PDA

View Full Version : Good budget phono cables



sburrell
25-09-2009, 19:53
Hi,

Sorry to ask such an asinine question, but can anyone recommend a good 1m phono cable for between £5 and £10 (inc. P&P)? If it can be sourced online, all the better. I've heard some good things of the Cambridge Audio Atlantics (http://www.richersounds.com/product/phono-leads/cambridge-audio/atlantic-1m/camb-atlantic) sold by RS, and there're a couple going on eBay. Shall I go for them?

If it's within my limited skills (I've just wired my house for gigabit ethernet, if that's any indication) I'd happily try to make my own cable, if it'll save money and produce a better result. Any advice in that regard, ie. where to source my materials?

:smoking:

Stratmangler
25-09-2009, 21:06
Hi,

Sorry to ask such an asinine question, but can anyone recommend a good 1m phono cable for between £5 and £10 (inc. P&P)? If it can be sourced online, all the better. I've heard some good things of the Cambridge Audio Atlantics (http://www.richersounds.com/product/phono-leads/cambridge-audio/atlantic-1m/camb-atlantic) sold by RS, and there're a couple going on eBay. Shall I go for them?

If it's within my limited skills (I've just wired my house for gigabit ethernet, if that's any indication) I'd happily try to make my own cable, if it'll save money and produce a better result. Any advice in that regard, ie. where to source my materials?

:smoking:

I think you'd do better with this (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=132) cable and these (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=1006) plugs.

Connect them in a pseudo balanced fashion - ie screens connected at source end, using one of the screened pair for signal, t'other for signal ground.

Either that or look at Mark Grant cables - they get a lot of recommendations here.

Chris:)

DSJR
25-09-2009, 21:09
You can get some of the simpler Neutric phono plugs in fours on fleabay for a fiver and, if you shop carefully, you can get some decent patch cables (I like Van Damme Pro-Patch mic cables for flexibility and Belden 8760 or 9272 for longer runs) for around a quid a metre..

Made up wires on fleabay - try SoundStable's cables - decent materials and sensible price (got to be worth paying the guy a tenner each set of interconnects...).

Another cheapo recommendation from me, although I'm not absolutely sure they're available in single stereo pairs, is from "Action Hardware." Good stuff though and they sell good basic phono plugs for 75p each (if you buy 'em in 50's ;))

Of course, on here "we" recommend Mark Grant's interconnects. At £20 a metre set you can't go wrong either and apparently they slaughter "Audio-foo" giants :)

makes the humble Chord Chrysalis I used to sell for £35 or so seem VERY overpriced (even though we bought them for around £16 each, the wires and plugs were very basic quality.......)



Hope this helps.

aquapiranha
25-09-2009, 21:49
I am in the process of making some cables. I am using these ingredients...

Klotz cable... (the actual cable I have is marked AC110 High fidelity audio cable, like this... http://www.klotz-ais.com/cgi-bin/quickorder/lshop.cgi?action=showdetail&artnum=AC110_&rubnum=mi.bulk.instrument&wkid=2004g&ls=e&nocache= )


http://www.studiospares.com/Cable-Guitar-/Klotz-Guitar-Cable-MTR/invt/544590

Neutrik Profi plugs..

http://www.audiospares.com/product.php?productid=428&cat=88&page=1

And Neutrik XLR's

http://www.audiospares.com/product.php?productid=359&cat=85&page=1

It pays to make your own.

twelvebears
25-09-2009, 22:04
Hi,

Sorry to ask such an asinine question, but can anyone recommend a good 1m phono cable for between £5 and £10 (inc. P&P)? If it can be sourced online, all the better. I've heard some good things of the Cambridge Audio Atlantics (http://www.richersounds.com/product/phono-leads/cambridge-audio/atlantic-1m/camb-atlantic) sold by RS, and there're a couple going on eBay. Shall I go for them?

If it's within my limited skills (I've just wired my house for gigabit ethernet, if that's any indication) I'd happily try to make my own cable, if it'll save money and produce a better result. Any advice in that regard, ie. where to source my materials?

:smoking:

I'd say it's obvious. Mark Grant Cables. Google him of PM via AOS.

