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AGI Preamp Ground Wire Re-wire Question

76.226.187.134

Have a AGI-511 Preamp. Nice unit but is a little sterile and cold. This is reportedly due in part to the fact that a flat ribbon cable runs from the main preamp board to a sub-board that holds all of the 20 RCA interconnects which mounts to the back inside of the chassis (see pic). General recommendations have been to remove the ribbon cable and RCA sub-board, buy new RCA connectors and direct wire them to the main board. Due to the limitation on the traces on the sub-board, 9 separate ground wires for the 20 different RCA's run back to the main board. Question, can I just connect all of the ground connections for the 20 RCA's together with associated grounding resistor, and than just have one ground wire to either the chassis and/or preamp board (to include main preamp outputs)? Or do I need to duplicate the grounding layout as was done on the original RCA sub-board. Intents is to use Kimber DTC23 23 awg solid core copper teflon covered wire and Connex 53452 RCA's (cheap $6.55/pr, for a total of 10 sets). Any thoughts appreciated in advance.

Edits: 11/07/10 11/07/10 11/07/10

Follow Ups:

RE: AGI Preamp Ground Wire Re-wire Question - kenster 16:20:44 11/08/10 (2)
Before I would rewire the unit, I would seek out a solid core wire ribbon cable. Most of the computer ribbon cables I've seen use cheap stranded wiring, definately not intended for high end audio use.

The solid core ribbon cables are out there but might require some hunting to find. I ended up making one myself from RS solid core telephone wire and solderable ribbon cable connectors that was definately sonically better than the computer ribbon cable it replaced.

~
- Interesting - Charlie8521 17:38:52 11/08/10 (1)
  Kenster,
  Thank you for the suggestion. The problem I believe is two fold, first the ribbon which is probably the greatest culprit, and than the RCA board with the traces. I will first have to take the unit back apart see how the ribbon connect to the back side of the RCA board, never paid attention. And than see if I can acquire the Molex female connection blocks and see if I can connect to them with solid core. An interesting option would be to see if I can find individual connectors for 0.0256 pins that would connect to the male connector pins. Have not found anything yet. Thank you for the great suggestion. The AGI preamp is quick and great in detail, but a little on the sterile side.
  - RE: Interesting - kenster 19:21:04 11/08/10 (0)
    You're welcome my friend.
    
    "An interesting option would be to see if I can find individual connectors for 0.0256 pins that would connect to the male connector pins. Have not found anything yet."
    
    I too had the same thought and that is if I could just find individual connectors for each pin, that would be it. Alas, all I found, at least in my neck of the woods, was what is pictured.
    
    The problem I discovered is that the tension on the female tongs was not that secure and would weaken with the slightest movement thereby ensuring a compromised connection. My subsequent thoughts were to obtain very small o-rings to slip over the female tongs to retain the tong tension but the project was abandoned and instead I went with the connector pictured in my initial reply.
    
    ~

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