Some thoughts about tonearm wire
Recently, I purchased a used AT-1100 tonearm with two arm tubes. It has the original factory silver wire, a nice touch I thought. When I open the arm up to clean the bearings and re-oil them, I discovered the tonearm wire is so thin that it is not much thicker than the thin hair on my balding head! I am talking about the OD of the insulation, the wire itself is much thinner! The other tonearms I opened up to clean and re-oil, the copper wire was so much thicker.
I am not making a comment here about whether silver or copper is better. But no one seems to consider the wire gauge of the wire in question when discussing sound quality vs. wire material. Regardless of how one material might sound over another, if the resistance, capacitance, and inductance is the same, the comparison has merit. This silver wire is so thin, I can't help to think any sound improvement (or loss, depending on your viewpoint) is swamped by the gauge differences.
Sure, silver is a better conductor than copper, but only when the gauge is the same. Once the silver wire gauge gets smaller, copper starts having an advantage in resistance, while silver starts having an advantage in reduced capacitance and disadvantage in higher inductance when compared to copper of a given gauge.
I can't help thinking gauge is one thing that differentiates sound quality of silver vs. copper in tonearm wiring, as well as cabling to the preamp. Those MC signals are tiny, and MM or MI is not a lot better. MC sees a very low impedance, so inductance and resistance becomes more of a factor than capacitance. MI and MM sees a much higher impedance, so capacitance becomes more dominant than inductance or resistance.
Thoughts or comments?
sometimes problem of resistance between removable shell catridge jacks/contacts and RCAs is in the oxidized contacts, need to check both, shell and arm side. before messing with tonearm wires, I would reccomend to check each wire resistance, between arm cart-side and RCAs. if resistance of each wire is under 0.08 Ohm, I would it leave as is! MM carts are less sensitive to arm wires resistance, MC carts have some sensitivity to it.. |
@westcoastaudiophile I will measure the resistance from cartridge clip to RCA cable end and determine the resistance. 80 milliohms seems pretty small at first glance, but I will check it and report back. |
Typically, when rewiring a AT Tonearm from this range of models the best way forward for the Signal Path, is to have a continuous wire in use from Cart' Lead Out Pins through to RCA Phono Connectors at the Phonostage connection. This methodology means the internal wiring connection at the Headshell > Wand - Wand > Bearing Assembly and Bearing Assembly > RCA Phono Cable Connection are bypassed. This method also means a easy Headshell and Wand Exchange is no longer an option. The Headshell exchange is with added procedures and it is a permanent fixed wand as the end design. If internal modifications are to be avoided a wire of certain diameter or less must be used. I have experienced to Headshell design from this TA range redesigned. The Bayonet Screw Connection is done away with and a purpose produced design is added that is offering a much improved rigidity at the connection. The redesign is a real game changer. The End Sound becomes substantially tidier and smearing caused by the Old Design is audibly noticeable when Old and New Designs are A/B compared. Improvements to the Wand > Bearing Assembly Connection made no noticeable difference, but will give added peace of mind knowing the improvement is in place.
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My Well Tempered ’Black’ arm is wired with Van Den Hul litz wire from the headshell/cartridge pins all the way back to the term box. The litz is very finicky and thin, but it really does help open up the SQ. I think folks tend to discount the arm cabling and how it can impact SQ. That, plus the number of breaks in the cabling between the head shell/cartridge pins and the phono preamp. |
