[Escott1377]

I am considering making a pair of cables as my phono interconnect.

These need to be shielded and the wire Iam sourcing will just be Teflon insulated.

What is an inexpensive way to provide a shield?

I have purchased the techflex w/ EMI / RF shield ins the past, but am looking for a cheaper option.

Any help is greatly appreciated

[Big Red Machine]

Aluminum foil? That's pretty cheap.

Copper tape? more expensive.

 Tinned shielding - not very expensive.

[Escott1377]

Aluminum foil? That's pretty cheap.

Copper tape? more expensive.

 Tinned shielding - not very expensive.

How pliable is the copper tape?  Once applied, easy to bend or will it essentailly make the cable stiff?

Thanks -

[Big Red Machine]

Definitely stiffer. You could coil it and that would help. You might not need 100% coverage so that would leave gaps for flexing. But then you have to decide how to connect the copper to ground on at least one end.

[jtwrace]

Why not use twisted/shielded wire?  There is some great stuff out there to fit all budgets.

[Escott1377]

Why not use twisted/shielded wire?  There is some great stuff out there to fit all budgets.

I'm looking at solid core OCC silver that is unshielded.

I've used unshielded twisted pair w/ no crosstalk, but w/ this being the phono stage, I need to shield the cable.

Sonic Craft sell the bulk cable for $8 / ft for 23 AWG, even cheaper 28 AWG.  If I used a twisted pair on the positive side that should be 25AWG?

[Speedskater]

An RCA coax cable by definition is shielded. For audio and low radio frequencies a heavy braided copper shield is best. For high RF frequencies (FM band and up) a foil shield is best. A combination of both a heavy braid and a foil shield might be a good compromise.

[jtwrace]

A combination of both a heavy braid and a foil shield might be a good compromise.

Can you recommend one of these with RCA connectors?

[Escott1377]

An RCA coax cable by definition is shielded. For audio and low radio frequencies a heavy braided copper shield is best. For high RF frequencies (FM band and up) a foil shield is best. A combination of both a heavy braid and a foil shield might be a good compromise.

I have a pair of blue jeans in there right now, simply b/c of the low capacitance and not wanting to add additional load onto the phono pre.

I need help on the construction materials that I mentioned above.

http://www.soniccraft.com/product_info.php/neotech-solid-upocc-silver-in-teflon-28-awg-blue-p-1602

[Speedskater]

Can you recommend one of these with RCA connectors?

How about Belden 1695A?
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/digital-audio/index.htm

Although for long RCA cables, I prefer the BJC LC-1. No foil but most people can live without it.

[undertow]

Capacitance is not an issue with MC cartridges only MM.

In any case yes you will need a 100% shield tacked to the ground wire on the turntable end, or it will hum I guarantee it. It can be floating on the phono stage end with the RCA's which makes construction easier, and you will have a dead silent cable.

Problem is that there are very few options out there to buy just shield especially that is lightweight and not super stiff, also small enough diameter to contract down enough around tiny AWG for phono cables.

One option to get small, and flexible enough is to purchase the Cardas Tonearm wire 33 awg x 4, and simply split the dielectric with a razor blade, then slip the entire braided shield off since you are set on wanting "Solid" core wire in there. Otherwise you could just use the Cardas cable as is, it already has teflon wiring, but it's a quad of stranded copper. Only problem with Cardas stuff is that it is VERY difficult to solder because you have to get it super hot to cut thru the enamel they have on the copper. Sometimes you need a solder pot to pull it off cleanly especially dealing with such small AWG in delicate applications.

Also, it looks like they started marketing the Cardas wire differently and now have "Headphone" cable 24 awg x 4 which has always been the same construction as shielded tonearm cables, or go find some old headphones with flexible shielded cable, of course no guarantee all headphone cables will be braid shielded. Or go and buy cheap XLR cables from your local Guitar center like a 10 ft patch cord, and do the same thing slice it down the length and slip all the wires out of the shield. But you would have to make sure its a braided shield if its foil it will just come apart you won't get to re-use it.

http://partsconnexion.com/wire_headphone_cardas.html

[jtwrace]

How about Belden 1695A?
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/digital-audio/index.htm

Although for long RCA cables, I prefer the BJC LC-1. No foil but most people can live without it.

Which one will have higher RF/EMI rejection?  1.5m pair. 

[undertow]

I have used all the Belden in the past. They are super stiff, and great for Video. Always sound Foggy, and Flat in audio applications especially with low voltage analog connections like a phono cartridge. They are best used for Digital audio if at all in my opinion.

[Speedskater]

Which one will have higher RF/EMI rejection?  1.5m pair. 

It depends.
See reply #6.

[Escott1377]

Capacitance is not an issue with MC cartridges only MM.

In any case yes you will need a 100% shield tacked to the ground wire on the turntable end, or it will hum I guarantee it. It can be floating on the phono stage end with the RCA's which makes construction easier, and you will have a dead silent cable.

Problem is that there are very few options out there to buy just shield especially that is lightweight and not super stiff, also small enough diameter to contract down enough around tiny AWG for phono cables.

One option to get small, and flexible enough is to purchase the Cardas Tonearm wire 33 awg x 4, and simply split the dielectric with a razor blade, then slip the entire braided shield off since you are set on wanting "Solid" core wire in there. Otherwise you could just use the Cardas cable as is, it already has teflon wiring, but it's a quad of stranded copper. Only problem with Cardas stuff is that it is VERY difficult to solder because you have to get it super hot to cut thru the enamel they have on the copper. Sometimes you need a solder pot to pull it off cleanly especially dealing with such small AWG in delicate applications.

Also, it looks like they started marketing the Cardas wire differently and now have "Headphone" cable 24 awg x 4 which has always been the same construction as shielded tonearm cables, or go find some old headphones with flexible shielded cable, of course no guarantee all headphone cables will be braid shielded. Or go and buy cheap XLR cables from your local Guitar center like a 10 ft patch cord, and do the same thing slice it down the length and slip all the wires out of the shield. But you would have to make sure its a braided shield if its foil it will just come apart you won't get to re-use it.

http://partsconnexion.com/wire_headphone_cardas.html

I ended up buying some braided tin / copper techflex as a shield.  My thoughts are use 4 x 28 AWG wires braided, 2 positive, 2 negative, and then cover up to where I strip the wire w/ the shield.

If it does not work, I can use the interconnect between phono pre > pre, or DAC > pre.

[undertow]

4 x 28 is more than substantial, and will work out well. I just did the same thing using some high end OCC braided same way with a special "Silk copper shield" but I only got that because of a inside knowledge I had on how to get a couple pieces it's really not available for anything, but completed commercial cables.

And there are some merits to having solid core wire on the tonearm I can't argue, it does have something about it that works better than stranded from ones I built in the past whether solid silver core, or solid copper core.

[Escott1377]

Thanks all who contributed!