Thorens PHS 150 Silver Line Phono Cables at Vinyl Sound Buffalo, NY USA

The Thorens PHS 150 is a premium phono interconnect cable from the Thorens Phono Connect Silver Line series (Lahr, Germany), available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, NY, USA. Engineered for audiophiles who demand maximum signal transparency from their analog front end, the PHS 150 uses fine-stranded pure silver conductors, the material with the highest electrical conductivity of any metal, to carry the extremely delicate phono signal from tonearm to phono stage without coloration or degradation. The cable is built to an ultra-low capacitance specification of under 90 pF, preventing the high-frequency roll-off that higher-capacitance cables impose on MM cartridges. At a standard 1.5-meter length, the PHS 150 is available in RCA to RCA, XLR to XLR, DIN to XLR, and DIN to RCA configurations for universal compatibility with Thorens and third-party turntables and phono stages.

Pure Silver Conductors and Ultra-Low Capacitance Design

The choice of conductor material in a phono cable is significant because the phono signal, at 3 to 5 mV for MM cartridges and as low as 0.2 mV for MC, is the most vulnerable signal in any audio system to resistance, capacitance, and interference. Silver's electrical conductivity is approximately 6% higher than copper, meaning that for the same conductor cross-section, a silver cable presents marginally lower resistance to signal current flow. More importantly, the PHS 150's fine-stranded construction ensures that the cable is mechanically flexible and resistant to the micro-fracturing that can occur in solid-core conductors over time from the physical movement associated with turntable use. The ultra-low capacitance of under 90 pF is particularly important for moving magnet cartridges, where the cartridge's internal inductance forms a resonant circuit with the cable's capacitance at high frequencies. Lower capacitance pushes this resonance higher in frequency, maintaining a flat response through the upper audible range.

Versatile Terminations and Premium Gold-Plated Connectors

The PHS 150 is available in four configurations to suit every combination of tonearm output and phono stage input. The DIN connector versions serve turntables with a 5-pin DIN tonearm output, which includes many Thorens models and a wide range of European turntables. The XLR to XLR configuration serves the balanced tonearm output of the TD 1600, TD 1601, TD 1500, and TD 403 DD paired with a balanced phono stage such as the Thorens MC 1600, allowing the pure silver signal path to function in a fully differential balanced circuit from tonearm output to phono stage input. All connectors are gold-plated for corrosion resistance and long-term contact reliability.

Key Features

• Fine-Stranded Pure Silver Conductors: Maximum electrical conductivity for the lowest possible signal degradation between tonearm and phono stage.
• Ultra-Low Capacitance Under 90 pF: Maintains flat high-frequency response with MM cartridges by keeping the cartridge-cable resonance above the audible range.
• 1.5-Meter Standard Length: Optimal length for most turntable and phono stage placements without excess cable to manage.
• Four Termination Configurations: RCA to RCA, XLR to XLR, DIN to XLR, and DIN to RCA for universal analog system compatibility.
• Gold-Plated Connectors: Corrosion-resistant contacts for long-term signal integrity and connection reliability.
• Highly Transparent Sound Signature: Pure silver conductors deliver crystal-clear high frequencies and precisely defined midrange without tonal addition or softening.

Connections at a Glance

• XLR to XLR (balanced: for XLR-output turntables to balanced phono stages)
• DIN to XLR (for DIN tonearm output to balanced phono stage input)
• DIN to RCA (for DIN tonearm output to standard RCA phono stage input)
• RCA to RCA (standard configuration for RCA-output turntables and RCA phono stages)

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Thorens PHS 150?

The Thorens PHS 150 is a premium phono interconnect cable in the Silver Line series, featuring fine-stranded pure silver conductors, ultra-low capacitance under 90 pF, gold-plated connectors, a standard 1.5-meter length, and four termination options: RCA to RCA, XLR to XLR, DIN to XLR, and DIN to RCA. It is available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, NY, USA.

How does the PHS 150 Silver Line differ from the Thorens PHC 150 Copper Line?

The PHS 150 Silver Line uses fine-stranded pure silver conductors for the highest possible electrical conductivity and a transparent, detailed sonic character with particular clarity in the high frequencies and midrange precision. The PHC 150 Copper Line uses high-purity OCC copper conductors, which produce a warmer, more musically organic sonic presentation while maintaining excellent detail retrieval and the same ultra-low capacitance specification under 90 pF. Both cables share the same 1.5-meter length, gold-plated connectors, and four termination configurations. The choice between them is primarily one of tonal preference: silver for maximum transparency and resolution, copper for warmth and musical naturalness.

Why does cable capacitance matter for MM cartridges?

A moving magnet cartridge's internal coil has an electrical inductance, typically between 300 and 700 mH. This inductance, combined with the load capacitance of the cable and phono stage input, forms a resonant circuit. If the total capacitance is too high, this resonance falls within or below the upper audible range, creating a frequency response peak followed by a steep roll-off before 20 kHz. Most MM cartridge manufacturers specify a total recommended load capacitance including cable and phono stage, typically between 100 and 400 pF. A cable with capacitance under 90 pF leaves the remaining capacitance budget for the phono stage's input capacitance, giving the user maximum flexibility to optimize the overall load for their specific cartridge.

Is the XLR configuration suitable for the Thorens TD 1601 with a balanced phono stage?

Yes. The XLR to XLR configuration of the PHS 150 is designed exactly for this use case. When the TD 1600, TD 1601, TD 1500, or TD 403 DD turntable is connected via balanced XLR to a balanced-input phono stage such as the Thorens MC 1600, the entire signal path from tonearm to phono stage operates in fully differential mode. This maximizes common-mode noise rejection and takes full advantage of the turntable's balanced output circuit. The silver conductors of the PHS 150 in this configuration ensure the lowest possible signal degradation through the differential path.

Where can I buy the Thorens PHS 150 in Buffalo or the USA?

The Thorens PHS 150 Silver Line Phono Cables are available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, NY, USA. Vinyl Sound is an authorized Thorens dealer offering full product consultation and accessory support for complete Thorens analog system setup across Western New York and the United States.