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In the Forum: Analog Playback
In the Thread: Thank you, Sir! May I have another (MC-3000 II)?
Post Subject: A Critical LinkPosted by Paul S on: 12/13/2025
There are several posts scattered around this website concerning the cables that connect my Ortofon T3000 SUT to my K&K phono stage. People who use SUTs for their LO MC phono cartridges know how critical (and often troublesome) this link can be in terms of sound, also in terms of noise. Up to a few months ago I had settled on the relatively unknown Placette cables that Guy Hammel used to sell with a guarantee that you could not hear them insered anwhere in your signal chain. I did not buy the Placettes because of that guarantee, as I have tried many cables for the link in question, including "the best-sounding" DIY Cu/AG twisted pair that was my favorite... apart from the fact it was/is unshielded, and because of this it produced RFI and EMF noise along with great sounding Music. No, I bought and stuck with the Placette IC because it was the best compromise in that link that was/is shielded, good Music without RFI/EMF. For all that, after the MC3000 II needle swap, and after installing the (already-reported) Moray James S/PDIF in my digital front end, I got to where I wanted "more parity" between my digital and analog sources. I got it in mind to try another shielded cable in place of the Placette. I did the usual net surfing and found Audio Sensibility in Canada, specifically their Impact SX phono IC. Even though they are said to be "burned in" it took some playing time, and I had to re-set my ground scheme for dead silence. I played with phono stage operating points a little, and - lucky me - I got what I wanted in terms of analog/digital "parity", and I now have more FR phono information without a certain "stridency" from poorly recorded massed violins. Again, while it does not "improve" poor recordings, neither are HF problems highlighted, and my very few massed violin recordings that are well done sound great. Here is another case where I am naming a component (cable) only in the specific context of my own system, experiences and preferences, all of which I have listed.
Paul SRerurn to Romy the Cat's Site