RCA Phono - 5 Pin DIN Interconnect Cable Recommendation

I'll keep an eye on this thread as I'll be requiring an rca to din for between my sky hd box and pre amp. I have looked at, but not heard, the flashback premier and the witch hat version. 

I use the standard Flashback RCA to 5 pin DIN (looks like the Naim lavender cable) between a Rega Fono MM MKII and SuperNait. A friend of mine has the black Flashback RCA to 5 pin DIN cable. With black cable sound is a bit more dynamic but overall i prefer the standard cable. 

I use: HiLine RCA to DIN and Chrod Signature Tuned Aray for some critical connections. 

In the context of a Naim system it's very hard to better the all-round engagement of the Naim's own lavender RCA-DIN.  Nearest would be the later versions of Chord Chrysalis RCA-DIN interconnect.  It's only when you increase the budget substantially that certain i/cs begin to pull ahead in some, but not all, areas.

I used to have a FBS Premiere DIN-RCA.    I started with RCA-RCA then went to a Chord DIN-RCA for a while.  The thing I did not like about the Chord was the way it was constructed, two stripped back RCA type cables in shrinkwrap into the DIN end.  I changed to FBS Premiere,  a much better constructed cable in although its still a pair of individual coax cables, the fit & finish is so much better & I believe it sounded better as well.  I've since changed the box's it connected between so its moved on.  Recommended.  

I didn't know there are two versions (standard and black) Flashback RCA to 5 pin DIN cable. I bought the Flashback cable 8 years ago to connect a Krell KPS-30i CD player to the NAC 202 which I had at that time.

I am not sure if the £20 Flashback cable that is currently between the Chord and NAC 282 is limiting the potential of the system. For those who are using non-Naim sources, may I ask what cables are used to connect them to say a NAC 282 or NAC 252?

Thanks for all responses.

Richard Dane posted:

In the context of a Naim system it's very hard to better the all-round engagement of the Naim's own lavender RCA-DIN.  Nearest would be the later versions of Chord Chrysalis RCA-DIN interconnect.  It's only when you increase the budget substantially that certain i/cs begin to pull ahead in some, but not all, areas.

May I ask, what are the "certain interconnects" that pulled ahead?

The Flashback Premiere is certainly at the top of the list at about £40+ which is great value. Just a little curious on the costlier alternatives.

ryder. posted:

Thanks for all responses.

Richard Dane posted:

In the context of a Naim system it's very hard to better the all-round engagement of the Naim's own lavender RCA-DIN.  Nearest would be the later versions of Chord Chrysalis RCA-DIN interconnect.  It's only when you increase the budget substantially that certain i/cs begin to pull ahead in some, but not all, areas.

May I ask, what are the "certain interconnects" that pulled ahead?

One such would be the Hi-Line.  

Thanks Richard. Much appreciated. The Hiline does look good though it's above my budget.

Coincidentally there is a mint condition Chord Signature TA that' s available for sale locally. Has anyone here compared the Chord Signature TA to the Naim Hiline or any other RCA to 5 pin DIN? Even though it is used it's more than what I am willing to pay for a piece of cable but what the heck.

ryder. posted:

Thanks Richard. Much appreciated. The Hiline does look good though it's above my budget.

Coincidentally there is a mint condition Chord Signature TA that' s available for sale locally. Has anyone here compared the Chord Signature TA to the Naim Hiline or any other RCA to 5 pin DIN? Even though it is used it's more than what I am willing to pay for a piece of cable but what the heck.

Not quite the same but I use Chord Signature Tuned Aray 2xRCA out from Hugo TT to 1xXLR in to 250DR and am delighted with it.

G

I now use a Chord Super Sarum 2xphono to DIN between Chord QBD76HDSD & 552 preamp which is exceptionally good. I did try an SL cable but it really did not work here. 

ryder. posted:

Thanks Richard. Much appreciated. The Hiline does look good though it's above my budget.

Coincidentally there is a mint condition Chord Signature TA that' s available for sale locally. Has anyone here compared the Chord Signature TA to the Naim Hiline or any other RCA to 5 pin DIN? Even though it is used it's more than what I am willing to pay for a piece of cable but what the heck.

I have a Naim Lavender RCA-DIN which is fine and I used it initially for my Hugo . I tested a few cables to improve things and the Chord Signature TA RCA-RCA I borrowed blew my Lavender away as it should... So if you can get a Signature RCA-DIN relatively cheaply I'd go for it . 

ryder. posted:

Thanks Richard. Much appreciated. The Hiline does look good though it's above my budget.

