Which of these two tonearm cables?

[miksko]

Hi,

I'm considering upgrading the tonearm cable on my Linn Basic turntable. I've upgraded some of the other cables in my setup, with great result, and now time has come to the vinyl component. I have limited the scope to these two (it has to be the angled DIN-connector) and wonder if anyone has been able to compare them and could give me some feedback?

Ortofon 6NX-TSW-1010L
Chord ShawlineX Array Tonearm Cable

I know the Chord is silver plated and the ShawlineX is what I use to connect a Naim streamer with the amplifier. Can't tell much about the inner workings of the Ortfon, besided the great review from ToneAudio Magazine.

 

[Al ears]

Hi,

I'm considering upgrading the tonearm cable on my Linn Basic turntable. I've upgraded some of the other cables in my setup, with great result, and now time has come to the vinyl component. I have limited the scope to these two (it has to be the angled DIN-connector) and wonder if anyone has been able to compare them and could give me some feedback?

Ortofon 6NX-TSW-1010L
Chord ShawlineX Array Tonearm Cable

I know the Chord is silver plated and the ShawlineX is what I use to connect a Naim streamer with the amplifier. Can't tell much about the inner workings of the Ortfon, besided the great review from ToneAudio Magazine.

I very much doubt you will hear any difference between them .
Unless the tonearm is rewired from cartridge onwards your best bet is stick with what you have and spend money on a cartridge upgrade.

 

[Integralista]

I agree with opinion, that cartridge upgrade will give better overal sound in your setup. Longtern you may consider upgrade of your Linn turntable. BR

 

[good_enough]

A third vote for cart. I run an Axis with the original Basik+ and have gone from the K9 it came with to a DL110 to a Hana SH and the improvements with the cartridge upgrades were profound. What cartridge are you running at the moment?

 

[Integralista]

Hi, I use mainly Lyra Delos for some three years. Before it was mainly Benz Glyder SL. On Rega Planar 9. I am very happy with them. Clear, open sound. BR.

 

[good_enough]

Hi, I use mainly Lyra Delos for some three years. Before it was mainly Benz Glyder SL. On Rega Planar 9. I am very happy with them. Clear, open sound. BR.

It was a question for the OP to see if we are on the right track recommending a cart upgrade! That Lyra looks sweet though.

 

[miksko]

A third vote for cart. I run an Axis with the original Basik+ and have gone from the K9 it came with to a DL110 to a Hana SH and the improvements with the cartridge upgrades were profound. What cartridge are you running at the moment?

I started of course with an upgrade of the cartridge. Went for the Goldring 2500, which I could buy for a reduced price since it is discontinued. The improvement was significant, even though this is a (kind of) MM. The reason I’m still considering an upgrade of the cable is the noticeable effect that has had on my digital sources.

Sure, I could switch to MC and a preamplifier but that would cost even more. In that case I would rather sell off the vinyl and go all-digital.

 

[Al ears]

I started of course with an upgrade of the cartridge. Went for the Goldring 2500, which I could buy for a reduced price since it is discontinued. The improvement was significant, even though this is a (kind of) MM. The reason I’m still considering an upgrade of the cable is the noticeable effect that has had on my digital sources.

Sure, I could switch to MC and a preamplifier but that would cost even more. In that case I would rather sell off the vinyl and go all-digital.

Try a tonearm cable change by all means but I doubt they would offer any dramatic change in sound.

 

[good_enough]

I started of course with an upgrade of the cartridge. Went for the Goldring 2500, which I could buy for a reduced price since it is discontinued. The improvement was significant, even though this is a (kind of) MM. The reason I’m still considering an upgrade of the cable is the noticeable effect that has had on my digital sources.

Sure, I could switch to MC and a preamplifier but that would cost even more. In that case I would rather sell off the vinyl and go all-digital.

Hmm there's plenty of headroom beyond the 2500 I would suggest, including line contact designs and HOMC like my (superb) Hana SH, that don't need a new pre-amp.