I've got several sets of his 1m £20 phono cables and love them. Which is saying something considering I've owned Kimber Select stuff in the past.... :cool:

Mike
25-09-2009, 22:26
I'll make you one for a fiver if you like? :)

If it turns out to be trash, just bin it! ;)

sburrell
26-09-2009, 00:05
Hey, quite a response! Fantastic :eyebrows:

@Stratmangler: I really like the idea you've presented. I've a Maplin here and could pick up the stuff tomorrow. All told I think I'd get it all for about, what, £7.60? However:

Connect them in a pseudo balanced fashion - ie screens connected at source end, using one of the screened pair for signal, t'other for signal ground.
:scratch: This bit loses me—I think. So, I'd have two 1m cables. I'd use one cable and connect, say, the white inner to the "center plug" on the left channel RCA and the red inner to the "center plug" on the right channel RCA—so I'd connect one cable to both RCA plugs at once. Then I'd use the second cable in the same way, but connect the inners to the "tab" (I'm getting my wire-making advice from here (http://www.ehow.com/how_5138774_make-own-audio-cables.html), and using their jargon) instead. I think I can picture all that in my head. Hmm, but connecting the screens though: I'm going to have to use electrical tape, here—am I picturing this right? Or doesn't it matter that the screen would be exposed? I guess the final question is: will this require soldering? I don't own, and never learned to use, a soldering iron and all its "accoutrements". Wish I had now, though. ;)

Mark Grant Vote Tally: 1

@DSJR: I like the look of those Neutrik phonos, more-so than the ones Maplin offers (sorry Stratmangler ;)) Thanks for the recommendation for a vendor on eBay. His cheapest is £13.50, so back-burner for now.

Mark Grant Vote Tally: 2

@aquapiranha: *skin crawling as he types* Another vote for the Neutriks—always a good sign.

Klotz cable... (the actual cable I have is marked AC110 High fidelity audio cable, like this... http://www.klotz-ais.com/cgi-bin/qui...&ls=e&nocache= )
Looks nice, pity it doesn't work with Stratmangler's proposition---at least, not without buying four lengths, I think? Shame they don't list a price per metre. Do you have one?

And Neutrik XLR's

http://www.audiospares.com/product.p...&cat=85&page=1
Don't tease. :( I'd love to go the balanced route. My work for college and uni radio taught me the value of this design. Is there some reason it hasn't spread to domestic hifi?
*scrolls past creepy doll face, feels better*

@twelvebears:

Mark Grant Vote Tally: 3. Guess I'll give him a PM if it turns out the soldering is mandatory. :)

@Mike Homar:

I'll make you one for a fiver if you like?

If it turns out to be trash, just bin it!
*feels tightening in chest* Holy crap, you trying to give me a heart attack? Don't you know I'm Scottish? Bin it, he says! :mental: ;)

Thanks everyone for the advice so far. Keep it comin'! :cool::smoking:

alb
26-09-2009, 08:14
Yes it will be a soldering job. Maplins sell cheap 30w irons that will do nicely. Ideally some basic tools will also be needed.

Connect the red to the centre pin at both ends of the cable.
Connect the white to the ground connection at both ends.
Connect the screen wires to the ground as well, but only at one end.

Great time to learn soldering, but practice on something else first.

If that all sounds too much, then go with another suggestion.:)

Actually, when i think about it. It occurs to me that interconnects can be a bit fiddly for a first time soldering job. But there are ways of making the job easier, so if you go ahead, just let us know on here before you start.

Primalsea
26-09-2009, 08:28
I could also look at the Thor interconnects. Theyre not made anymore but you can get them on Ebay for less than a tenner delivered. I think 3 sets cost me about £27 delivered. They are one of the best cables I have seen, good solid thick construction with decent plugs.

