|
Hello
I'm wondering how important are turntable cables for sound quality.
Right now, I'm running a Sony PS-HX500 Turntable with a Goldring E3 cartridge, with the bult in phono-stage BYPASSED, connected to the integrated phono stage of my Yamaha A-S2100 integrated amp.
I don't have a proper phono turntable cable with a ground lead - that's because due to my space setup, the turntable requires a cable of around 2.5-3 meteres - and even the turntable cables I've found at 2m are CRAZY expensive (and I really don't understand why).
What I'm using right now is a shielded RCA Proson cable (3 meters) connected directly to the phono stage (no ground wire). To my surprise/luck, the signal doesn't start to produce an audible "buzz" until turning the volume way up, to slightly above my normal listening volume, so I don't feel like I need to ground it more.
I couldn't find a proper "turntable" ground wire, but I tried using some normal 14AWG copper speaker wire instead, and to my surprise, with it connected to both ground bearings of the turntable and amp, the system produced MORE buzz than without, thus I use it connected only via the RCA Proson shielded RCA.
While I can't say I'm unhappy with the sound/setup, and even though I'd like less buzz it's not really that audible, is there ANY reason for using a proper turntable phono cable with ground wire? Because at the end of the day, my 3m shielded Proson cable costed about 40 euros, and the 2m proper turntable cables I see online (from manufacturers such as Pro-Ject, Audioquest etc) cost 80-100 euros and above.
So what am I missing? Do I need a different type of cable? Is the RCA shielded 3 meter cable I'm using compromises on sound compared to a proper (much much more expensive) turntable cable? |
|