My DIY vs audioquest

TECHNOKID

PerfectCreature wrote: »

Well, so far my gear is pleasing me well.
It definatly goes loud enough although sometimes the threshold is a bit unnerving because I am scared to damage my speakers again. My power is 100% clean though so hopefully no "crackle tweeters"
I worried because the tests just seemed...odd. I expect the audioquest cables to outperform the homemade ones that's all.

As long as your cables are connected properly and that your amp isn't overpushed to the point of distotion you do not have to worry about your speakers. By the way, power is neve 100% as you are dealing with AC and ripple will always be present. For safety sake, you would have been better to experiment with power surge protector or power conditioner as a good power surge (not necesary highly priced) will protect your gear and help making sure noize is very minimal in your system.

Keiko wrote: »

I think it's safe to say there's different levels of cable for different levels of gear. Be it mid-fi or hi-fi. Once you reach a certain level then there's a point of diminishing returns. For example, would you invest for a pair of MIT, Oracle speaker cables on a pair of 300.00 speakers and 500.00 AVR? :eek:

This is the key for you PC, you have a nice entry level system but it would be a waste of money to involve cables in the circuit that are wqorth more than the gear.

mdaudioguy wrote: »

It's statements like this that also strike me as odd. With all the uncertainty the OP has about everything else... Oh well.

The OP is starting in the hobby, has many questions and-or fears. I think this is normal and we should go back in time to realize we've been there at one time.

Cheers!
TK

hearingimpared

Perfect Creature, do you remember the formula you used to make your cables. That is what type of wire, how many twists, etc. I tried to check it out in your "Jumpers" thread but I can't make head or tail from reading it. I'm curious as to how you did it and what made you do what you did to create the cables.

ohskigod

xcapri79 wrote: »

Here is the link post #29 with the link removed. I highlighted the offending sentence that encourages the problem. Some photos depict graphic nudity with one and two persons. The disclaimer is plainly sarcastic.



Why do certain members refuse to acknowledge what Ken has written?
What part of "suitable for all ages" is unclear?



Objectionable content also should not be disguised.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1335539&postcount=26

fail

[IMG]<a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/facepalm/cthulhu19887/forum/facepalm/Facepalm-2.jpg?o=1&quot; target="_blank"><img src="http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu330/cthulhu19887/forum/facepalm/Facepalm-2.jpg&quot; border="0"></a>[/IMG]

cstmar01

xcapri79 wrote: »

She's a **** star and not appropriate for this forum.
I guess some prefer fake women that sell their bodies. Most here prefer real women with values.
The Mods need to delete the offending posts.

ummmmmm How did you know she was a **** star? I didn't know that, just thought it was some model. Apparently to you, its bad to post something like this telling everyone its wrong, yet tell us to go google her to find out more? I'm strangely confused by what you are doing. Also the pics you get with a "normal" google search, ie the moderate one doesn't come up with really any bad photos. You have to knowingly turn it off in order for it to get those, so you knew what you were doing and looking at/for.

I used to work at "the worlds largest water park" and I"m sorry but the photos posted here are nothing. I've seen less covered by a swim suit where children, church groups, families, ect go. I never had a problem with any of these groups going and complaining what others were wearing/doing because it was fine.

I don't have a problem with the "pie" pics, I just know that if its brought up at work, well not to really click on those links, or the filters will delete them out. (any and all pics at our work are blocked, so I don't get to see gear either.)

Also if your super worried about your son/daughter seeing "bad" stuff I would suggest getting a parent filter on your computer. There are FAR worse things that are done on school computers that can result in a lot of worse images as well as videos.

Its coming across you want everyone to follow "your" rules, not the ones that are in place. Your rules would make it so no one talks about really anything, emo gear is great, cables don't make a difference, ok to talk about politics as long as it agrees with your "ideals" and possibly the subject that bunnies are cute. That to me is what you beleive, if you do thats fine, if you don't thats fine too. But trying to get everyone to agree with you, and fight with them tooth and nail is not going to solve anything but rather push the people away and fight with you more. Maybe you know this and want this type of reaction, IDK but its getting old and I'm sick of reading your fighting with everyone. You say you are not fighting but really you are because you know its going to get a rise out of people when you say something, or don't approve. To me, you have to sometimes let it go, and stop trying to force your view point on others, because in the end no one is going to listen if you keep crying wolf.

