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looking at diy cable

boza said:
Thanks for posting back I'll definitely look into what I need. I've got a variable heat soldering iron and will look in to getting some flux. I thought solder already had flux in it ?
It won't hurt to use extra though will it like it won't do anything to the solder to use extra ?
Click to expand...
Cardas specifically says to use the extra flux. I would guess it helps the solder flow better around the litz wires so the heat can melt off the lacquer insulation on the strands. (There isn't enough in standard solder for the litz wire, from what I understand.)

I may also switch out the Neutrik connectors on my other cable sets, as they are gold-plated brass, not gold-plated copper.
 
Thanks for the tip's I'll definitely have a go with the silver litz. I'll Post here when I get everything together.
Thanks again


boza
 
Ok, you asked for it!:)
First post in cutting edge, don't expect me here too often. Decided to make a new set of speaker cables to replace the " I can see the corrosion thru the sticky clear insulation of my cheap Menards speaker cable". Used all PE parts, basically used 16 ga hook up wire twisted pair in a sleeve. Wire looks quality but is nothing fancy.

Sybilence is gone, gone! I still don't believe it. When I get some time, I'll reconnect the old wires and see if it's real.Seems like some other things have improved, but haven't had enough time to get a lock on it yet.

 
Nice job @Son-of-Vere !

I am set to build some Cardas interconnects next month. I arranged a fantastic deal on a factory upgraded CJ preamp which I really wanted, so my budget is blown for February. I am not sure if I want to go with the same Neutrik ProFi RCA plugs, or try the Cardas Silver RCA plugs (they are the least expensive but still cost a few pennies). Some will say the RCA plugs make a huge difference but I don't even know if I'd hear it. The Neutrik are brass with a gold plating, where the Cardas Silver are eutectic brass with a flashed silver plating. So, really not much of a difference. The Neutrik makes for a nice setup with that strain relief system built in.

I'm debating sheathing the interconnects in a braided sleeve. And I don't know if there is any advantage to doing it, beside improving appearance and/or bundling the two together (which may or may not be good). Any ideas there?
 
Great job there son-of-vere
Look really professional. You'll have to let us know your thoughts when you've had chance to compare them with your old cables.

Hi wildcat.
I've read that the braid is supported to help damp vibration in the cable. I don't know if it does I put a braided sleeve on my speaker cables. Can't say I could tell any difference but they definitely look better.
:thumbsup:
 
Hmmm, wasn't expecting this much interest. Here's the Parts Express parts list. Cables are approximately 10' in length.
101-730, 101-732 25' 16ga Consolidated hookup wire
091-3626 Banana plugs
082-340 Techflex sleeving (org)
082-776 Cable pants (note, these are NOT heat shrinkable)
082-046 1/2" 3M heat shrink tubing

So I made 2 twisted pair wires with a drill, threaded them thru the sleeving, put the pants on the ends and sweat soldered the banana plugs on. I used the heat shrink to bond the pants to the sleeving. I can still pull the wires out of the pants a short distance in case I have to repair a plug.
I made a needle from a piece of coat hanger. I folded the end of the coat hanger so it would pass thru the sleeve and taped the wire to the other end of the needle. Then I "inchwormed" the sleeving over the needle.
 
I am ready to order cable to make a new set of interconnects.

I may go again with the Neutrik RCAs but this time, I might want to try copper-based RCA plugs vs. brass. So far, the least expensive I could find so far were the Furutech FP-126, which come with a gold or rhodium plating. My source for the Cardas cable has some copper-based plugs, but they are one of those Chi-fi brands, and do not look very well finished. I've heard that the copper and brass base metals sound different, but I really wonder if I'd hear a difference.

The only argument towards using brass is that the RCA plugs Cardas sells are all plated eutectic brass.
 
Wildcat said:
I am ready to order cable to make a new set of interconnects.

I may go again with the Neutrik RCAs but this time, I might want to try copper-based RCA plugs vs. brass. So far, the least expensive I could find so far were the Furutech FP-126, which come with a gold or rhodium plating. My source for the Cardas cable has some copper-based plugs, but they are one of those Chi-fi brands, and do not look very well finished. I've heard that the copper and brass base metals sound different, but I really wonder if I'd hear a difference.

The only argument towards using brass is that the RCA plugs Cardas sells are all plated eutectic brass.
Click to expand...

Those furutech plugs look to be nice quality but from what I've read furutech connectors are really good.
Not cheep but if you are using good quality cable I should think that good plugs would be worth the little bit extra.
You'll have to let us know how they turn out.
:beerchug:
 
boza said:
Thanks for the link. It does look like it would do the job nicely. May be a bit stiff but so long as you have plenty of room it wouldn't be a problem.
Click to expand...

Exactly, be aware of how you handle a solid core, avoid sharp bends. To explore or realise what a solid cable does it needs to be put directly into the wall. If you have to use a multi-outlet then diy one from the same solid cable to avoid the loss that any stranded cable gives.
 
"solid cable to avoid the loss that any stranded cable gives."

#What audible loss? Sheilding in this day & age is de rigeur, IMO.
 
Lesterbest said:
"solid cable to avoid the loss that any stranded cable gives."

#What audible loss? Sheilding in this day & age is de rigeur, IMO.
Click to expand...

I think your right that shielding is important especially with all the Wi-Fi routers around us now days. The cable I used for power cable's is a mixture of solid core and stranded with double screen.
 
Lesterbest said:
"solid cable to avoid the loss that any stranded cable gives."

#What audible loss? Sheilding in this day & age is de rigeur, IMO.
Click to expand...

About loss; try and observe, mybe you will see/hear for yourself. Stranded wires degrades the signal significant, kills dynamics, 3D++ when used in speaker/signal cables
 
boza said:
I think your right that shielding is important especially with all the Wi-Fi routers around us now days. The cable I used for power cable's is a mixture of solid core and stranded with double screen.
Click to expand...

I think this aspect is really system dependent.

Last set of DIY interconnect cables I made are quite simple. Two strands of 24ga solid wire (pulled from CAT5) twisted 2-3 turns per inch, just to keep them together. I have two wireless routers and this system is almost smack dab between the two. Despite no shielding of the cables, I don't detect any sort of interference/abnormal noises.
 
whoaru99 said:
I think this aspect is really system dependent.

Last set of DIY interconnect cables I made are quite simple. Two strands of 24ga solid wire (pulled from CAT5) twisted 2-3 turns per inch, just to keep them together. I have two wireless routers and this system is almost smack dab between the two. Despite no shielding of the cables, I don't detect any sort of interference/abnormal noises.
Click to expand...

I read that the twisted cables are good for rejecting interference. I've read a lot on here about cat5 cable being good for diy cables and some of the cables people have made on here look superb.
 
Twisting doesn't do too much to reject noise in an unbalanced connection, afaik.

Twisting in a cable typically just helps the differential effect of balanced connections work a little better by uniformly exposing both conductors to the field.
 
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