I doubt there is a "right choice". Each choice of the two has its advantages and disadvantages. I do not change wires for different types of cartridges, as does Dover, so I personally do not benefit much from a DIN connection. In my case, I just haven’t had the time or urge to bypass the DIN in the tonearms I own that do use it. I do tend to mount my very lowest output LOMC cartridges in those two of my tonearms (Reed and Triplanar) that have continuous wiring from cartridge pins to phono stage, in the belief that there ought to be a benefit. Since we are being anal, why not a balanced connection? But you’d need a balanced phono stage to take full advantage of balanced wiring. Also, there is the silver vs copper conundrum.
Do 5-pole DIN tonearm connectors deteriorate the sound?
I am in the process of completely rewiring my new Woody tonearm (https://vtaf.com/woody-tm-universaltm-tonearms.html#/), sitting on a custom-made Lenco-recreation by Peter Reinders (http://www.ptpaudio.com/solid9.html). My new cartridge for this set-up is the Audio Technica ART 1000.The signal goes from the TT into my Supratek Grange phono-stage/preamp via a custom-made phono cable that is foil-shielded and also carries the TT grounding wire. Currently I have issues with hiss and a deep background hum, indicating bad shielding of the tonearm wires and some grounding issues. So, I decided to completely re-wire the Woody and the phono cable. The latter is currently soldered directly to the tonearm wires (34 AWG copper). I also have a ProJect 10 Carbon TT with a BenzMicro LPS cartridge. This TT has an internal 5-point DIN connector linking the tonearm wires to the phono cable.
Here is my question: has - in the experience of this esteemed forum - the 5-pole DIN connection a noticeable effect on the sound? After all, we are talking about very low voltages here, so - at least in theory - a direct connection from the phono cartridge to the preamp would be ideal. However, because of the small wire gauge (34 AWG 6N silver by Zavfino), I would probably run into resistance and capacitance issues for a 3 feet run. I would rather put the DIN plug in place to have a clean transition between the TT-wires and the phono wire, but I am not sure if this would lead to a sonic compromise. Of course, I could just try both configurations and try to hear a difference, but first, I am interested in the science behind this question, and second, I don't really have the time for trial-and-error.
Your input will be highly appreciated.
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@reimarc You need to figure this out before worrying about rewiring the arm or dealing with connectors! Otherwise you may find you have the same problem after all that work! Based on other comments in your opening post, I suspect this will be the case. FWIW, the ground wire does not have to be carried within the shield. It might help to explain how tonearm wiring actually works: The cartridge is a balanced source. Like any balanced source, the signal is carried in a twisted pair of wires to the input of the preamp. It does not reference ground, hence the ground wire is merely to connect the shield (the arm tube) to the preamp chassis ground. On this account, the actual shield can be around the signal wires only. However, you have a foil shield which is great at RF frequencies but bad bad not good really terrible for audio frequencies. Its no surprise you're having hum problems. The 'shield' is picking up noise and injecting it into your audio wiring within. So you'll want to rethink your tonearm cable, not your tonearm wiring! Since you are likely running the system single-ended as most people do, its acceptable to shield the '+' (plus) output of the cartridge with the '-' (minus) output once the arm wires have exited the tonearm, but this should not be the same as the ground wire connection. That's about the best way to connect a balanced source to a single-ended input and is why tonearms are the only 'single-ended' source that needs the ground wire- in fact its not a single-ended source. |
I have Tonearms that have the DIN Connection and a Tonearm that has a Direct Wire routing, which is from Tags to RCA Phono. I have formed the view that the less connections is for the better, but have not to date, got comparisons put in place to discover where the discernable differences are to be found. Where I have recently discovered discernable differences for the better, is relating to the Wand Wire used. The demonstration has included a Wire Type not commonly seen in use as a Tonearm Signal Wire, and also has the Wire being used as the Tag Wire. This experience has been quite revelatory, it has left myself wanting to incorporate the same into a Tonearm I own of the same design. If I could attach the Wand Wire to the Cart's Coils and Directly Terminated to the circuit at the Phono Amp' end, that would be for me the very best outcome, but as it is quite a fragile design and will be impractical, the direct wire method will be the option used. @reimarc If I am interpreting your inquiry correctly. It looks like you are trying to learn about controlling hum in the system. When using the methods I am familiar with I have not had a Hum issue due to these Wiring Configurations, neither have I been aware of Hum in others systems that use either of the options. If you can make time available to try out a selection of wire types, you might discover a signal wire that offers a SQ way above what you thought was available.
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