PerfectCreature

The facepalm of the gundam really cracked me up.
All aside, the banter that has flooded my post needs to stop please. xcapri79 I honestly don't care what goes on in your life whether you need attention or not. If you want to derail a post please do it to your own. I really could care less if someone posted a picture of a girl that is a pornstar. It was all in good fun. Had I had a problem with it I would have reported it and it would have been removed.
I was very disappointed to come home from a long day at work and find that a hair here and there had been devoted to MY thread and not your hither-to-my-words posts.
Now, this is merely a lecture and not to be taken offensively. While I commend your effort on cleaning up the forum, a simple could you please remove this picture it really bothers me surly would have been listened to. All agreed? that had he just asked for the post to be removed it probably would have been?
Also, just a mere thought...what in the hell is a kid doing on an audio forum where you have to invest at least 500+ to begin to have a start on what everyone is talking about. No 15 or 16 year old is going to be on an audio forum, the have girls to knock up (the latest trend I hear) and cars to be saving for.
Come on man.
Anyway.
Back to my post.
I suppose you are right that I most likely should invest in cables that cost almost as much as my receiver does. But, if I find a pair around a 100 or so of some nice ones I have decided I might as well pick them up.
About how I made my cables.
They were a pain to make and I spent easily 5 or so hours on them. What i did was buy 14 gauge wire from scoshe at walmart. But 12 gauge wire from monoprice, along with screw on type bananas, and some spades, and cable pants from parts express.
So I originally wanted 10 feet cables but got impatient and just did a 6 foot cut. I first twisted the the 14 gauge wire counter clock wise (just two strands) then did the same thing with another 2 strands, then I twisted the 2 already twisted ones(I will post pics later if asked) clockwise around each other.
Now do the same for the 12 gauge wire. Then twist the 14, and 12 counter clockwise loosely. Then when all said and done untwist about 4 inches for your plugs and the cables pants. after you have the cable pants on (which is no easy task) you pretty much just connect and away you go.
For those who happen to be lucky enough to have receivers that accept spades, the ends are easy. For those without it is just bare wire for you.
If this is at all, unclear in anyway I can post picture step by step and for each picture define what I did if people are truly interested.

Conradicles

Sounds nice. Can we see some pictures of the wires? Good job with the cables. I want to make some soon.

cstmar01

DarqueKnight wrote: »

Keiko,

I know the forum has rules against pornography and foul language. When I clicked on the link in post #29, I did not see any foul language or pornography. The link in post #29 goes to a Google image search result showing a female in various states of dress and undress, yet no sexual activity is depicted and no foul language is written or implied.

My understanding is that pornography is the literary or visual depiction of people engaged in sexual activity, either alone or with others. Am I correct?

Forum rules 4 and 5 state:

4) Pornography and violent images are not allowed on this forum. This includes posts about weapons or explosives.

5) No baiting or fighting. Personal attacks, trouble making, inappropriate language, or any threatening or offensive behavior will not be tolerated.

While forum rules clearly state that pornography, violent images and inappropriate language cannot be POSTED on the forum, I found no rule precluding posting a LINK to such content.

Furthermore, with regard to the "notorious" post #29, the poster clearly indicated that he was linking to content that was "not safe for work" (NSFW) and "Not Safe For The Polk Audio Forum" (NSFTPAF). This content was not "forced" on anyone and anyone clicking on the link must have had some interest in the material.

As I have said before, those who irrationally rail against something or someone that is no threat to them, actually desire (or desire to be like) the thing or person they are railing against.

When it comes to audio power cords, bigger is better!

Such good "cable" discussions.

hmm did you do a comparison of the Signal vs the PS Audio PC? I looked but couldn't find the post (or possibly was looking for the wrong thing.)


To the OP.
It looks like from the post above you have a good idea. Really I wouldn't recommend spending a ton of money on cables to start out with if you are just getting into things. A nice pair of EXP3's by MIT, or a pair of audioquest, kimber cable, ect or even a good set of DIY with some decent wire will go a long way for you when you are just starting out.

