Cartridge Leads

Cardas leads are excellent but the spring clip versions are not recommended.

the spring clips on the Cardas economy (ie "Cardas HSL PCCE Headshell Leads") are crap. The clips bend easily and fall off, and the shrink+clip is too long, causing interferance with the cartridge position. The wire is great though.

Bd, I agree, but I was referring to the rhodium version of the HSL PCCE which, for some reason, doesn't show on their webpage AND is a lot more expensive. The gold-over-brass one shown, is too soft and indeed has the problems you mention.

Gentlemen, I do thank you all for your helpful, and informative replies.

I have noted that Dedicated Audio shows the Cardas Leads, one, at about $116, with the Rhodium Plated "coil spring" style connectors, and the next one down the list, for about $72, are I believe the same wire, but with the more conventional Clips, with also, the Rhodium Plating. I gather these are the best of the bunch, perhaps due to better contact, and without the worry of clearance problems at the Tonearm Pins themselves.

And as you have noted Neil, perhaps the most expensive ones on the list are shorter for some reason? Hmmm?

I'll try checking with both Sumiko, and with Michael Percy for the Van Den Hul Leads. Does anybody have a vague idea of price for the VDH Leads? Thanks, Mark

Mark, I don't know why the spring loaded clips are shorter, maybe a different soldering arrangement. The $72 ones are the ones I was referring to. If you go to the vdH US distributor, http://www.bluebirdmusic.com/ they should be able to give you a price. Their site also lists about 8 authorized USA vdH dealers.