ViaBlue EPC-2 Silver Phono Tonearm Cable

The ViaBlue EPC-2 Silver is an upper-tier tonearm cable – built from three individual EPC-2 conductors and available with all common connector combinations between tonearm and phono stage, from 5-pin DIN to XLR.

The weak signals from the cartridge need maximum protection: the EPC-2 therefore has double, complete shielding made of a spiral shield and a foil shield, which on ViaBlue tonearm cables extends right into the connectors. Silver-plated OFC copper strands provide a balanced, warm sound with clean, punchy bass, while the patented T8 connectors made of surface-finished aluminium ensure a precise, long-term stable contact connection.

What you get

You get a fully terminated tonearm cable with a Y-splitter made of anodised aluminium (NF-A7 splitter), available in five connector combinations – Cinch to Cinch, straight or angled 5-pin DIN to Cinch, and straight or angled 5-pin DIN to XLR – in three lengths and two sleeve colours. Handmade in Germany.

Who is the EPC-2 Silver suitable for?

Designed for analogue enthusiasts with a high-quality tonearm and phono stage who are chasing the last bit of signal-to-noise ratio and sonic refinement. If your deck has a simple Cinch output and an uncritical phono stage, our NF-S5 is usually the simpler and more cost-effective choice – the EPC-2 Silver pays off where the tonearm and phono stage can actually make the potential audible.

Our verdict

An elaborately shielded, cleanly terminated tonearm cable for analogue setups that mean business. Before upgrading from a standard cable, it's worth checking against your tonearm and phono stage first – we'll tell you honestly whether the extra cost over the NF-S5 pays off on your system.

Technical data

• Type: tonearm cable, 3-conductor construction (EPC-2)
• Connector combinations: Cinch↔Cinch, 5-pin DIN (straight/90°)↔Cinch, 5-pin DIN (straight/90°)↔XLR
• Splitter: NF-A7 splitter made of anodised aluminium
• Shielding: double, spiral and foil shield extending into the connectors
• Conductor material: silver-plated OFC copper strands
• Connectors: patented T8 technology, full-metal housing
• Colour: Cobra or Black
• Lengths: 100 / 150 / 200 cm
• Origin: handmade, manufactured in Germany

Frequently asked questions

Which connector combination do I need?

That depends on your tonearm and your phono stage. If the tonearm base has a 5-pin DIN socket, you choose DIN to Cinch or DIN to XLR, depending on what input your phono stage has. If two Cinch sockets already come out of the tonearm, choose Cinch to Cinch. If in doubt, send us a photo of your tonearm connection.

When is the XLR version worthwhile?

Only if your phono stage has a balanced XLR input that actually processes the signal in balanced mode. On a normal Cinch phono input, an XLR connector brings no advantage – there, the Cinch or DIN version is the right choice.

What's the difference between the EPC-2 Silver and the NF-S5?

The EPC-2 Silver has more elaborate double shielding, silver-plated strands and more connector combinations including XLR. The NF-S5 is the simpler and more affordable solution for Cinch or DIN-to-Cinch connections without an XLR option.

Why angled (90°) DIN connectors?

A 90° angled connector at the tonearm base takes up noticeably less height and relieves the cable routing right at the tonearm, which is mechanically important on some decks. Check beforehand how much space is available around your tonearm base.

Why buy the ViaBlue EPC-2 Silver at HD Zürisee?

Because we tell you whether your tonearm and phono stage can actually make the EPC-2 Silver's potential audible, instead of automatically recommending the most expensive cable. HD Zürisee in Wädenswil advises on analogue decks and tonearm connections; our technician Maurizio will handle the setup on site on request.

Goes well with

You'll find more ViaBlue cables and accessories for the right system combination in our ViaBlue collection.