I didn't get any response in the tech forum, so I hope I have some luck here.

I'm looking for a source for tonearm leads. I have two stereos with shorting tonearm wires; the local sources are gone and searching the internet all I can find are audiophile-grade high-dollar sets.

Someone must still be selling these.

Wires from a junk USB mouse cord?

jr

Without going too audiophile, I'd think any thin (27g?) wire would do. I just saw a DIY arm that used bare enameled magnet wire for leads. For connectors, grab them out of an old d-sub connector and solder them on.

This outfit has several selections.
http://www.garage-a-records.com./products.php?cat=131

Some have crushed a 7 or 9 pin minature socket to get the terminals out: adaptable to phono cartridges.

The idea above about stripping wire out of flexible mouse cables, or flexible non-coiled phone cables is sound advice. Superflexibility is what you're looking for.

Might try dollar store headset leads.
Terry

Wires from a junk USB mouse cord?

jr

There ya' go...

If you use recycled wire from any of those sources above you want to be sure to twist the two wires together along their entire length as that helps cancel hum. I would carry them through the arm and below deck with a bit of slack and to a terminal strip mounted close by, then solder on shielded cable from that point. Your turntable may already be set up that way.

If it's a stereo cartridge twist the lefts and the rights separately.

Thanks for the ideas guys. I think I'm going to try telephone wire, since I have some on hand.