Stratmangler
26-09-2009, 08:51
:scratch: This bit loses me—I think. So, I'd have two 1m cables. I'd use one cable and connect, say, the white inner to the "center plug" on the left channel RCA and the red inner to the "center plug" on the right channel RCA—so I'd connect one cable to both RCA plugs at once. Then I'd use the second cable in the same way, but connect the inners to the "tab" (I'm getting my wire-making advice from here (http://www.ehow.com/how_5138774_make-own-audio-cables.html), and using their jargon) instead. I think I can picture all that in my head. Hmm, but connecting the screens though: I'm going to have to use electrical tape, here—am I picturing this right? Or doesn't it matter that the screen would be exposed? I guess the final question is: will this require soldering? I don't own, and never learned to use, a soldering iron and all its "accoutrements". Wish I had now, though. ;)



You would connect things up as Alb described. This (http://www.atlascables.com/index.php?id=75) gives you a some diagrams to study.

You would require 2 lengths of cable per stereo metre pair - costing works out at a bit less than £12 per stereo metre pair.

Chris:)

aquapiranha
26-09-2009, 10:26
Simon, I bought 4M of the Klotz cable, it cost me £11.22 from Studiospares. I am using Neutrik because they are good quality well made connectors. The reason they have an XLR at one end and RCA at the other is because the active x-over I will be using can handle balanced and single ended connections, but only via an XLR, so the connection will not be 'balanced' in the true sense of the word. I will lose a few db in signal strength but that should not be an issue I hope.

Spectral Morn
27-09-2009, 16:56
You would connect things up as Alb described. This (http://www.atlascables.com/index.php?id=75) gives you a some diagrams to study.

You would require 2 lengths of cable per stereo metre pair - costing works out at a bit less than £12 per stereo metre pair.

Chris:)

Great advice from a great company Atlas. I use their cables and I know John Carrick quite well. Does that make me biased...I would say No. The cables I use I paid for and they clearly sounded better than what I was already using.


Regards D S D L

Peter Galbavy
05-10-2009, 21:33
For what it's worth, I use Maplin's cheap but not nasty ready made photo cables:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35898

£10 for the 0.75m is more than I remember they used to be, but they do the job are very flexible and bendy and seem fine for my level of usage :)

Stratmangler
05-10-2009, 21:58
For what it's worth, I use Maplin's cheap but not nasty ready made photo cables:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35898

£10 for the 0.75m is more than I remember they used to be, but they do the job are very flexible and bendy and seem fine for my level of usage :)

Hi Peter

Tried 'em meself a while back - my homebrewed jobbies are substantially better IME, and they cost around £12 per stereo metre (in parts), plus the time it takes to strip back and solder 'em together.

Chris:)

Themis
06-10-2009, 08:45
I get HQ cables from Cable Mountain which are very good indeed (sound and construction quality) :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Metre-3-5mm-Phono-Plugs-Cable/dp/B000NHOMSQ/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1254818571&sr=1-10

£4.15 for 2m :)
I have plenty of them.

HighFidelityGuy
07-10-2009, 12:47
I'd recommend Mark Grant's (http://markgrantcables.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=43_1&products_id=51) cables or if you'd prefer to spend a bit less I'd take Mike Homar up on his offer. His cables have received excellent reviews from AoS members. He won't be making any money on that £5 either as he only uses good quality parts. :)

Themis
13-10-2009, 15:28
if you'd prefer to spend a bit less I'd take Mike Homar up on his offer. His cables have received excellent reviews from AoS members. He won't be making any money on that £5 either as he only uses good quality parts. :)
Sounds like an excellent idea !!!

sburrell
13-10-2009, 16:31
Hi everyone,

Sorry that I haven't responded sooner. My laptop went in for repair taking my Art Of Sound password with it.

I should also apologise because my focus has changed since I rejigged my hifi into one room. I've decided the most important thing to change right now is my loudspeakers. I'm going to put the tenner I'd have spent on cables into a pair of loudspeakers (with stands if bookshelf-type) instead (boy, I can't believe I said that—but funds are really tight!).

However, I'll refer back to this thread in the future when I can afford to invest in new interconnects.

Thanks to everyone who responded!

