Getting the Best Out: Stockfisch's Astonishing Phono CableGetting the Best Out Stockfisch's Astonishing Phono Cable

The connection between turntable and phono stage is the most sensitive in the entire chain. Stockfisch's Phono-Pro shows what's possible already in the lead-in groove.

By JP · First published on Facebook · 19 comments

Getting the Best Out: Stockfisch's Astonishing Phono Cable

That cables affect the sound is a truism. That this effect is sometimes out of all reasonable proportion to the price of the interconnect is equally so. Experienced high-enders don't spread their cable investments over their hi-fi equipment with the proverbial watering can; they spend the money in a targeted way in the right place. And the connection between turntable and preamplifier is probably simply the most sensitive. Pure physics: moving-coil cartridges generally have a low output voltage in the range of 0.2 to 0.5 millivolts. With a resistance of 100 ohms, that results in a current of between 2 and 5 microamps. Compared with what a classic line-level device such as a CD player delivers, that is many times less.

Really good phono cables – designed exclusively for this purpose – are rather rare. I remember an excellent cable from Sun Audio, and a “twisted” cable (I've forgotten the manufacturer) that sounded outstanding but also picked up radio waves and passed them on to the speakers. A few weeks ago we received a selection of phono cables from Stockfisch, a brand better (or almost exclusively) known for outstanding music productions. Following the premiere of its speaker cable, the company has now presented the “Phono-Pro” phono cable, which is available with all common connector types (RCA, SME, XLR) and costs 1,200 euros (1.2 m). Measured against the sonic progress you are guaranteed (!) to achieve, this price is entirely justified. Owners of high-quality cartridges and corresponding phono stages in particular, whether built into preamplifiers or as separate units, will be delighted by a clear gain in transparent bass reproduction and a firework of tonal colors in the midrange and treble.

There may well be other cables that reach this level. At the moment, though, I don't know of any. It doesn't even take an extensive listening test; the noise in the lead-in groove alone reveals the new quality.

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From the discussion

19 comments

“I have both and stick to it. For me the Sun Audio remains No. 1”

A voice from the discussion

A recommendation for a 1,200-euro phono cable, and close to 20 comments. One owner brings an older rival cable into play, and JP listens again. Alongside, the usual dispute about cable sound runs its course.

Sun Audio versus Stockfisch

An analog enthusiast considers Sun Audio's Phono Reference the better cable. JP remembers it as an excellent cable, but better than the new Phono-Pro? The analog enthusiast owns both and sticks to his view: for him the Sun is number one. He listens with an SME 3500 and a van den Hul The Frog. JP announces he will listen to the Sun cable again at the weekend and reports back with a tendency: “The old Sun really does resolve better in the upper midrange.” They will let it break in a little longer.

Psychoacoustics?

One technician briefly asks about the capacitance per meter, another about the ohmic approach, since an MC cartridge produces only two microamps. A skeptic thinks 1,200 euros for a “magic cable” is psychoacoustics. A defender objects: the argument “expensive, therefore self-deception” is trotted out in every forum whenever something doesn't fit one's worldview. People who have worked in this business for 30 years no longer fall for that. The skeptic doubles down: a cable that can't possibly sound better in a blind comparison simply has to be broken in first, until you can justify the purchase. If the electrical values are right, a cable sounds good, “but never better.” JP: “All of this is wrong, and repeating it doesn't make it any more right.” They trust themselves to assess a cable's quality with their ears, “we have trained long enough.” The skeptic cites his own experience: silver cables on Acapella horns didn't sound better in comparison than other good cables with the same electrical values.

This summary is based on the 19 comments available on Facebook when they were collected.

Show all comments (17)Hide comments

Comments from the Facebook page in the original German, names shortened.

On Facebook
Sun Audio Phono Reference ist meiner Meinung das bessere Kabel.
1. JP
  Auf jeden Fall war es ein exzellentes Kabel. Ob es besser als das neue Phono Pro ist?
2. On Facebook♥ 1
  Ich habe beide und bleibe dabei. Für mich bleibt das Sun Audio die Nr.1
3. JP♥ 1
  Am Wochenende hören wir uns das Sun-Kabel nochmals an. Eine Frage vorab: Welches Tonabnehmer-System nutzen Sie aktuell?
4. On Facebook♥ 1
  SME 3500 Räke mit Van den Hul The Frog silver.
5. On Facebook
  Gibt es schon ein Ergebnis?
6. JP♥ 1
  Ja, eine Tendenz. Das alte Sun löst in den oberen Mitten tatsächlich besser auf. Wir lassen es noch ein wenig länger einspielen...und melden uns wieder
On Facebook♥ 1
pF / Meter ?
1. On Facebook♥ 1
  Brandstifter
2. On Facebook♥ 1
  Missionar
3. On Facebook♥ 2
  Mich interessiert der "OHMsche" Denkansatz.. Falls es da einen gibt. 2uA erzeugt ein MC.. 40uA erzeugt der CD Ausgangstreiber.
On Facebook♥ 2
1.200 Euro (1,2m) für ein Zauberkabel? Da speilen scher die psychokakustischen Effekte eine große Rolle.
1. On Facebook
  Axel Z. Diese Argumentationskette - Preis, deshalb Psychotäuschung - wird auf allen Foren immer rausgeholt, wenn es etwas, was der eigenen Meinung widerspricht, abzuschiessen gilt. Ohne dieses Kabel hier selbst gehört zu haben - dies Argument ist keines. Und es darf durchaus davon ausgegangen werden, daß Leute, die seit 30 Jahren in diesem Geschäft nicht ganz unwichtig sind, auf derlei Selbsttäuschung nicht mehr hereinfallen würden.
2. JP
  Axel Z. All dies ist falsch, und wird durch Wiederholung nicht richtiger.
3. On Facebook
  Sie sind für diese Slebstäuschung verantworltich
4. JP
  Wir trauen uns schon zu, die Qualität eines Kabels mit den Ohren zu erkunden. Wir haben es lange genug trainiert:-)
5. On Facebook
  Wieseo falsch? Ich hatte an Acapella Hörners Silberkabel.... die klangen wirklich nicht besser als sehr gute andere Kabel wie ein Failback Test gezeigt hatte. Das Klangbild veränderte ich nicht bei Kabeln mit gleichen elektrishcen Eigenschaften.