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Phono cables/philosphy ?

I have balanced phono cables of 1 meter (Nordost Baldur) I purposely went for the simpler design (fewer strands) because the more expensive ones in the line just seem to use more strands of the same stuff. Brands aside, do you think a simpler (less wire) cable makes more sense because of the low power of the signal? i have seen hair-like phono cables and fat ones and have wondered if driving so much metal makes sense (physically). Since I have xlr to xlr I never found any stock phono cables that would work and only considered regular interconnects. I guess I could special order some. Do most of you running xlr to xlr use regular interconnects? Thanks
sm2727
sm2727 OP
115 posts
 
Thank-you for all the responses. I will check the download.
My cartridge routes to a box with xlr connections (vpi)
I will see if I can get a shorter length in my price range.
Nordost told me that the ideal phono length for their cables is a bit over 1 meter. Seems a little self-serving for a cable manufacturer.... They said it lets their design fuction.
Thanks again.
dhl93449
455 posts
 
I second Al's comment re capacitance. I doubt if resistance or inductance will have any impact. The total length of the interconnect (x it's capacitance/ft) + the preamp input capacitance + the capacitance of the tonearm cables should match the total allowed (or desired) capacitance for the cartridge (if its MM). For moving coils, this is less critical.
samhar
1,048 posts
 
Sm2727 FWIW Brooks Berdan recommended cables longer than 1 meter, 1.5 meters actually for best results. Not everyone is out to get you on cables especially a company as large as Nordost, can you imagine them caring about 1/2 meter of cable, I think their passion for audio would suggest no!!!
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,590 posts
 
The capacitance of a balanced connection is usually less than that of a single-ended connection of the same length.

The advantage of going balanced is that the cable, if set up correctly, will have no audible artifact. This seems to work out quite well on phono cartridges.
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