Phono Interconnect

Sam, you should indicate what cartridge you are using. I see that the phono stage in your integrated amplifier is intended for high output cartridges, and the tonal balance in the treble region of high output cartridges (moving magnet and high output moving coil types) is sensitive to load capacitance. More often than not the capacitance of the cable will be the most significant contributor to the load capacitance seen by the cartridge. (Unfortunately the input capacitance of your particular phono stage does not appear to be specified).

Also let us know the length of the cable that you would be purchasing, as its capacitance will be directly proportional to its length.

Regards,
-- Al

Thanks Sam. The cartridge manual states as follows:

If your receiver or pre-amp has capacitance loading capabilities, a Sumiko high output moving coil cartridges should be loaded with a value no higher than 200pf, and ideally below 100pf.

Unfortunately that statement is somewhat ambiguous as to whether it is referring just to the input capacitance of the phono stage, based on some unstated assumption as to the capacitance of the phono cable, or if it is referring to the total of all of the capacitances that are involved (cable, phono stage, turntable wiring, and connectors, with the capacitance of the cable typically being the most significant factor, as I mentioned).

Cables utilizing Mogami 2549 or 2534 provide excellent shielding and noise rejection (important in a phono application), and are widely used in pro applications as Bdp24 noted. You can find 2534-based RCA cables in 3 foot and 6 foot lengths here. I would categorize their capacitance, though, as being moderate rather than particularly low.

As Tgrisham indicated, Blue Jeans LC-1 has very low capacitance, and is also well shielded.

Given the uncertainties about the specifications that are involved, my instinct would be to go with Mogami if a 3 foot length is adequate. If 5 or 6 feet is necessary, I suspect that the somewhat higher capacitance of the Mogami would produce a slightly brighter sound in the mid treble region than the Blue Jeans, while the low capacitance of the Blue Jeans would result in slightly greater extension in the uppermost treble.

Unfortunately the capacitances of many of the other cables that have been suggested don't seem to be specified, although I haven't looked at all of them. But given your preference for bang for the buck, Mogami or Blue Jeans may be more logical choices anyway.

BTW, as Effischer indicated the separate ground connection that is probably necessary between the turntable and the integrated amp can be implemented with any ordinary piece of insulated hookup wire, assuming the gauge is not so narrow that the wire becomes fragile.

Regards,
-- Al

Makes sense to me. The capacitance-related differences I referred to, though, are probably going to be fairly slight in a 5 or 6 foot length, as long as cable capacitance is in the area of the Mogami or Blue Jeans cables. And I suspect those differences may approach insignificance at 3 feet, for those cables at least.

As I said, though, the lack of a spec on phono stage input capacitance, and the ambiguity in the load capacitance recommendation for the cartridge, makes it hard to predict the degree of these effects.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al