SoundLink Lead Wires

Description

The SoundLink Lead Wires are a set of four replacement headshell-to-cartridge lead wires in 28 AWG oxygen-free copper with precision friction-grip cartridge clips. Lead wires are the most overlooked maintenance item in a turntable setup — the four tiny wires between the headshell and the cartridge pins carry the raw output signal from the cartridge cantilever before any amplification occurs. Corroded, kinked, or poorly terminated lead wires degrade channel separation and high-frequency response before the signal ever reaches the phono preamp.

What Distinguishes Quality Lead Wires

The performance of a lead wire is determined by two factors: conductor purity and clip contact integrity. Copper-clad conductors develop a higher-resistance oxidation layer at the cartridge pin contact within six to twelve months of normal use — a subtle but measurable increase in series resistance that rolls off treble response on the affected channel:

– 28 AWG 99.9% OFC conductor — no copper-clad aluminium core, no oxidation at the cartridge pin contact
– Friction-grip cartridge clips — correctly tensioned for standard 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm cartridge pin diameters
– Four colour-coded wires following industry standard: White (L+), Blue (L-), Red (R+), Green (R-)
– Ultra-fine 28 AWG gauge — minimises added mass at the cantilever mounting point
– Supplied with a colour reference card and installation guide for first-time cartridge installers

When to Replace Headshell Lead Wires

Lead wires should be replaced when any of the following is observed:

– Visible corrosion (green or brown discolouration) at the cartridge pin clips
– Loss of high-frequency energy on one channel that doesn’t track with stylus replacement
– Intermittent signal dropout on one channel under light tapping of the headshell
– Any clip that requires excessive force to seat on the cartridge pin

Sufficient for two complete cartridge installations. Backed by a one-year warranty.