Arm rewiring - worth it ?

[Bazzer]

Given that it was decided in recent debates that cables don't / do make a difference, where do the Wam populace stand with this :sofa:

 

[rockmeister]

I think that having someone who knows , tweak things around a bit can matter. Some arm designs can produce friction if the cable isn't routed well. or has shifted a tad, so some careful placing, securing, resoldering etc can be beneficial. That's a bit of an aside, but might actually be the best thing that occurs when someone like John at AO looks at your arm. Do different cables make a difference? Not in the sense that different metals will change the sound, but certainly, an appropriate cable can help an arm perform properly.

 

[Bazzer]

So in the case of my RB301 is it worth it (probably should have asked that straight away actually) ?

 

[Last Order]

So in the case of my RB301 is it worth it (probably should have asked that straight away actually) ?

Fact is, the Arm wire guides the smallest signal in the whole System and for Manufacturers the cost saving is important. When Incognito Cable became available for Rega Arm modification, it was very successful. When I met an owner who did the change, everyone was positive about it (better than before).

 

[audioorigami]

So in the case of my RB301 is it worth it (probably should have asked that straight away actually) ?

yes the cable in the rb301 is very inexpensive and is well worth replacing

 

[SergeAuckland]

yes the cable in the rb301 is very inexpensive and is well worth replacing

I would be grateful if you would explain why and how cost affects the conductivity of the cable.

S

 

[MotherSky]

In my experience, rewiring a fairly old RB300 made a very worthwhile improvement (I did this myself with some Cardas litz wire from the bay - a tedious and fiddly job), but I also had a 70's SME rewired for a customer by the excellent Audio Origami, and the differences were dramatic to put it mildly - I didn't measure these differences, and feel no need to explain them to anybody...

 

[browellm]

Given that it was decided in recent debates that cables don't / do make a difference, where do the Wam populace stand with this :sofa:

If it's going to be anywhere, it's going to be the arm cable, isn't it?

That's me perched comfortably on the fence

 

[tkimages]

So in the case of my RB301 is it worth it (probably should have asked that straight away actually) ?

Go get it done and let us know.

 

[Guest]

In my experience it seems to make a dramatic difference (Technics and Rega arms).

 

[Bazzer]

Go get it done and let us know.

okey dokey I'll be right back... just one thing which wires are best for my arm

 

[BD Audio]

I have upgraded my Audionote arm from a model one to three. The only differences are the cable....

 

[lazycat]

In my experience it seems to make a dramatic difference (Technics and Rega arms).

I had my RB300 rewired by AO. Definite improvement.

I also rewired the arm on my SL-Q2 a few months ago. The difference was shocking. The rewire, plus one of those snakeskin mats everyone bought, made such an improvement to the techie I've just bought a SL-1210.

From eBay.... Cross some fingers please.

 

[glowingtones]

I have a Michell Tecnoarm and the rebuild from the stock OEM Rega arm includes replacing the internal wiring with a straight through (cartridge tag to phono plug) loom of very fine silver wire. If Michell say it makes a difference I'm prepared to agree with their judgment because they replaced the original Rega wire as part of the build, the stock Tecnoarm is great value for money.

If I was considering replacing the wiring loom I don't think I'd attempt the job myself with an off the peg loom, I have no idea how to route the wire through the arm and post so I'd leave it to the specialists who know far more than I do about rewiring tonearms.

 

[MrSammy]

I would be grateful if you would explain why and how cost affects the conductivity of the cable.S

I would have thought this is one of the few places where cables could definitely make a difference. You have a very weak signal in a wire that is actually part of the arm attempting to track the signal. The usual argument against silver cables is just to use a thicker copper one and you have the same conductivity but in a tonearm the heavier cable will affect the behaviour of the arm. Shielding the cable has to be worthwhile when the signal level is so low and making a continuous run and removing needless connectors is probably worthwhile as well. I am not claiming it will be hugely audible but it could make a positive difference.

 

[biker boy]

Given that it was decided in recent debates that cables don't / do make a difference, where do the Wam populace stand with this :sofa:

I will come right off the fence and say that there was a dramatic improvement when AO rewired my RB300, I had the cart tags to phono straight through wire. Brilliant service from one of the good guys in HiFi.

 

[Clubsport911]

I had my RB 300 given Mark's (Origin Live) full treatment. I'm the most sceptical engineer I know, but the difference was very easy to hear. It reminds of the difference I got from a medium quality MM cartridge to a really nice MC design. Several layers lifted

Do it.

 

[RobHolt]

I only replace arm wiring if its:

- aged and become stiff (internal), causing perceptible drag on the arm.

- noisy due to stress breaks in the copper

- high capacitance (arm loom typically >150pf). Capacitance can make dramatic changes to sound with MM cartridges and likely accounts for many of the 'wow!' reactions.

Otherwise what comes as standard stays.

Cost plays no part in the performance. Cheap low cap coax or mic cable for external is all that's required.

 

[bossjw]

Incognito certainly worth doing to a rega arm. Have a p2 with this upgrade and in my opinion more musical than the current rp3