Home made interconnect

[timbloke]

Regarding the directional, ground at one end cables- I noticed on the blurb for my Van Den Hul D102 interconnects 'they feel that' the end marked with a paper sticker saying 'ground' is best at the source end but it's not essential and the listener should 'experiment'. That's longwinded waffle for 'it doesn't make any difference'.

[cafe latte]

Regarding the directional, ground at one end cables- I noticed on the blurb for my Van Den Hul D102 interconnects 'they feel that' the end marked with a paper sticker saying 'ground' is best at the source end but it's not essential and the listener should 'experiment'. That's longwinded waffle for 'it doesn't make any difference'.

If it did make a difference I would be worried
Regards
CL

[youngdand]

I Remember being at college studying sound engineering, and my tutors at the time were the cheif engineer for the BBC, an engineer at abbey road, and some guy whos name escapes me that used to write for sound on sound in the late 90's, and we had this debate (albeit regarding speaker cables) at least once a term, and the over riding outcome everytime is that mains flex was more than adequate for most audio use, and was a tenth of the price of supposedly pro stuff canford audio was trying to peddle. This may have changed slightly in this time with all the wireless comms that are used nowadays, but good shielding, or using balanced cables should be enough.

Having said that I have about 800 meters of military /aerospace spec silver plate over silver alloy 30awg polyester coated cable that i will be advertising soon. the insulation is thin, but the cable is too rigid for tonearems, but fine for point to point wiring as is wrappable, and also good for litz brading for cables.

[timbloke]

the over riding outcome everytime is that mains flex was more than adequate for most audio use

I remember hearing that solid core mains flex made for great speaker cable. Might give it try someday.

[hoolio]

For your interest this is from the Pro Audio quarter:

http://www.rane.com/note110.html

[jlbruyelle]

Regarding the directional, ground at one end cables- I noticed on the blurb for my Van Den Hul D102 interconnects 'they feel that' the end marked with a paper sticker saying 'ground' is best at the source end but it's not essential and the listener should 'experiment'. That's longwinded waffle for 'it doesn't make any difference'.

If it did make a difference I would be worried
Regards
CL

Actually it can make a difference, or not, depending on how the whole system is grounded. It is usually hard to tell in advance, and in any case it is safe to experiment, so the advice on the sticker makes perfect sense. It is my own experience that the hum difference between configurations can vary all the way from zero to drastic, according to the setup. This is also a reason why the pros use balanced interconnects, even for short runs: it virtually eliminates the risk of humming in the first place, without the need to experiment.

[satanfriendly]

On the matter of DIY interconnectes there used to be a chap here on VE (TNTTNT) who made his own and after trialling a set I changed all of mine for his DIY jobs. Cost buttons and superbly put together with Neutrik phono plugs.

Quiet, neutral and just super performers. No bull, just good common sense.

Pity he's gone AWOL as I could certinly do with some more at the moment. Mind you I've been buying Atlas Equator's at silly low prices so I'm happy, but otherwise come back Ray the cable world needs you.

[youngdand]

believe he set his own site for cable making

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/diycables.html

[timbloke]

Mind you I've been buying Atlas Equator's at silly low prices so I'm happy

So you've made your own cables, thought they were great but then went back to shop bought ones at £35 a pair. Interesting.

[satanfriendly]

£15 a pair actually. I never said I paid £35 only 'a silly price' which £15 is.

The DIY cables as I said were curtesy of a past VE member and I needed two more pairs recently, although I must try the DIY approach when time allows. Too busy getting a Logic set-up and running, rebuilding a Lenco for someone and being back home with the family after 6 weeks away at sea.

[youngdand]

Braiding sure does take some patience.

I have made a braided mains flex for my ariston RD11s using the silver cable i have put up in the for sale section. bu i didn't make it as an upgrade, just needed a longer flex. I use a bt mains conditioner for running the trurntable and preamp, so i doubt very much any cable after that is going to make much of a difference.

these conditioners are a bargin for anyone interested, they turn up on ebay for about £30 and they kick out a rock solid 240v AC. they are used to prevent mains spikes on isdn equipment.

I made a set of the CAT5 speaker cables on TNT's site, and they were pretty good to be honest.

[satanfriendly]

believe he set his own site for cable making

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/diycables.html

I thought TNT-Audio were of Italian origin? Ray is probably too interested in playing cricket to start a web-site!

[youngdand]

Maybe got wires crossed then.

the cables on that site are very good though.

[awkwardbydesign]

believe he set his own site for cable making

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/diycables.html

I thought TNT-Audio were of Italian origin? Ray is probably too interested in playing cricket to start a web-site!

Italian origin, but many contributors, including English.
I have made the XLO type ICs and I like them a lot, although PC-OCC solid silver in PTFE, plaited, cotton sleeved, with Valab carbon fibre sleeved RCAs sound better from the DAC to the TVC. Although plaiting (or braiding for some)can be slow, it has nothing on the XLO spiralling!