FWIW I find stereophile.com a better source for vinyl related recommendations than WHF as they appear to take matters at least half seriously.

 

[Al ears]

Hmm there's plenty of headroom beyond the 2500 I would suggest, including line contact designs and HOMC like my (superb) Hana SH, that don't need a new pre-amp.

FWIW I find stereophile.com a better source for vinyl related recommendations than WHF as they appear to take matters at least half seriously.

You might be correct about the sources however in my experience there's little to be gained for buying hi output MC cartridges, with the usual disadvantages, over a similar priced MM.

 

[good_enough]

You might be correct about the sources however in my experience there's little to be gained for buying hi output MC cartridges, with the usual disadvantages, over a similar priced MM.

You may be right I haven't had the time or budget to swap infinite varieties of cartridge to compare. I was converted to HOMC by the Denon DL110 and am still having "oh my gosh' moments with the SH so good for me! Each to his or her own etc.

The main point was that there are alternatives over and above the G2500 which are not in the 'price of a car' territory that may yield more of a difference than changing the cable.

 

[Al ears]

You may be right I haven't had the time or budget to swap infinite varieties of cartridge to compare. I was converted to HOMC by the Denon DL110 and am still having "oh my gosh' moments with the SH so good for me! Each to his or her own etc.

The main point was that there are alternatives over and above the G2500 which are not in the 'price of a car' territory that may yield more of a difference than changing the cable.

I cannot argue with you on that point.
If you are happy with the sound you are getting from those hi output MCs then that's great.

 

[good_enough]

You might be correct about the sources however in my experience there's little to be gained for buying hi output MC cartridges, with the usual disadvantages, over a similar priced MM.

Interested in that experience since as I say not an infinite capacity for comparing cartridges. Which HOMC vs MM comparisons led you to that view?

 

[Al ears]

Interested in that experience since as I say not an infinite capacity for comparing cartridges. Which HOMC vs MM comparisons led you to that view?

None in particular it was simply the disadvantage that is inherent in all MC cartridges in the fact they have no replaceable styli.
This is based purely on economic reasons and the fact I haven't yet heard a hi output moving coil that can better the equivalent priced MM.
This is the reason, when I had a decent bank balance, I went straight from a good MM to a better low output MC.
Not too sure what you paid for your cartridges but pretty sure the advantages of an equivalent priced MM might appear a better buy for most people

 

[good_enough]

None in particular it was simply the disadvantage that is inherent in all MC cartridges in the fact they have no replaceable styli.
This is based purely on economic reasons and the fact I haven't yet heard a hi output moving coil that can better the equivalent priced MM.
This is the reason, when I had a decent bank balance, I went straight from a good MM to a better low output MC.
Not too sure what you paid for your cartridges but pretty sure the advantages of an equivalent priced MM might appear a better buy for most people

Ah OK shame. I think there's not enough side by side comparisons around, of cartridges in general. They're the most difficult component to audition I believe. I'm not too concerned by the economic aspects you mention as the bulk of the cost of a MM is the stylus and when you take into account the refurb/retipping offers usually available, the difference is about tuppence ha'penny. But to press the point you say you hadn't heard a high output MC to beat a MM. Which HOMC was that? The Hana SH cost about 600 quid.

 

[Al ears]

Ah OK shame. I think there's not enough side by side comparisons around, of cartridges in general. They're the most difficult component to audition I believe. I'm not too concerned by the economic aspects you mention as the bulk of the cost of a MM is the stylus and when you take into account the refurb/retipping offers usually available, the difference is about tuppence ha'penny. But to press the point you say you hadn't heard a high output MC to beat a MM. Which HOMC was that? The Hana SH cost about 600 quid.

Unfortunately the difference isn't tuppence ha'penny if you manage to damage the cantilever, like I did, where the cost of repair was almost the same as buying a complete new cartridge......
I dont think retipping costs is exactly cheap either.

