Regarding Interconnects and Speaker Cables.....

[TubeHiFiNut]

From years of experience, I can attest to the interconnects (wires) and speaker cables (cables) "merry-go-round". It can be very expensive and it seems that it's easy to go "round and round" without appreciable improvement.

My own journey has taken me through some rather expensive experements. Thankfully, I feel very comfortable with my current line-up:

Cables and Wire:

• Belden 8402 tinned interconnects
• Canare L5-CFB tinned interconnects
• Dueland 16ga and 12ga tinned speaker cables

Nothing too expensive by high end measures.

I still connect my expensive stuff occasionally......and then hook my references back up, relax and connect with the music.

Where has your wires and cables journey taken you over the years?

 

[MikeT.]

Oh boy, oh boy (gleeful sound). I love cables and the subtle and not-so-subtle differences they can make.

I went through lots and lots of cables but have slowed the pace significantly in the last 18 months.
Historically
-Speaker: Monster, AudiQuest, Alpha Core Goertz, MIT, Shunyata Black Mamba, Tellurium Q Black and now Colin Wonfor’s EWA LS25 and I’m done.
Interconnects: AudioQuest, Goertz, MIT, Tara Labs RSC Prime M1 and others. Now DIY Dueland with the exception of the Tara Lab. If I had the money, I’d go with a loom of Tara Lab RSC Prime M1.
Digital: Not so big a difference between cables but still many trials. Finally settled on Black Cat Silverstar SPDIF AND USB.

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

@MikeT. - Ahhhhh.....a fellow passenger on the Wire and Cable Merry-Go-Round.

Any truisms you've noted regarding materials and/or geometries?

 

[MikeT.]

@MikeT. - Ahhhhh.....a fellow passenger on the Wire and Cable Merry-Go-Round.

Any truisms you've noted regarding materials and/or geometries?

@TubeHiFiNut , truisms I’m not so sure about (get it?). Observations I have. Strangely enough, the stranded speaker cables, I forgot about Naim NACA 5, the ones I like the most were Naim, Tellurium Q and and my current EWA LS 25’s which all had about an inch of spacing between the positive and negative runs. Tara Labs RSC solid core speaker cables were VERY, VERY good but the others were just a bit better. Colin’s designs win, hands down.

These Tara RSC Prime M1 interconnects were the only interconnects that were completely neutral and dynamic at the same time. I don’t know if the rectangular solid core mae the difference or just solid core.
Interconnects, Tara Labs RSC solid core runs away with it, no contest. I am tempted to try some Deulund 26 gauge solid core for the next pass at interconnects loom.

 

[MikeT.]

Duelund Wire DCA-26Awg Tin Plate Copper Hookup Wire
This is the plan on interconnects.

 

[Try1256]

Hmmm......

I haven't had that many notable cables. Right now I have a mixture of DH Labs, Audio Sensibility and Neotech. When I bought the DH Labs, it really opened up my system. Since then, I have changed most of my electronics with higher quality units and there seems to be a bit of high mid glare that I suspect might be attributable to the silver coated wire. My phono cable and interconnect between the phono stage and line stage are both OCC copper. I am thinking of replacing the interconnect between the preamp and amp and speaker cables with a similar type of cable to see how it sounds.

@MikeT. - a good friend of mine has a loom of Tara labs cables, the top shelf stuff with the little ground thingy that goes with it. You would love it.

 

[MikeT.]

@MikeT. - a good friend of mine has a loom of Tara labs cables, the top shelf stuff with the little ground thingy that goes with it. You would love it.

@Try1256 , I always like to have aspirations. I just looked them up and they are $549 for a one meter pair. I’d need three pair.....uuuuggghhh not gonna happen.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

I made my own cables using Switchcraft ends and ProCo 90% shielded braid...and have used AudioQuest Evergreens.

Speaker cable...I'm currently using 14 gauge Vampire...Count Chocula...something with teeth or fangs...
with gold plated nanner ends.

My phono cable is a mix...fixed heavy Rega cable on my RB-303 arm and a short and heavy Monoprice cables on my Graham Slee Accession preamp and the TP-60.

 

[Try1256]

@Try1256 , I always like to have aspirations. I just looked them up and they are $549 for a one meter pair. I’d need three pair.....uuuuggghhh not gonna happen.

I'm pretty sure his are the Air Evolutions. He also has the 0.8 speaker cables. Way out of my league but they fit well with the rest of his gear.

 

[Chops54]

I've only ever bought one pair of fancy cables and they weren't even that expensive but when I realised just how little money the basic components were I set out to make my own and have done ever since. I did use cat5 for my loudspeaker cables but I've since upgraded to cat6 and I use Sharkwire for my interconnects, the same stuff that those first pair of bought cables were made with. It's around £3 a metre when it's on offer but I don't mind pushing the boat out now and again. The cat6 more often than not comes out of the skip at work
I've listened to quite a few mega music systems over the years and I have to say that even after a serious aural assault my own music system still pleases me so much.

 

[MikeT.]

I ordered some of the Duelund 26 gauge single strand tin plated copper hookup wire from Parts Conexxion (no affiliation), then I started to examine the actual size of this wire.....and I’m not totally sure my soldering skills are up to pulling these interconnects off. The wire was on sale though, so I’ve got that going for me

 

[MikeT.]

The Duelund 26 guage hook up wire arrived and surprisingly I am not intimidated by the small gauge but the oil-impregnated cotton sleeve. On the larger 20 gauge wire I just used a razor blade to score a cut and pulled off the sleeve, but a little nervous with the smaller wire.

Is there a better method? Burning with soldering iron tip, BIC lighter? Or should I just use the razor blade method and apply pressure lightly?

Comments and opinions are highly appreciated.

 

[mhardy6647]

The important question here may be:

Does the Duelund wire squeak?

 

[MikeT.]

It's "oiled" sleeving..it does not squeak.

 

[MikeT.]

Send it here, I will give it to Addy the wiener dog to take care of it. Have that insulation off in 10 minutes or less. Now if its got a squeaky toy in the center that will take longer, but she is guaranteed to have that out before the night is over. Its her mission.

Regards
Mister Pig

Thank you for the offer but I think I will give it a try first.

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

Thank you for the offer but I think I will give it a try first.

Be very gentle and have a steady hand.

Also, if using wire strippers with gauge settings, try using the 24 or 22 gauge setting to start - less chance of damaging the 26ga solid core.

You should try making a set of interconnects using the 30ga wire wrap I like.

 

[Wntrmute2]

I struggled with 26 gauge cotton insulatied silver wire. Easiest was just to push it back. Don't strip it at all. This worked MUCH better than my previous idea. Setting it on fire! No joke, I tried that.

 

[MikeT.]

I struggled with 26 gauge cotton insulatied silver wire. Easiest was just to push it back. Don't strip it at all. This worked MUCH better than my previous idea. Setting it on fire! No joke, I tried that.

Hey @Wntrmute2, that’s a REALLY great and elegant solution. I don’t need much exposed wire at all. Thanks VERY much!

 

[MikeT.]

I struggled with 26 gauge cotton insulatied silver wire. Easiest was just to push it back. Don't strip it at all. This worked MUCH better than my previous idea. Setting it on fire! No joke, I tried that.

But I have to ask @Wntrmute2 , what happened when you set it on fire . Curious audiophiles want to know.

 

[MikeT.]

Turns out solid core 26 gauge Duelund wire is not so hard to strip. X-acto knife, high magnification and patience and the oil-impregnated cotton insulation comes right off.