zanash
2007-08-06, 02:05
This is a DIY recipe that will build an interconnect cable that will provide an astonishing amount of information from your source to amp or pre amp. These will work equally as well between pre amp and power amp too.
To make a 1m length of this Twisted Pair Cable.
Lets call this cable The ToPiC
Recipe
Materials
4m x 4n silver wire 0.5mm dia [enamelled copper wire or wire wrap can be used too]
4m x ptfe sleeve 0.9mm ID
4 x RCA plug
small lengths of various diameter heat shrink
2 x 1m length [minus1cm] of clear 8mm dia heat shrink [optional]
2m [minimum] thin string or cotton
Method
Cut 5mm from each length of ptfe sleeve, this allows the threaded wire to exit the sleeve.
Thread the silver wire through each sleeve.
Tag both ends of two of the threaded sleeves with 5mm length of heat shrink. This will denote the signal lead for each pair of cables.
Twist a signal and ground pair of wires and sleeves to get a tight spiral, clamp one end to something solid and tie string to the other.
Thread the heat shrink over the string then use the string to pull/keep tight the conductors whilst the shrink sleeve is slid on. You may need to tighten the twists if they slacken off.
Once the heat shrink is in place it can be shrunk, checking that you have allowed about 5mm of ptfe sleeve to show through at each end.
Fit rca plugs at each end. Making certain that you use the tagged ends as the signal and the untagged ends as ground only.
you don't need to use the heat shrink jacket its only there to provide some protection to the delicate twisted wire.
other alternatives ..
use a twisted pair from a set of cat5 cables ..but don't use stranded wire.
The sound ....
if you build from silver I would expect that this cable will sound fast clean natural and neutral. Its bass may sound less pronounced than a similar one made from copper but it should have bass over a larger range. The copper version will sound a little one noted in the bass [as to me all copper cables do] it will also have a warm round rosey plumby presentation ...which once you've heard a good silver ic will be hard to tolerate.
the cost
silver version ...
4m x 4n silver wire 0.5mm dia don't pay more than £4/m
4m x ptfe sleeve 0.9mm ID £2/m
4 x RCA plug £3 each
small lengths of various diameter heat shrink £1
2 x 1m length [minus1cm] of clear 8mm dia heat shrink [optional] £5
2m [minimum] thin string or cotton £0
total £41 tops [but should be about £30]
copper version
4m x copper wire 0.5mm dia don't pay more than £2
4m x ptfe sleeve 0.9mm ID £2/m
4 x RCA plug £3 each
small lengths of various diameter heat shrink £1
2 x 1m length [minus1cm] of clear 8mm dia heat shrink [optional] £5
2m [minimum] thin string or cotton £0
total £28 max [but should be more like £15]
If you can't get the parts or at these prices pm me and I'll see what i can do.
To make a 1m length of this Twisted Pair Cable.
Lets call this cable The ToPiC
Recipe
Materials
4m x 4n silver wire 0.5mm dia [enamelled copper wire or wire wrap can be used too]
4m x ptfe sleeve 0.9mm ID
4 x RCA plug
small lengths of various diameter heat shrink
2 x 1m length [minus1cm] of clear 8mm dia heat shrink [optional]
2m [minimum] thin string or cotton
Method
Cut 5mm from each length of ptfe sleeve, this allows the threaded wire to exit the sleeve.
Thread the silver wire through each sleeve.
Tag both ends of two of the threaded sleeves with 5mm length of heat shrink. This will denote the signal lead for each pair of cables.
Twist a signal and ground pair of wires and sleeves to get a tight spiral, clamp one end to something solid and tie string to the other.
Thread the heat shrink over the string then use the string to pull/keep tight the conductors whilst the shrink sleeve is slid on. You may need to tighten the twists if they slacken off.
Once the heat shrink is in place it can be shrunk, checking that you have allowed about 5mm of ptfe sleeve to show through at each end.
Fit rca plugs at each end. Making certain that you use the tagged ends as the signal and the untagged ends as ground only.
you don't need to use the heat shrink jacket its only there to provide some protection to the delicate twisted wire.
other alternatives ..
use a twisted pair from a set of cat5 cables ..but don't use stranded wire.
The sound ....
if you build from silver I would expect that this cable will sound fast clean natural and neutral. Its bass may sound less pronounced than a similar one made from copper but it should have bass over a larger range. The copper version will sound a little one noted in the bass [as to me all copper cables do] it will also have a warm round rosey plumby presentation ...which once you've heard a good silver ic will be hard to tolerate.
the cost
silver version ...
4m x 4n silver wire 0.5mm dia don't pay more than £4/m
4m x ptfe sleeve 0.9mm ID £2/m
4 x RCA plug £3 each
small lengths of various diameter heat shrink £1
2 x 1m length [minus1cm] of clear 8mm dia heat shrink [optional] £5
2m [minimum] thin string or cotton £0
total £41 tops [but should be about £30]
copper version
4m x copper wire 0.5mm dia don't pay more than £2
4m x ptfe sleeve 0.9mm ID £2/m
4 x RCA plug £3 each
small lengths of various diameter heat shrink £1
2 x 1m length [minus1cm] of clear 8mm dia heat shrink [optional] £5
2m [minimum] thin string or cotton £0
total £28 max [but should be more like £15]
If you can't get the parts or at these prices pm me and I'll see what i can do.