 

[good_enough]

Unfortunately the difference isn't tuppence ha'penny if you manage to damage the cantilever, like I did, where the cost of repair was almost the same as buying a complete new cartridge......
I dont think retipping costs is exactly cheap either.

Ah yes- no I meant that if you look at a good MM in the same price range, say the 2M Black, then a replacement stylus is (by my calculation) 74% of the cost of the entire thing. The AT VM95ML equivalent is 85%! This is pretty much in the range of where styli sit compared to the cost of an entire cartridge (I'm looking at line contact types as that's what I've got). The Hana new for old trade-in on the SH is for 80% of the value of a new cartridge. Dynavector do the same deal on the 10X5 II Hence my comment that the difference is really not worth considering when making a choice. Obviously the absolute difference, in folding money, between renewing a MM versus a MC will depend on the values involved. Also not all manufacturers might do the trade in, caveat emptor I guess.

 

[Al ears]

Ah yes- no I meant that if you look at a good MM in the same price range, say the 2M Black, then a replacement stylus is (by my calculation) 74% of the cost of the entire thing. The AT VM95ML equivalent is 85%! This is pretty much in the range of where styli sit compared to the cost of an entire cartridge (I'm looking at line contact types as that's what I've got). The Hana new for old trade-in on the SH is for 80% of the value of a new cartridge. Dynavector do the same deal on the 10X5 II Hence my comment that the difference is really not worth considering when making a choice. Obviously the absolute difference, in folding money, between renewing a MM versus a MC will depend on the values involved. Also not all manufacturers might do the trade in, caveat emptor I guess.

Trade in assumes the cartridge is intact I guess??
My point was, whatever you pay for a MM cart the replacement stylus will be cheaper.
Damage the cantilever on a MC cartridge and you are unlikely to be able to get it fixed for anything much less than the cost of purchasing a complete new cartridge.

 

[camcroft]

Ah yes- no I meant that if you look at a good MM in the same price range, say the 2M Black, then a replacement stylus is (by my calculation) 74% of the cost of the entire thing. The AT VM95ML equivalent is 85%! This is pretty much in the range of where styli sit compared to the cost of an entire cartridge (I'm looking at line contact types as that's what I've got). The Hana new for old trade-in on the SH is for 80% of the value of a new cartridge. Dynavector do the same deal on the 10X5 II Hence my comment that the difference is really not worth considering when making a choice. Obviously the absolute difference, in folding money, between renewing a MM versus a MC will depend on the values involved. Also not all manufacturers might do the trade in, caveat emptor I guess.

If I needed a stylus for my VM95ML I would buy the whole cartridge use the stylus and buy one of their cheaper stylus's use that with the generator and I would have a complete spare cartridge for not a lot of money for the lesser quality records that I have. This is not possible with the 2M.

 

[DougK1]

This is not possible with the 2M.

Unless Ortofon have recently changed the cartridges and styli then you can indeed mount any of the 2M range styli on any of the 2M carts.

 

[Al ears]

Unless Ortofon have recently changed the cartridges and styli then you can indeed mount any of the 2M range styli on any of the 2M carts.

At least the 2M blue and red, not sure if you can do it any further up the chain but could be wrong.
Don't the bronze and black have slightly different innards?

 

[DougK1]

At least the 2M blue and red, not sure if you can do it any further up the chain but could be wrong.
Don't the bronze and black have slightly different innards?

Yep, bronze and black share a common cartridge but the only difference between them all is the generator/innards. Hence why any of the styli will fit any of the carts. I've owned all, except the silver, so can say they are definitely interchangeable, unless things have changed recently.

 

[camcroft]

Unless Ortofon have recently changed the cartridges and styli then you can indeed mount any of the 2M range styli on any of the 2M carts.

Yes but not at a reasonable price.

 

[Al ears]

Yes but not at a reasonable price.

Define reasonable price. I thought we were initially talking about a MC cartridge..?