Bob's Phono Cable

Bob's Devices designed these cables specifically to address the ultra-critical connection between a Step-Up Transformer (SUT) and a Phono Preamp. Optimized for low voltage/low current applications and double-shielded to protect against EMI/RFI, these cables shine anywhere in the analog pathway.

Fully balanced, hand-crafted, individually tested and built with the best parts available. Each cable features premium Cardas connectors, resistance-soldered to eliminate distortion. Silver-clad 6N UP-OCCP conductors (more on this later), double shielding with a separate ground wire, and foamed Polyethylene insulation round out the impressive feature set.

You'll finally hear deep black backgrounds, with a clear and honest presentation. Rhythm and pacing are excellent, as is low-level detail retrieval. Dynamic range is very good, delivering excellent micro-dynamic shading just as well as thunderous transients.

Although originally intended to be used between an SUT and a phono preamp, they also work miracles between the turntable and the SUT, or even directly from your turntable to the phono preamp! Bob even recommends using them for line-level applications, just like a regular interconnect! Bob believes these cables are incomparable at their price and competitive with far more expensive offerings.

A Step-Up Transformer (SUT) uses tiny transformers (usually a pair) to convert the low voltage (but robust current) signal of a Moving Coil cartridge (MC) to a higher voltage (and lower current) signal.  This process allows a low-output MC cartridge to be  used with an MM phono stage, which many would argue sounds better than the native MC phono section.

This conversion process also means that the cable which links the SUT to the phono preamp is carrying the lowest amount of current in the entire system! The potential for introducing distortion at this critical juncture is astronomical, so great care must be made not to disrupt these tiny signals.

Bob designed his phono cable as the ideal cable to handle this micro-voltage, micro-current signal.  He selected materials ideal for this purpose. Excellent quality conductors, heavy dual shielding to keep noise and vibration out and a balanced conductor design which inherently rejects noise. Built in the USA, this cable is designed to exceed all expectations.

Conductors
Silver-clad copper wire made using the Ultra Pure-Ohno Continuous Casting Process (UP-OCCP). This is a continuous-casting method originally developed by Professor Ohno of the Chiba Institute in Japan. This means the conductors are free from impurities (up to 99.99998% pure copper and silver). Higher purity means these condcutors are able to transmit electrical signals faster, and with far less distortion than ordinary OFC and silver wires.

Construction
Bobs Devices' custom terminated silver-clad crystal copper interconnects feature a balanced design architecture using Polyethylene insulation and a pair of silver plated copper conductors (SP-OFC) that are insulated with Foamed Polyethylene, and wrapped together by a double screen shielding consisting of a tinned OFC braided shield coupled to an Aluminum/Mylar shield. This fabrication method creates cables which are clean and clear enough to shine with tube equipment, yet with the deep black backgrounds and grainless presentation required for solid-state.

Shielding
To maintain and ultra-low noise floor, all connections are resistance soldered. The architecture features a balanced pair of conductors which carry both poles of the signal. Thesee  are protected by a foil shield covered by an additional conductive braided shield, which is floated on one end. This provides very effective shielding, effectively rejecting RF and EM interference, without creating ground loops.