Interconnect length

I have a killer interconnect that's only 0.5m, so this way I can run the longer one from the TT to the pre, and the better but shorter interconnect from the phono pre to my preamp. Though I guess I could just put the phono pre closer to the TT and eliminate the better interconnect. Would that be better?

Less connections are better, especially if your going to have to use the lesser quality cable anyway. Plus if you have to use RCA jumpers you get another connection and more degrading of sound quality.

If you are using a moving magnet cartridge, such as the Ortofon OM5e which that turntable commonly comes with, you will almost certainly have your upper treble rolled off due to the capacitance of what will be 12 feet or more of cable, as well as the capacitance of the rca adapters. (Moving coil cartridges are pretty much insensitive to load capacitance).

You would also probably be increasing considerably the amount of noise that will be picked up by the long cable, which will then be amplified by your phono stage, making it MUCH more audible than a similar amount of noise picked up by a high level interconnect.

Bottom line: Keep phono cables as short as possible!

Regards,
-- Al

From my searches on this topic, the consensus is that if you really need to have a long interconnect, it is better to have it between the preamp and amplifier.

Best,

iSanchez

Thanks. Very helpful.