[gundam91]

Can anyone share their experience?

I did some online search last week, there seems to be many supporters of the Kondo silver wire. From what I can tell, this will provide more details in the sound. And that is what I would like to do. I was only able to find one outfit in U.K. that would install this wire - Audio Origami. But they are hesitant to recommend this cable. They mentioned that since this wire is only coated with some varnish, it would rub against the inside of the armtube and eventaully cause some issues. He's had to fix many tubes that used this wire. They suggest to go with the Cardas 33ga OFC wire.

I found many posts indicating that SME would install this wire upon request. I contacted SME, and they told me that they use a silver litz wire, but not Kondo, and the person would not tell me what they are using.

I found several other outfits that would install the Cardas wire, the prices are all over the map, and each does something different.

- Audio Origami just replaces the wire inside existing arm tube. (Still need to use leads and phono cables.)
- BritAudio (www.britaudio.com), also in UK, offers two versions. One version would remove the existing connector near the cartridge, instead extending the internal wire to connect directly to the cartridge. The other version would also remove the DIN connector, and provide RCA connectors to connect the cartridge to the phonestage with one uninterrupted cable.
- SME Tonearms (www.smetonearms.com), up in Canada, offers a straight wire from the cartridge connector to the phonostage, but do provide a set of the leads made of the same Cardas wires.

Anyone with experience with any of these outfits? Any other recommendations? Any thoughts between the Kondo Silver vs. the Cardas copper? Any other options out there? I had tried the Cardas Golden Reference phono cable before, and thought it was too soft for my taste. Currently using Graham IC-70, and it has more detail and top end which suits my taste better. So I am hesitant to go with the Cardas copper wire.

I have an SME V.

FrankC

[orthobiz]

This is a great question. I have an Audioquest PT-6 that needs rewiring. I'm not so much concerned about one particular kinda wire of another, but that the wire is decent and at a reasonable cost.

I'd really like to mess around with rewiring it myself but I haven't held a soldering iron in years and the wires I can see at the main pivot/mount look awfully really really skinny!

Did you come across any DIY articles that explain exactly how to do your own? And when you finally decide, please post a vendor and a price!

Good luck,

Paul

[Wayner]

My one big concern is getting wire (at least 33awg or smaller) that is flexible. I'm not sure if I am fond of any wire that has a Teflon jacket as Teflon is usually rather stiff. This is the on place you want your wires to be ultra compliant, nice and loose, so as not to interfere with anti-skating and general performance of the bearings and tracking ability. Soldering such tiny wires will be a challenge, I speak from experience.

Wayner     

[rcag_ils]

I rewired a tonearm with 32awg, it worked fine, but it's labor intensive, you have to like this kind of work, which I do very much. I wish building tonearm was my perminent career.

[pt109]

Frank,
I'm not sure I'd want to risk playing around with a SME V.

Apparently SME will re-wire your tonearm with the wire of your choice (I think you'll have to supply it).

AFAIK, SME now uses VDH's excellent MCS150 in their current V's

Why not ask Brian at SME?

service@sme.ltd.uk
Please keep us posted with your progress.
Good luck.

[Scottdazzle]

BritAudio (www.britaudio.com) re-wired my SME 3009 II with Cardas tonearm wires and replaced the unusual SME connector with RCA jacks so I could use the cables of my choice.  They did a fine job.

[gerald porzio]

This is a job best left to experts.