. I checked different cable's like sensor wire, mouse wire etc. These are much stiffer.
The original cable was copper with silicon insulation, very smoth.
In my case i need to guide the wire through the center down i have reliay to a smoth cable.
But if you have teh possibility to get the wire out of the top with a bigger bow, a harder cable might work.
There is also a picture of my DIY turntable.
Best regards Jochen
I am rewiring my Thorens TP16 tonarm with cardas 4x 33 wire. For my tast it is a little bit for stiff, because of the insulation material. I checked different cable's like sensor wire, mouse wire etc. These are much stiffer.
The original cable was copper with silicon insulation, very smoth.
In my case i need to guide the wire through the center down i have reliay to a smoth cable.
But if you have teh possibility to get the wire out of the top with a bigger bow, a harder cable might work.
There is also a picture of my DIY turntable.
Best regards Jochen
Attachments
1877phono makes some. I have no experience with them, but i use one of their terminated phono cables and am more than satisfied.
Turntables, Tonearms, Analogue Accessories
I think theres also a comoany called britaudio (or something, its been like a decade) that has some products.
Turntables, Tonearms, Analogue Accessories
I think theres also a comoany called britaudio (or something, its been like a decade) that has some products.
Have a look at KAB superflex litzwire, great stuff that I have used in a couple of my arms.
https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/
Can't link to it directly because their site still uses old fashioned frames. Click on Kab Cables and keep scrolling until you get to the tone arm wire. You can also special order in odd lengths if you email the proprietor.
https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/
Can't link to it directly because their site still uses old fashioned frames. Click on Kab Cables and keep scrolling until you get to the tone arm wire. You can also special order in odd lengths if you email the proprietor.
the Kab superflex sure looks nice. i also read some where about litz 46\10 cable that you can get off ebay for super cheap and should work very well.
A local store has 38AWG magnet wire that is super flexible, i plan to pick some up and experiment with it, and ill order some litz cable and the kab cable as well.
A local store has 38AWG magnet wire that is super flexible, i plan to pick some up and experiment with it, and ill order some litz cable and the kab cable as well.
Hi,
HF-Litz wire has proven to be useable as strands, e.g. silk-spun 7x0.05mm, of which I twist two together for a single strand.
The plus- and minus strands of each stereo channel are then twisted together also.
Done this way the strands are low enough in ohmic resistance and mechanically very flexible.
The twisting does increase the capacitance of the strands, but the resulting 50-60pf should not present an issue.
In my opinion the advantages outweigh the small disadvantage that the twisting generates.
Both stereo channels are then separately positioned in the armtube to avoid interchannel crosstalk.
The wire is made from copper, but silver strand versions are also sourceable.
I´ll bet that such a cabling sounds better than any boutique wire stuff, since You did it Yourself 😉
In any case will it be a very good solution at low cost.
jauu
Calvin
HF-Litz wire has proven to be useable as strands, e.g. silk-spun 7x0.05mm, of which I twist two together for a single strand.
The plus- and minus strands of each stereo channel are then twisted together also.
Done this way the strands are low enough in ohmic resistance and mechanically very flexible.
The twisting does increase the capacitance of the strands, but the resulting 50-60pf should not present an issue.
In my opinion the advantages outweigh the small disadvantage that the twisting generates.
Both stereo channels are then separately positioned in the armtube to avoid interchannel crosstalk.
The wire is made from copper, but silver strand versions are also sourceable.
I´ll bet that such a cabling sounds better than any boutique wire stuff, since You did it Yourself 😉
In any case will it be a very good solution at low cost.
jauu
Calvin
Attachments
Hi calvin, and thank you for your input.
I found a good Litz Wire vendor on ebay, and he has a very large variaty of options. Ill order some wire from him and take it from there.
As the matter of fact, i might even try to make some interconnecots with the thicker version of litz that he has 🙂
I found a good Litz Wire vendor on ebay, and he has a very large variaty of options. Ill order some wire from him and take it from there.
As the matter of fact, i might even try to make some interconnecots with the thicker version of litz that he has 🙂
This stuff is very good in that it is as limp as overcooked spaghetti but I would not use it for the complete length. Only use it where the tonearm rotates and use something more substantial elsewhere.
Unless you're obsessed with weight you can use just about anything for the rest of the wire.
On my ET tonearm I used the Western Electric hook up wire - 22 gauge as recommended by Jeff Day and his mentor Mr. Yazaki. Sounded very good with the KAB wire only where it was needed.
While you are doing this consider running the same length of wire to your phono amp without interruption; no connectors between tonearm and phono.
Every connector takes its toll on the sound.
Regarding the KAB, yes, I would use it only in the tone arm, i.e. something on the order of 30 - 40cm. It's actually a slightly larger diameter than the cardas or oem wire used in most arms, but much more flexible. A 2 meter run I would not recommend.
I use about 18cm on each of my Souther LTAs.
Sounds like the OP found a suitable litz for his purposes.
I use about 18cm on each of my Souther LTAs.
Sounds like the OP found a suitable litz for his purposes.
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