5-pin DIN Connector
That, is the question ...
For years, we bought into the common knowledge that tonearms wired with a straight run from the cartridge clips to the connectors (RCA or XLR) are superior to arms with plug-in cables employing a 5-pin DIN connector.
Then, we put the theory to the test.
The Experiment
We compared two 4Point, 11" arm wands:
- One wired with an Uninterrupted run of Cardas Clear from the cartridge clips to a pair of RCAs
- One with Cardas Clear between the cartridge clips and a 5-pin DIN connector (conventional tonearm wiring)
Both tonearms were burned in for 72 hours on our Cable Cooker.
There was the obvious risk of experimental bias. We confess to embarking on this trial with a slight bias toward the "straight-run" cable.
We were wrong.
The 5-pin DIN version acquitted itself, showing no signs of signal degradation that's typically attributed to a connector - characteristics most typically described with words like gritty upper registers, and a lack of nuance and detail.
None of this was the case with the DIN terminated tonearm. Nada.
We selected our Wind River litz tonearm cable for this trial. That we had a marginal preference for this configuration over the straight run of Cardas is a matter of taste. Could this have influenced our preferences? Perhaps. We like our cable 😉
Is a 5-pin DIN right for me?
Therein lies the nuance.
On one hand, a DIN cable provides the flexibility to tune your vinyl front end. The designer's choice may not be a good match for your system.
Swapping DIN cables is much easier than changing a tonearm or cartridge.
On the other hand, if you like the designer's choice, then why introduce additional complexity into the signal chain?
Both Ends of a Cable
Trust the Designer?
Some designers ring the sweet gong of perfection.
Frank Schröder is a case in point. He has an uncanny ability to implement a near-universal solution - both with his production CB tonearms as well as his bespoke products. You will never convince me to replace wire that Frank specifies.
Schröders are the exception to the rule however, and that new cartridge you just installed may try to rip the fillings out of your teeth. You just might want to tame some of that snarl.
Currently, there are very few tonearms offering the opportunity to try both configurations, with Kuzma being the obvious one.
There's a downside to configuring a Kuzma with a DIN connection - the added expense. You'll experience a higher out of pocket cost because you'll need quite a high quality cable to mate with it. The payback on your investment is flexibility.
The Takeaway and a Caveat
By no means would we discourage you from selecting a tonearm configured with a straight-run (hello Schröder). Quite the opposite. Our trusty Schröder CB has taken on all comers.
With that exception, we're in favor of the flexibility removable cables provide.
The key point is to not make a purchasing decision favoring a tonearm due to this single attribute. Selecting the right tonearm for you takes many factors into consideration.
We will warn you about one potential downside however: dirty connectors.
We're fastidious about our connectors, as we describe here.
If regular maintenance of your connections doesn't describe you, then all bets are off. Anytime you eliminate a neglected connector from your system will be to your benefit.
Is poor connector hygiene a reason to eliminate a connection and go straight-run? That's your decision to make.