Personally I use the MIT because I found a good deal on what I bought, and I like the sound I got from using them. My gear is pretty mid fi, but I enjoy what I have so far. Would I say I would go out and buy the orcal line from MIT or anything like that, no because it doesn't make sense for the gear I am using. I know if I step up in the MIT line I will go with a cable that I can have my other gear grow with and that I wouldn't really need to replace if I got better gear. Also make sure you have other good things like a good source ect because for me the cables are the frosting on the cake, and I want to make sure I have a good solid foundation to build on first before I get nitty picky about the final touches.

PerfectCreature

I am uploading the pics right now. Logged on to an extremely old photobucket account. It still has picture from when I did photoshop in class about 5 years ago.
Found a bunch of pics of old girlfriends as well. Had a ride on the memory train for a little bit.
In any case, the photos are uploading and I will post them in a bit.

hearingimpared

PerfectCreature wrote: »

If this is at all, unclear in anyway I can post picture step by step and for each picture define what I did if people are truly interested.

Please do. What I'd really like to know is where you got the idea to make the twists in the cables the way you did and was there any thought given to how the twists might affect the capacitance and inductance properties of the cable? I just find it interesting that you would do that being new to all things audio.:)

PerfectCreature

Like I said, I do tons of research before I do something. I recalled several articles I read that people had twisted the cables such like I have, to reduce all of that. It put each speaker wire no more over another than itself. As the pictures show in some spots that the speaker wires are practically in a weave where there are no overlapping speaker wire. Plus, it looked really nifty.
At least that is what I though I had recalled.
Some picture didn't upload will try to re-upload.
Will be posting them in about 10 minutes.

hearingimpared

PerfectCreature wrote: »

Like I said, I do tons of research before I do something. I recalled several articles I read that people had twisted the cables such like I have, to reduce all of that. It put each speaker wire no more over another than itself. As the pictures show in some spots that the speaker wires are practically in a weave where there are no overlapping speaker wire. Plus, it looked really nifty.
At least that is what I though I had recalled.
Some picture didn't upload will try to re-upload.
Will be posting them in about 10 minutes.

Good deal. I commend you on your research and work. You may turn out to be a cable making guru some day!;)

PerfectCreature

Ok so the first pic is just me starting the twisting. I twisted this away from myself.


Next is what it looks like the before and the after




All of the tape and the electrical tape and the marker marking was so I knew which wire was which because it got confusing after awhile.


This is what it looks like all plugged in. Spades for the bottoms, and bananas for the tops. It worked out great (Getting pants over the 12 gauge wire was no easy task might I add.)

This is what it looks like all said and done, twisted up and everything.


This is a rather hard to read pic where you can see how spade are not an option. Also you can see how the 12 gauge wire is connected bare wire, while the 14 is connected banana. The black tape is because I was not having bare wire touch my case.

As for the cable website thanks a lot. I will try that out for sure.
So what does everyone think on my cables?

I do use a surge protector by the way :P

PerfectCreature

Forgot to mention I should have my techflex tomorrow. Fingers are crossed. I have waited over 2 weeks for the damn thing.
And my new car mirror too, heh.
Will post updated pics of what it looks like providing the techflex is the right size which I hope it is.

hearingimpared

Looks good PC! It looks somewhat similar to the CAT5 speaker cable DIY here;

http://www.venhaus1.com/diycatfivecables.html

It looks like it took a lot of patience and sore fingers and hands to do! Now that I see the pictures I remember the wires from your "Jumper" thread. I thought at the time you were just making jumpers.

I hope you are enjoying them.

ohskigod

if you're coming to Polkfest, bring those cables. they definitely look cool.

PerfectCreature

As for Polkfest. I live in Maine...so if it is not close to Maine I will probably be skipping out. To long for my poor little car to drive.
Yeah only bummer was the fact I could not end it on the receiver end with a spade like I wanted to...
Hoping that the techflex will be at my door when the mail comes this afternoon...and hopefully my mirror as well.
Then hope the techflex will fit, heh. If after awhile I get bored, I'll slap a spade on it and sell it for the cost of the parts and shipping. Maybe I'll make a different one foe fun.
Glad people like it, and as for sore hands? Not so much, it was the fingers that were sore, I even used rubber coated nylon gloves that you get in the hardware section to protect a little bit it still hurt the fingers.