Advise on Long Phono Cable run

A true balanced signal is the way to go for long runs. Period.

The problem here isn't that the length, so much as it is capacitance! Even with a balanced connection, the physics are a bit different than it is with a microphone; the capacitance of the cable and the inductance of the cartridge make a tuned circuit with a resonance. Over 5(!)meters, the capacitance will be significant regardless of the cable, single-ended or balanced, such that the resonant frequency will be quite low. That will in turn make for problems with many phono sections if the resonance is even outside the audio band. With MM it will be **in** the audio band and make a mess of things.


If you can't find a compact phono section with a balanced output, I would get a single-ended phono section that can otherwise do the job and have it drive a line transformer which can convert from single-ended to balanced to drive the long run. Most high end audio phono sections that have a balanced output don't actually support the balanced standard, and as a result will be unable to drive a length like that.


But if you use a line transformer you can pull it off. This would be best driving a balanced input at the line stage; if that's not available you'll need another line transformer to convert back to single-ended.


If you do it this way the long interconnect will not have to be expensive yet will be sonically neutral.

You can find a mint condition PS Audio GCPH MM/MC Phono Preamplifier under $600.

https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-6naz0isypk/images/stencil/2048x2048/products/27530/190549/2u6BN4o__2...

https://www.hifishark.com/model/ps-audio-gcph

Hello JagJag.  You probably know that very long microphone cables are common at performance venues. Good quality microphone cables are not expensive especially when compared to some of the fancy "audiophile" cables being sold today. If you can solder, it's easy and cheap to try a few potential solutions. Microphone cables have generally two signal wires and a ground wire or they may use the shield for the ground. A DIY specialist carries a Chinese wire that imitates really good Belden cable. I have used it with excellent results. The trade name is "Talent." I think we are not supposed to mention dealers, etc.
I'm not trying to be cute. TRY #1: At the turntable, connect the left channel wire to the white conductor and the right channel to the red conductor. This way you only have to run one piece of cable to your amp. Try not to run the wire parallel to any AC power cables. At the amp end, connect the white conductor and ground to a phono plug for the left channel and the red conductor and ground to a phono plug for the right channel. (A million people with no experience will tell you this won't work. Ignore them, this is worth a try. If it doesn't work out for you, you will know how long to cut the next wire.) 
TRY #2: Don't cut a second wire yet! If you get all your music on this system from records, this trick should work. At the phono cartridge, switch the wires for one of the channels. One channel will now be out of phase with the other. At the speaker for that channel, reverse the polarity of the speaker wires. Only make the change for one channel. (You are still using the wire from TRY #1.) Is the hum problem solved?

If no, TRY #3: Cut another cable the same length as the one for TRY ##1. Connect the red wire to ground along with the shield and the white wire to the center pin of the phono plug (on both ends). Now you have a sheilded, "twisted pair" cable. Modify your first cable the same way. This does away with oddball terminations on the first cable. Connect the cartridge and the cables the conventional way. Less hum? Sound good?

If that doesn't work, and you absolutely MUST have the turntable so far away, TRY #4: Get some high quality, double shielded (braid and foil) cable like your cable company uses to connect the set top boxes to the cable company's feed at the curb (it is often called RF cable or just RF Co-ax), put phono connectors on both ends, try that. You can start with one channel just to see if it works and avoid some work if you don't like the results. If it doesn't work, you can use those cables you made to connect a small phono preamp box right behind your turntable to the amp. It will beat most other cables out there.  Happy Soldering!

Hey Guys,

Yes, get a phonostage !!  My phono cables are 1.5 meter from cartridge pins to inputs on either phonostage. I can play my system a Low, Medium or High volume with satisfiying results !!

This setup, is by personal choice. I do not like the setups that I see on virtual systems. All gear racked up between the speakers. Gear and especially TTs , Out of the room, IMHO. Thus, I need a long pair of ICs to accomplish this.

I was a Spectral owner for 20 years. With a pair of Avalon Opus speakers.   ( 2c3D )  system. Loved it, all these years. 

At Axpona 2016, I decided to totally revamp / upgrade my entire system Just wanted a change in sound and some extra convenient features.

My current system is:

Kuzma Stabi S w/ 12" VTA arm and 1.5 meter cable