Could this be a 'giant-killing' tonearm cable?

[Wakefield Turntables]

Hi Andrew,

Mine's on its way, too! Yannis informed me that the silver barrels on the LOK plugs were magnetic, and thus sonically detrimental, so he's used the non-ferrous black ones instead:

It's nice dealing with someone who can offer this level of design flexibility, and precisely why I always prefer buying bespoke products from small independent, enthusiast-focussed, manufacturers

If the cable sounds as good as it looks - we'll both have won a watch!!

Marco.

+1 with all those comments, Yannis has been excellent. He has answered every email thrown at him in double quick time. I noted that you went for the non-ferrous RCA's. Why do you think I went with Eichmann silver bullets, they hold into the the RCA out slot supertight and are non magnetic Lets hope the cable cuts the sonic mustard. I have already spoken to Yannis about some new balanced interconnects of a similar design and he has offered me several cables to trial if I like what I hear. Now you cant get better than that.

[Marco]

Why do you think I went with Eichmann silver bullets, they hold into the the RCA out slot supertight and are non magnetic...

Indeed - and I may end up doing the same.

However, I'd like the opportunity to compare the Eichmanns to the LOKs, and assess whether the higher cost of the former is worth it, which is why he's allowing me to listen to cables fitted with both, before making my decision...

Lets hope the cable cuts the sonic mustard.

Fear not, the Marco-boy's gut instincts in these matters are rarely wrong

Marco.

[MaksK]

This got me going, the cable looks gorgeous. I will wait for your report Marco and after that I will decide.

When i will order, I will also take the balanced interconnects, so I will wait for Andrew report on those.

I need to start saving for all the things I've planned to upgrade/buy in 2012

[Wakefield Turntables]

This got me going, the cable looks gorgeous. I will wait for your report Marco and after that I will decide.

When i will order, I will also take the balanced interconnects, so I will wait for Andrew report on those.

I need to start saving for all the things I've planned to upgrade/buy in 2012

Maks,

You already have a pretty well specced out 1210. I notice you have a V like me. what cartridge are you using?? We have similar 1210's also in that you have a lot of the Mike New stuff. You might want to consider buying the MN base plate and tonearm board (which is what I have my V installed into). Apart some minor mods to the 1210's PCB and Paul Hynes internal regs there really isnt much more to do with a 1210 apart from experimenting with platter mats, carts, and power leads

Andy

[MaksK]

Maks,

You already have a pretty well spec'd out 1210. I notice you have a V like me. what cartridge are you using?? We have similar 1210's also in that you have a lot of the Mike New stuff. You might want to consider buying the MN base plate and tonearm board (which is what I have my V installed into). Apart some minor mods to the 1210's PCB and Paul Hynes internal regs there really isnt much more to do with a 1210 apart from experimenting with platter mats, carts, and power leads

Andy

Hi Andrew,

I'm using the Ortofon 2M Black with my V arm and couldn't be happier. Before I will get into MC territory, I will first upgrade some of the other elements of my system (phono, amp, speakers, etc). But this will come over the years

Regarding armboard, I have a really thick aluminum one (H&S Audio, coated with anti-vibration NEXTEL) so if I will ever change it it will be the ebony one. For baseplate I really don't see a need in my situation and I don't like the look of elevated platter. I have just received the silver DC cable with furutech xlr plug (thanks Marco) and I will order PH regulator modules. Later I plan to buy this tonearm cable as I still have the stock SME one and stereo interconnects. This will be it for 2012 (or not )

[Wakefield Turntables]

Just a quick update. The cable should be finished on Thursday we are now just waiting dor the DIN connector. So not long now.

Hi Andrew,

I'm using the Ortofon 2M Black with my V arm and couldn't be happier. Before I will get into MC territory, I will first upgrade some of the other elements of my system (phono, amp, speakers, etc). But this will come over the years

Regarding armboard, I have a really thick aluminum one (H&S Audio, coated with anti-vibration NEXTEL) so if I will ever change it it will be the ebony one. For baseplate I really don't see a need in my situation and I don't like the look of elevated platter. I have just received the silver DC cable with furutech xlr plug (thanks Marco) and I will order PH regulator modules. Later I plan to buy this tonearm cable as I still have the stock SME one and stereo interconnects. This will be it for 2012 (or not )

Nice I must admit that I've not done anything to dampen the underside of the SME, perhaps this could be the next round of tweeks. I've just finished modifying the plinth, I'll be posting some pics soon.

[Mark Grant]

The center pin on the LOK's should be all silver if you got the top spec ones, my ones from HGA were.

Thanks Simon,

That's more information than is on the manufactures website.

[Mark Grant]

Lok connectors are from their performance series - rhodium over silver plated body. Very good quality and a substantial saving from the WBT's.

I can see the Lok cost less than the WBT and that they are good quality, they are not the same build though.

The WBT I suggest has a nylon/plasticky lightweight body with pure silver ground and signal contacts and appears to work very well with most cables.
The only reason more manufacturers dont use them is the price compared to lower cost connectors.

Looking on homegrown audio site it does not really say what they are made from, most likely brass like most reasonably priced connectors and there is nothing wrong with that.
http://www.homegrownaudio.com/produc...ck-barrel.html

http://www.homegrownaudio.com/produc...ck-barrel.html

It would be interesting to try the same cable with various types of connector as there should be differences.

The price of these cables looks very reasonable if it is 6 nines purity.

Reading some of the posts Marco has changed to the non magnetic barrel black body connector so that's a step in the right direction which happened after I mentioned the WBT's

[Marco]

Well, chaps, the cable has arrived, and I can confirm that it looks just as good 'in the flesh', as it does in the pictures!

I've just plugged it in instead of the Furutech cable I've been using, and all I can say at the moment is that initial impressions are *very* good indeed....

However, I intend to let the cable burn-in, until at least the weekend, before any meaningful comparisons will be made between it and the Furutech, so stay tuned, folks, for an update followed by a full review!

Marco.

P.S Mark, you're probably correct, which is why I'll likely bite the bullet and get the second cable Yannis is sending me (for comparison purposes) fitted with some silver WBTs or Eichmann's (actually, I fancy giving the latter a go for a change), along with a Furutech DIN plug

[vouk]

I can see the Lok cost less than the WBT and that they are good quality, they are not the same build though.

The WBT I suggest has a nylon/plasticky lightweight body with pure silver ground and signal contacts and appears to work very well with most cables.
The only reason more manufacturers dont use them is the price compared to lower cost connectors.

Looking on homegrown audio site it does not really say what they are made from, most likely brass like most reasonably priced connectors and there is nothing wrong with that.
http://www.homegrownaudio.com/produc...ck-barrel.html

http://www.homegrownaudio.com/produc...ck-barrel.html

It would be interesting to try the same cable with various types of connector as there should be differences.

The price of these cables looks very reasonable if it is 6 nines purity.

Reading some of the posts Marco has changed to the non magnetic barrel black body connector so that's a step in the right direction which happened after I mentioned the WBT's

I think he uses these connectors, but could be wrong:
http://www.homegrownaudio.com/produc...ck-barrel.html
They are good quality but I wouldn't really put them on an equal footing with
WBT or Eichmann. Considerably cheaper though.....