Made my first braided speaker cable...

[wyn palmer]

Hard to tell from the picture but if you combined two 16 gauge wires per side you actually ended up with 13 gauge wire.

Yes, with c. half the inductance and c. twice the capacitance and a reduced skin effect- which might be a good trade off depending on circumstances.
What constitutes a better banana plug?
I use these ones and I'm very happy with the result.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JFC9BJU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[imral3]

Yes, with c. half the inductance and c. twice the capacitance and a reduced skin effect- which might be a good trade off depending on circumstances.
What constitutes a better banana plug?
I use these ones and I'm very happy with the result.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JFC9BJU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Those might be the exact banana plugs I go with! So, to me those would be better!

 

[datafone]

I prefer these low mass multi contact types, very affordable and do what is required and no more.

 

[wyn palmer]

I prefer these low mass multi contact types, very affordable and do what is required and no more.

View attachment 1572055

I don't like them so much. I've had them shear off on a few occasions and that was why I moved to the ones I specified above.

 

[Frank Sol]

Nice !!

Cool hobby

 

[Route 66]

Ray Kimber would be impressed!

 

[imral3]

Ray Kimber would be impressed!

LMAO!!

 

[ultumax]

and I'm proud of myself! LOL!!! Had some spare wire and banana plugs laying around. It's the same 16awg OFC I'm currently using. Used 4 separated strands, terminating the two positives and negatives into one banana for each at both ends (of course).
View attachment 1570116
Didn't have any heat-shrink - just used some electrical tape. Maybe next time.

Enjoy the music!!

That’s amazing what type of wire did you use ? Shame the cable company took there cable despite us not having spectrum. I was going to try and make speaker wire out of it .

 

[Bigmoonface]

Does braiding the speaker wire improve performance or is it just cosmetic? I assume braiding affects the magnetic field in some way!??

 

[GChief]

Does braiding the speaker wire improve performance or is it just cosmetic? I assume braiding affects the magnetic field in some way!??

If you do a French Braid it improves the depth of the sound stage.

 

[imral3]

Does braiding the speaker wire improve performance or is it just cosmetic? I assume braiding affects the magnetic field in some way!??

While I don't know the technical merits (or demerits) of it, I do know I was bored and had the stuff laying around unused. I like the way it looks.

 

[Hipocrates]

While I don't know the technical merits (or demerits) of it, I do know I was bored and had the stuff laying around unused. I like the way it looks.

One can look like an old lady braiding a sweater. while watch TV.

 

[imral3]

One can look like an old lady braiding a sweater. while watch TV.

Maybe I am an old lady!

 

[Hipocrates]

Maybe I am an old lady!

That would make us 2 then .... it is fun to braid wire.

 

[Mr Creosote]

I wonder how a lanyard braid would work.

 

[datafone]

I don't like them so much. I've had them shear off on a few occasions and that was why I moved to the ones I specified above.

How the hell could you do that? I'd have to purposely try and do it, and then it wouldn't be easy

Maybe if I used a hammer to change a cable

 

[Vintagear]

Does braiding the speaker wire improve performance or is it just cosmetic? I assume braiding affects the magnetic field in some way!??

Braiding them helps eliminate noise pickup and keeps the conductors close to each other to reduce inductance.

 

[Brindabella]

I do know I was bored and had the stuff laying around unused. I like the way it looks.

Nice job and they do look cool. I am easily bored, I need to take a leaf out of your book and do something productive like that instead of stalking around the house to find someone to annoy.

Rob

 

[imral3]

Nice job and they do look cool. I am easily bored, I need to take a leaf out of your book and do something productive like that instead of stalking around the house to find someone to annoy.

Rob

Thanks!! And stalking loved ones is fun!! Lol!!

 

[wyn palmer]

How the hell could you do that? I'd have to purposely try and do it, and then it wouldn't be easy

Maybe if I used a hammer to change a cable

These were actually on expensive non home made cables (yes, at one point I "believed" in the magic cable thing) that were inserted etc numerous times. No hammer was involved. It was quite annoying at the time.