Rare Bird
19-10-2009, 10:14
I'm not a believer is Mega buck fancy cables at all.I've had some very expensive Interconnects & some cheaper, the cheaper win everytime..I've actually just junked a set of expensive Nordost Interconnects over a pretty cheap set of Chrord 'Crimson', these won't break the bank & are very good for the small outlay.Extremely flexible, ok the plugs won't win any awards but the cable certainly did.You can pick these up used for peanuts.

http://www.chord.co.uk/chordweb/crimson.htm

Chord are living proof that you don't need to fork out for acceptable quality

Marco
19-10-2009, 18:20
Andre, how much are the Crimsons? These days I use Mark Grant cables:

http://markgrantcables.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=43_1&products_id=1

For £20 it's hardly worth bothering making your own! They're also superb and outperform many so-called 'high-end' designs at many times the price ;)

Marco.

P.S Mark's a member of the forum. If you're ever looking for some cables, I'd thoroughly recommend his stuff.

Themis
19-10-2009, 18:49
P.S Mark's a member of the forum. If you're ever looking for some cables, I'd thoroughly recommend his stuff.
As I can't order online (they dispatch online only to the UK), should I send an email to the company or send a PM ?

Marco
19-10-2009, 19:15
Hi Dimitri,

I'd go with a PM. Mark checks in here on a regular basis :)

Marco.

DSJR
19-10-2009, 19:24
£20 trade price on interconnects usually means £50 retail. £21 trade means £80 retail. £25 trade often means £250 retail....

OK, I'm being a bit OTT there, but *some* expensive cables use well chosen but mundane parts..

I'll also accept that some top end audio cables are made with special conductor weaves etc. and if a third party like BICC is making them, then these wires have to be ordered by the Km or more and I suspect the set-up costs would be large.

Themis
19-10-2009, 20:09
Thanks Marco, PM sent. ;)

Themis
19-10-2009, 20:11
£20 trade price on interconnects usually means £50 retail. £21 trade means £80 retail. £25 trade often means £250 retail.....

I'm afraid this is not as absurd as it sounds... :lolsign:

Rare Bird
19-10-2009, 21:04
Andre, how much are the Crimsons? These days I use Mark Grant cables:

http://markgrantcables.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=43_1&products_id=1

For £20 it's hardly worth bothering making your own! They're also superb and outperform many so-called 'high-end' designs at many times the price ;)

Marco.

P.S Mark's a member of the forum. If you're ever looking for some cables, I'd thoroughly recommend his stuff.

Paid £65 for 3 pairs used but they are like new...New price dunno probs £50 a pair

Marco
19-10-2009, 21:32
That was a good deal, Andre - nice one :)

If you get a chance sometime though check out the Mark Grants... They're bloody amazing - and all for £20, brand new! ;)

Marco.

Rare Bird
19-10-2009, 22:35
What i like about these crimson is they are both Din & Phono..Was a good deal, miles better than the Nordost 'Blue' & Kimber 'PSB-J' i was using

sburrell
27-10-2009, 17:06
Just wanted to report that I did get in touch with Mark Grant and invested in a pair of his stereo interconnects. And, by Gum, what a difference!:wow: I'm currently listening to the excellent jazz of Ultra-Lounge's The Crime Scene (http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Lounge-Vol-7-Crime-Scene/dp/B000002U22), and what I'm noticing is that there's far more dynamism (is that the right term?) in the volume, and it's a smooth dynamism at that. Does that make sense? I guess what I'm saying is that volume is less "flat", with far more noticeable attack and decay. Toward the end of Billy May's Man With The Golden Arm there's this real sense of the trumpets reaching out to you and a period of restraint, like the conductor's stretching out and tapping you on the head with a baton. Excellent.
The detail has increased a great deal also, probably as a result of better separation---I heard a vocal in Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" that had completely escaped me before, and vibrato in female voices is clearer and less diaphanous. Finally, there's a noticeable addition of bass, equally in terms of extension, volume and detail---the iconic kettle drums at the beginning of Ray Anthony's "Dragnet" have far clearer tonality; the rapidly-plucked double-bass in Elmer Bernstein's "Staccato's Theme" is driving, solid and funky instead of resembling vinyl LP rumble.

This Guinness is for Mark Grant :cool: :youtheman:

And here's to the Art of Sound forum as a whole for the excellent advice available :respect:

Cheers!

Marco
28-10-2009, 15:24
Hi Simon,

I'm glad that the MGs worked out well for you :)

Quite frankly, they're incredibly good and ridiculously cheap - which is a rather fine combination of virtues!

Marco.