# I need turntable cables!!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-turntable-cables/406260>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 31, 2007, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-turntable-cables/406260 "2007-05-31T23:11:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-turntable-cables/406260/1 "2007-05-31T23:11:50Z")

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I know this is a crazy request in the year 2007, but I need turntable cables. You know, the ones with the left and right channels, plus the all-important ground wire. I can’t find them here in DC, and I can’t find them online.

Any opinions on where a good place to find them would be greatly appreciated.

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**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-turntable-cables/406260/2 "2007-05-31T23:18:43Z")

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If your turntable has RCA sockets and a screw-type ground terminal on the back, rather than one internally-wired-to-the-cartridge cable with RCA plugs on the end, you can get an RCA patch cord at any Radio Shack, and any old garden-variety wire with a plastic sheath covering it, and exposed ends, will do for the ground wire. Lamp cord will do. Speaker wire will do.

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-turntable-cables/406260/3 "2007-06-01T00:27:43Z")

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What **fishbicycle** said, but if your turntable has some sort of plug-in ground wire setup (like the one I bought second hand), you may have to go to the manufacturer to replace that (like I did).

By the way, the term you’ll see on the package for the other is probably going to be “stereo audio cables,” but I’ve always called them patch cables.

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**Author:** ![Beaucarnea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@Beaucarnea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beaucarnea)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-turntable-cables/406260/4 "2007-06-01T00:39:57Z")

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Some car audio cables have an extra bare/small gauge wire that is used for a turn-on lead that could be used for the additional ground wire.

(Boyfriend is an electronics tech-I have no idea what I just typed)

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**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-turntable-cables/406260/5 "2007-06-01T00:43:03Z")

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Are you talking about a cable that is plugged in (and detachable) from your turntable, or a cable that is soldered in place on the turntable end. Are [these RCA cables](http://www.cablesnmor.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=281) what you mean? I’m thinking not though, because RCA cables are extremely common and I can’t imagine a Radio Shack not having them.