DIY External Pick-Up Arm cables

[Rare Bird]

What are you guys using to make your cables up?
Model numbers: Klotz, Canare, Van Damme etc??

[rusty bearing]

Copper Litz for arm rewires and Klotz AC110 for interconnects.The first from Transfi and t'other from Studio Spares

[DSJR]

Klotz AC110 may be too low in capacitance possibly, but the thinner AC107? should be better.

My choice when I can get my GL78 going (my plinth is for the early GL75 and has different mountings to later models) is for the Van Damme Pro Patch mic cable, one each channel. Use the two inner cores for signal and return, and connect the outer screen to the return at the phono plugs, keeping a separate cable for chassis earth. Add some shrink-wrap for neatness and you should be able to do it for under a tenner...

[rusty bearing]

The thought has been lurking lately that I might try some Sommer cable in that format, cable and heatshrink won't cost much, the plugs on the end could bump the price up a bit depending , although I'd just put the simple Neutriks at @1.00 or thereabouts each on to start.

[DiveDeepDog]

van damme xke 268-012-060.

Silver plated copper, made a nice tonearm cable.

[NRG]

Another vote for the VD, I used the Star Quad version to make this cable:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l82/_NRG_/other/KD-550/IMG_1486.jpg

[Rare Bird]

Klotz AC110 may be too low in capacitance possibly, but the thinner AC107? should be better.

My choice when I can get my GL78 going (my plinth is for the early GL75 and has different mountings to later models) is for the Van Damme Pro Patch mic cable, one each channel. Use the two inner cores for signal and return, and connect the outer screen to the return at the phono plugs, keeping a separate cable for chassis earth. Add some shrink-wrap for neatness and you should be able to do it for under a tenner...

Hi Dave
Funny enough i'm rewirig a 'GL75' tone arm, i already have the inner wire it's just the external wire, your wiring configuration is exactly what i had planned ( A pair of Balanaced cables: Signal/Signal Gnd + screen connected at phono plug end only)..

I do like Klotz cables i used to use them in my old Synth studio years ago, well made easy to strip, flexible & look/sound good.

btw: 'AC110' is no good it's an unbalanced cable.

The VD Pro Grade Classic XKE Super Flexible Ag plated OFC balanced cable with it's small diameter sounds promising.

[DSJR]

The AC107 and 110 are of course coax, but coax cables are what was traditionally used by 95% of tonearm manufacturers. I've not used the Klotz mic cables as yet, but I'm told they're good too.

Audio Origami use Pro-Patch so I feel quite happy to keep my ready made one and make up cables of my own using this stuff. The VD Tour grade coax is also good for this purpose, assuming one isn't going to the nth degree here.

Andr'e, How were you able to break into the L75 arm? Was the headshell pin easy to drift out?

[Rare Bird]

Andr'e, How were you able to break into the L75 arm? Was the headshell pin easy to drift out?

I'll let you know next week :D , if i can get that pin out i stand a chance, it should lift slightly with a sharpe stanley knife blade if im lucky. Some people drill out the 4 pin socket fit a new pin to keep the headshell alighned, drill out the corosponding headshell connections, run the new wires straight out like you would generally see with most other arms, i really don't wanna do this, it's important to me to keep it as original.. It's not about upgrading wire with me, although good quality wire is a bonus, it's all about replacing what has obviously deteriorated over the years.

However I have to sort the flexible tail end of the arm, with the end removed i'm kinda hoping i can get a thin rod down it & try tap out the 4 pin socket as it should be only press fitted.

These arms get unfairly slated, what it is with some people, they always judge things in aged standard form & easily disregard em not giving it a second thought. :rolleyes: Same with old amps, people think they can buy a vintage amp plug it in & what they hear deems them crap, people amaze me they really do. They are totally oblivious to how right some old designs were, a bit of work reeps huge results. You know me Dave i couldnt give too hoots about technology & modern design bull shyte.

I mean come on whats it take cost wise to get one of these arms rebuilt price of a pair of 'V' blocks some interal & external wire, Some good Phono plugs & set of cartridge tags & a bit of servicing work. £50 max.

[DSJR]

The arm just looks like it can't be any good, but I always got good sounds from one. You've got to get away from the M55E or M75-EJ though.. I'm looking to use an Ortofon 510 or 520 if it all turns out ok, but the styli are rather expensive now IMO...

I'm waiting for someone to make a handful of new arm-beams, retaining the knife edges and ball-races of the original, and hopefully some of the counterweight options too. I reckon Funk could do it brilliantly, but sadly it would cost a small fortune methinks :(

[Rare Bird]

No no Dave it has to be looking all original to the late 60's/early 70's, i don't wanna hear mods or modern cartridges :eyebrows: Same with the cable i need to memove the manufacturers name & model number :lol:

[DSJR]

What are you like ;)

[Rare Bird]

Odd, very odd infact :eyebrows:

[Rare Bird]

Anyone know where i can buy some The Van Damme Pro Grade Classic XKE Super Flexible Ag plated OFC balanced cable from?

[Mike g]

I think this is what is in my audio origami arm cable. The magic is in the wiring and j7's special plugs...

http://mobile.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=623210

[Canetoad]

Get some of this (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Van-Damme-PRO-Microphone-Classic-Tour-Grade-XKE-Cable-Black-sold-per-metre-/260989968154?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Cables_Leads_Conne ctors&hash=item3cc436df1a) mate! :eyebrows:

[Rare Bird]

Just have :thumbsup:

[Rare Bird]

Bernie:
It arrived today, loverly flexability to it, fits perfectly into the phono plug barrels. I'm very happy just ordered another 20 meter to make all new interconnects :)

:thumbsup:

[Canetoad]

Yes, I replaced the standard cables on my SL1210 with this and Neutrik Profi plugs and it made a noticeable difference to the sound. Mind you it should, given how dire the standard Technics cables are!

I'm going to use it to make up a set of cables for my Pioneer PL-71 turntable in the near future too. :)

[NRG]

I did the same Bernie, makes quite a difference on my PL-71....I used the #5 cabling config from this thread on VE:

http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?p=374577&sid=42ea7091f4fac39832959a6033319d07

[Canetoad]

Hi Neal, I was thinking of adding a 5-pin DIN plug to my PL-71 first. Either that or I might make up a new plate and put better RCA sockets in.

I still have to do the mods to the power supply. I've sorted the 18v regulator circuit as per your advice but still have to modify the standard regulator board. Looking forward to sorting this in the next few weeks. :)