There's a reason why most manufacturers design their phono cables right around 4 ft, or 1.2m. Any longer and you'll begin having emi/rfi problems (especially with low output mc cartridges.) I suggest you consider a Target or Billy Bags wall shelf for your TT and keep it in or near its current location. |
Nsgarch,
Thanks for the suggestion. It's what I suspected and was trying to avoid. But It looks like I'll need to figure out how to make it work in my room.
Joe |
Joe,
An option, although not necessarily cost effective, would be to locate a phono pre next to the 'table. Then you could probably run pretty long IC's from the phono to your pre. |
I needed to set my TT some distance from my preamp, and guess I was too dumb to think to ask this question. Instead I simply used 3m IC's connected to the TT connector (an MMF5)using gold RCA f-f connectors from Parts Express. So I'm actually running about 4M IC's, and it seems to be working very nicely. It's dead quiet, and resolution hasn't been disappointing.
Will it hurt to try it out? |
Bdgregory,
I'll try your solution first. Sometimes it's best to try the simplest solution first and see how it works. I've nothing to lose. I'll let you know how it works out in a few weeks as soon as I get my TT back from the tech who is replacing the hard-wired cable with outpput jacks.
And, Dan_ed,
You suggestion sounds like the most practical if the long ICs do not work out. An elegant solution and maybe not too costly if I get a used phono preamp like Black Cube. Although I hate not using the phono section of my Mac C2200.
Thanks for ther suggestions.
Joe |
If your Mac pre has balanced phono inputs, you can get a balancing transformer from Jensen or maybe even use an ARC BL-1 to convert the single ended phono output to balanced. Then you can run longer cables without so much signal loss. |
Much depends on the type of cartridge you are using and its interface with the IC's. As I recall from long ago before I started using MC cartridges, the MM cartridge output has to be matched to the resistance factor of your phono cable. Too long or too short and your sound will be too bright or rolled off. This is not as critical for MC cartridges which are not as sensitive to resistance in the IC's. |
Newbee, I believe it's capacitance that affects MM carts. And yes, a long cable run would definitely present a problem for a MM cart. Good IC's even long ones don't present a resistance issue. My 24 ft Maestro IC is only 0.6 Ohm. |
Nsgarch, I do believe you are right! Its capacitance for MM cartridges and resistence for MC's. I haven't used a MM for 20 years, and I have a short term memory problem. :-) |
Joe, in my layout I originally hooked up a Music Hall Phono Pack pre sitting next to the TT, with the 3M IC's going into my Exposure Preamp in another rack. It worked great. I moved from the Exposure to a Rega Hal preamp that has a very nice phono section, and in my haste just substituted the connectors in place of the phono pack.
One reminder - make sure you construct a good ground jumper for the Phono to the preamp. I had awful ground problems initially. Once solved it's worked great. |
Hi Joe,
I don't know what cartridge you're using, but I would bet that if you go the route of adding a phono amp you would be missing alot if you didn't stay with a tube stage. I say that based on your C2200. There are some very good budget tube phono stages out there.
Good luck,
Dan |
I agree with Nsgarch on the Target wall shelf solution. However a Gingko Cloud isolation platform or similar platform will eliminate all you vibration problems IMO. Visit their website for more information.
In my setup, my Scoutmaster is sitting on a Target shelf mounted 2 inches above 2 stacked velodyne subwoofers and the Gingko Cloud 11 completely isolates it from all vibrations. Simply amazing IMHO. |
I'm am currently using a Goldring 1012 (MM) with the Thorens but was planning on switching to my Sumiko BPS EvoIII (MC). Even with the Goldring on the Thorens and 3 interconnects patched together with female-to-female RCA connectors it sounded better than the MMF5 with the BPS Evo. So, from what I gather in the above discussion the BPS on the Thorens with a long IC might give me satisfying, if not ideal, music. I will also try some isolation modifications, too, and will look into the Gingko Cloud platform soon.
I really appreciate and want to thank you all for your input on this. It gives me a lot of options to play with. |
