Pioneer PL630- upgrading the phono cable?


I have a Pioneer PL630 with an upgraded Audio Quest 404B (essentially a Hana Umami Red) Moving Coil cartridge. I still have the OEM phono cable and am considering replacing it with a higher end cable /ground to reduce RF interference and to lower capacitance, and provide the best possible signal to my Rega Aria preamp. Has anyone done this with their turntable (any higher end turntable) and does it provide a noticeable sonic improvement?

128x128musicearlyadopter

I have upgraded phono cables in nice but non-audiophile turntables a couple times. I could never hear a difference. The last was in an AR turntable with a pretty good cartrige.

I am a big advocate of carefully choosing interconnects, cables, and power cords, and have done so multiple times over the last fifty years as I have built and upgraded my system.

That has been my experience. Yours could be different. It will also be depended on how good the rest of your system is.

Ghd, how can you say in the same post that you never heard a difference among phono cables and also that you’re a big advocate of carefully choosing interconnects, etc? Seems internally contradictory, especially since a phono cable might be expected to make the most difference due to its job description.

To all, thank you for your insights- I have elected to leave the OEM cable in place and listen to the cartridge when I receive it this weekend. It is a rebuit Audioquest 404B which was commissioned and made by made by Scantech (later renamed to Lyra). I am told that the generator in this cartridge is the same as a Hana Umami, which is why I even mentioned that as an aside.

Dear @musicearlyadopter  : Scan-Tech is whom build Lyra cartriodges under its specifications.

Your AQ cartridge was made it by Exel that not only makes Hana cartridges but many others marketed cartridges from several years. Exel has more than 40+ years designing and making cartridges. Exel is an excelent cartridge manufacturer.

Could be that your AQ has part of the Hana overall signature but certainly is not exactly as the Umami Red.

 

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.