| Make Your Own DIY High-End Cables [message #74475] |
Wed, 14 November 2012 20:30  |
24KPython
Messages: 16
Registered: October 2012
Location: San Diego, CA
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Chancellor |
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I've been making my own DIY High End Cables for some time now and thought I'd share some quick tips. You might not be ready to dump $10K on something as silly-sounding as a cable upgrade, but the fact is... it can make a huge difference... AND you DO NOT have to spend more than $10-80 to get performance rivaling cables that are using exotic materials and state-of-the-art constructions. Here are a few quick schemes you can try yourself, as well as where to find out more info.
Construction Fundamentals: Use OFC (oxygen free copper) and make sure the dielectric is Polypropylene or Teflon (best) and NOT PVC.
SPEAKER CABLES - The trick is to reduce both the resistance and the reactive inductance, so that full power is delivered to the speakers without compression or smearing. Inductance can be reduced by twisting +/- pairs together.
-- Easy Upgrade: Twist together two lengths of speaker cable.
-- Cheaper and better: CAT-5 cable (ie. ethernet cable, choose Plenum-rated as the dielectric is usually Teflon) -- separate the +/- from the each pair and twist the appropriate ends together.
-- Rivals expensive cable: 3 of 5 lengths of CAT-5 braided together. There are different ways to do it -- each sounds slightly different.
INTERCONNECTS - The trick is to reduce both electromagnetic interference (by shielding and/or right-angle crossing patterns) and reduce the reactive capacitance through quality dielectrics and/or spacing.
- Easy Upgrade: Take out one twisted pair from a plenum-rated CAT-5 cable. Works great.
- Awesome: High quality coax like Belden 89259.
- Alternate Awesomeness: Spiral two strands of thin magnet wire (24-30 gauge) in opposite directions around an empty teflon cable jacket, crossing them at right angles.
POWER CABLES: Same principles as speaker cable, to reduce resistance and inductance so that full power is delivered instantly without compression and smearing. The difficulty is that unless your amp uses a removable cord, you'll have to open it up and solder in a new power cord. (But it might be well worth it!)
-- Easiest upgrade: Use a thicker higher-rated power cord.
-- Best: Make your own cord, twisting together the hot and cold wires, and wrapping it with a foil shield, which you'll connect to ground.
FOR MORE IDEAS AND PLANS
Cable designs by "Jon Risch"
DIY Cable Plans
TNT Audio's Cable Experiments
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