Coincidentally there is a mint condition Chord Signature TA that' s available for sale locally. Has anyone here compared the Chord Signature TA to the Naim Hiline or any other RCA to 5 pin DIN? Even though it is used it's more than what I am willing to pay for a piece of cable but what the heck.

As I wrote - I use them both both are very good. It depends what you'd like to connect to your Naim though....

A perhaps less expensive option which I used to good effect from Chord Hugo to SN2, is a Chord Chorus Reference RCA-DIN. I have however swapped this out for a Tellurium Q Black RCA-RCA which was a subtle but worthwhile improvement to my ears. 

I trully recommend that you test the Flashback Cables, because you can return them if they don't suit your preferences.

David Laine (the company owner) can help you further if you contact him - we did it for me. 

I use several FBC with great sucess after I susbsitute my other favorite interconnect, the Atlas Equator II and III.

Witch hat do a 5pin din to 2 RCA cable, I use many of their other variants in my system and find them excellent performance and value. Around £120 so more than flashback but way less than some other options and I think you can return if not satisfied - worth a try.

The AR Sound Lunar cable is very good in the Din to Din version.  It's probably reasonable to speculate that it would be good in a Phono to Din version as well.

The price is somewhere between the cheaper options and the HiLine and they do offer them on a sale or return basis so could be worth a punt.

Richard

trickydickie posted:

The AR Sound Lunar cable is very good in the Din to Din version.  It's probably reasonable to speculate that it would be good in a Phono to Din version as well.

The price is somewhere between the cheaper options and the HiLine and they do offer them on a sale or return basis so could be worth a punt.

Richard

I'd agree with that. Very good cable and doesn't fall to bits if you look at it in a funny way. I had the DIN to RCA version - top quality WBT RCA plugs and nicely made cable too. 

James

Thanks folks. I have decided to get the Chord Signature TA though I could only have it by end of the month as the seller is away on business. This Chord would be the most expensive cable I will be getting, even costlier than the Nordost SPM Reference speaker cable which I have owned. I also realised that the Chord Signature TA costs more than the Naim NAP 100 amplifier.

I have no doubts that the Witch Hat, AR Sound Lunar and Flashback Premiere are all excellent and value for money cables. Nevertheless, I have made up my mind to go with the Chord. I have read some old posts on the comparison between the Chord Signature TA and Naim Hiline though it appears that nobody has compared the Witch Hat, AR Sound Lunar or Flashback Premiere to the Chord Signature TA or Hiline.

An update. I have just received the Chord Signature TA cable and did some listening. The cable came with a nice packaging and build quality is high and very impressive. The weird thing about this Signature cable is the DIN plug comes in a 3-pin instead of 5. Chord claimed that it will work though, in which it does.

Initial listening sessions were not very encouraging as I could not pick up major differences in sound quality. As I listened further, that perception changed and I am glad to report that the Chord Signature TA is an improvement over the Flashback standard cable that I have. In very brief words the Chord sounds rather different from the Flashback. There is more music with the Chord. The tonal quality of vocals and instruments especially piano sounded more realistic and the overall presentation is cleaner with less background noise. 

The tone of the piano in one of my jazz recordings was so extended with the Chord that it made the Flashback sound slightly rolled off in the highs. The more shocking difference that I experienced was with my rock CDs. Man.. annoying noise suddenly turned to music. Passages which sounded harsh and unrefined transformed to music. There was more finesse and focus to the presentation with the Chord.

The above are my early impressions with the Chord Signature TA after 2 hours of listening. I will spend more time with the system later to form a more conclusive view on the cable. From this comparison I have again observed that although differences between cables may not be radically huge, it is the small but important differences that count.

ryder. posted:

An update. I have just received the Chord Signature TA cable and did some listening. The cable came with a nice packaging and build quality is high and very impressive. The weird thing about this Signature cable is the DIN plug comes in a 3-pin instead of 5. Chord claimed that it will work though, in which it does.

 

The 3 pins are left,right channel input from source. and signal ground. The "missing " pins are for left, right channel output (record) from the pre-amp. If you're not recording they are superfluous.

ryder. posted:

.....................The weird thing about this Signature cable is the DIN plug comes in a 3-pin instead of 5. Chord claimed that it will work though, in which it does.

Its a "Chord thing".   Its supposed to improve SQ,  not sure it does much for mechanical integrity. I notice Naim & all other DIN cable makers don't, 'nuff said.

Ryder - I have a Signature Aray Din-Din between my CDP and pre - superb in my opinion. 

Regards,

Lindsay