Turntable connection help

[nsherin]

Hi guys,

I have a Pro-Ject Debut II that seems to have very loose connections on its phono plugs. I'm not handy with a soldering iron at all. Do you reckon if I took the deck into Auido T, they'd solder on some new phono sockets (I'm connecting up a long phono cable to it, due to it having to be across the room from my amp, due to space).

 

[yoda900]

Try a pm to audioorigami who knows about these things.

How long will the lead be and using exactly what cable.

Don't know if you can run a long unshielded cable of any length with such tiny currents so specialist knowledge is required.

 

[nsherin]

I've already got a 10m phono to phono cable (male to male). Just need to sort the connectors on the end of the turntable - both phono plugs are loose. I notice that CPC have some screw-type phono plugs. We've got an account with them at work - might see if I can order a couple and fit the plugs.

 

[audioorigami]

is that 10 meters long phono to phono?

i dont ever recomend screw phono plugs...these can cause buzzes and can take your bass units out if you wiggle the wires at high volume

soldering phonos is the best option by far

 

[nsherin]

Yep, 10m phono to phono. Will probably just get the plugs resoldered by Audio T and get the job done properly.

 

[Chumpy]

A good e.g. Pro-Ject dealer should be happy to charge resonably to affix/solder decent RCA phonos to Debut 2 lead.

As is being discussed on a different Forum currently, I really would advise however against having such a long lead presumably into amp-phono.

 

[nsherin]

Normally, I wouldn't use such a long run, but space dictates, unfortunately.

Just tried to use some connecting blocks (the sort used to join two wires together) and I get no sound. Any ideas why?

 

[nsherin]

Bump - any ideas?

Thanks,

Neil

 

[audioorigami]

im kinda lost on this 1

maybe some pictures of your leads problems would help

 

[nsherin]

Not got camera to hand, but the connections are as follows:

Lead from turntable with L/R channels ---> connecting blocks - one terminal per channel ---> phono lead. Tried two phono stages and no sound through either.

 

[PaulH]

Long cable from TT > Amp is not much of a problem (I use 3m of VdH D102mkIII, and a piece of wire for the earth).

Can you get any sound from the TT???

E.g....just put the TT on thefloor & connect to the amp with a usual short phono lead.

 

[nsherin]

Nope - no sound at all. Lead is hardwired in and the connections on the original plugs are broken. So, using the connecting blocks (same as below), I've wired in an RCA cable to the lead from the turntable and tried two phono stages. Connecting blocks are like ths:

 

[kennyk]

best thing to do is to check with a mutimeter, but you'll probably have to disconnect the cartridge pins first. I'm assuming that you know which wire goes to which point. if you turn your amp right up, do you get any kind of noise at all or isit just the whoosh from the phonostage?

I'm about to put 3 odd metres on the end of my tonearm, but I'm going to go balanced (i.e float the + & - from the cartridge about earth)in an attempt to keep the noise level down. see the balanced thread for more information...

 

[nsherin]

I'm just getting the noise from the phonostage and my knowledge of electronics/cabling isn't too good to be honest. I'm off to the Bristol Show tomorrow, but I think the Saturday after, I'll take the deck up to Audio T and get it sorted properly, before I stuff it up anymore.

 

[Uncle Ants]

PaulH wrote:

Long cable from TT > Amp is not much of a problem (I use 3m of VdH D102mkIII, and a piece of wire for the earth).

Hmm. Can't say I'm convinced - 3m of high quality triple screened interconnect isn't the same thing as 10m of brand X. Its asking for trouble if you ask me.

Running the tonearm leads into a phono stage close by and then running the long interconnect to the amp from the phono stage to the other side of the room would seem a more sensible approach.

 

[nsherin]

The deck is now sorted and is back happily playing vinvyl again. A quick trip to Audio T this afternoon and they very kindly tested the cable, tried cutting and stripping it back a wee bit, soldered some new plugs on and all is well again. Cost about £30, so not bad at all - a fiddly job and not something I'd be any good at doing myself. Great service from Nick at Audio T in Portsmouth - highly recommended!