DIY RCA Interconnects

Conradicles

Polkies, I know many of you have tried this already.

Can you post some reviews, feedback or links to quality components to build a really nice pair of IC's?

Price range of less than $100 to build a 3FT pair is my goal.

My system is on the warm side (Denon and LSi9) so I am thinking some not so warm sounding cables.

Thanks to all,
Eric.

bikerboy

I've made many IC and am the happiest with the 28 ga solid silver wire and silver eichmann rca set in use now. For a long time they added an edgyness that wasnt good, but as the system improved the silver ic have proved to be the best. The openness of the top makes the depth front to back is amazing. The bass is more natural, goes very low and isnt bloated compared to the other copper ic I've made. I'm going to make a set with the copper from soniccraft to compare. I use my Hagerman fryer to burn them in. ICs are one of the easiest and cheapest diy components to make. Have fun!

zingo

My favorite DIY ICs are using DH Labs Pro Studio cabling. It is very clean and neutral, and the heavy shielding makes it very quiet. This is obviously a different approach than Jeff's individual conductors, but it is the best DIY cable I've used.

Conradicles

Thanks guys!
I see a great variety of connectors here:
http://www.partsconnexion.com/connectors_rca.html

fbm211

I highly reccomend either the DH labs ultimate RCAs availible direct from DH and darren will match the PCX price.
Or the Xhadow RCAs---my personal fav.
The Xhadows have a screw termination option too.

PolkMaster1

Vampire 9XOFC or Xhadows for high quality vs. ultimate quality RCAs. I'd put Eichman up there too.

george daniel

Vampire.

drumminman

I built them several years ago using 32awg silver wire and eichmann silver bullet rca's. I've never felt the need to upgrade, though I have thought about building another pair with the same construction but using different materials.

They have stunning, tight bass and midrange clarity and a detailed sweet high end.

You can find the recipe here: http://www.venhaus1.com/diysilverinterconnects.html

Chris, the owner, is also a great guy to deal with. Very responsive to emails.

disclaimer: I have no affiliation with VH Audio other than as a satisfied customer.

Fred.

PolkMaster1

Cables cables cables - NO SYSTEM will ever sound as great as it can without HIGH QUALITY CABLE!!! This goes for both the interconnect, AND speakercable!!!

Same goes for headphone cables.

I can make some interconnect cables if anyone is interested.

Be warned - excellent materials will be used. After experiencing them, expect to come back for more... I did one and ended up replacing all my cables.

Conradicles

After much online searching, I noticed a bunch of small cable companies use DH Labs products. DH Labs must be pretty good stuff...

Face

If my source is correct, anytime you see a manufacture state they're using continuous cast copper(OCC), it's sourced from Neotech. That's why I use braided 24-28ga solid core Neotech copper or silver cable for all my I/C's. The copper version is in your budget, just be sure to use gold plated copper, not gold plated brass termination.

FTGV

Conradicles wrote: »

After much online searching, I noticed a bunch of small cable companies use DH Labs products. DH Labs must be pretty good stuff...

I have made some IC's using DH's BL1 and can heartily recommend it as an option.

zingo

I just wired an amp with BL1 and it's great wire.

PolkMaster1

Face wrote: »

If my source is correct, anytime you see a manufacture state they're using continuous cast copper(OCC), it's sourced from Neotech.

OCC stands for Ohno Continuous Cast. Its a process in how a metal is made. But OCC does relate to Copper or Silver cabling. In case you are wondering why you do not see OCC Silver available - it is because it is too expensive to carry. The price of silver is so high that it priced itself right out of the audio market.

All of my cabling is made by Neotech using OCC. This is the cable I will ever use or sell.

And yes, make sure when using RCA fittings, use gold plated copper, not gold plated brass.

Outfitter03

PolkMaster1 wrote: »

OCC stands for Ohno Continuous Cast. Its a process in how a metal is made. But OCC does relate to Copper or Silver cabling. In case you are wondering why you do not see OCC Silver available - it is because it is too expensive to carry. The price of silver is so high that it priced itself right out of the audio market.

Ahh, NO!

http://www.vhaudio.com/neotech-nep-1001.html

http://www.soniccraft.com/products/wire/chassis/neotech.htm

PolkMaster1

I admit I can be wrong from time to time. However, that is rare. It happens as often as the big bang. :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Perhaps I should clarify my statement - if you wonder why you do not see OCC Silver Speaker and Interconnect cable, it is because it is too damn expensive to carry. There is OCC Copper cable that has silver plating, such as the Neotech NES-3003. Allthough I have not tried it myself to hear how it sounds, I have read that silver plating can cause smearing. I gather that the thought behind it that the silver and copper would carry the signals at different times, alas the smear factor. I would presume that the sound from such a speakerwire would not sound the same as an OCC-Silver cable.

I do have some OCC-Silver Cable 24AWG I purchased from Soniccraft just recently. This is for a project that I will work on later this year, so I was not making reference to their single strand cable. (It was costly for me!!!) Sorry for throwing anyone off in my previous reference.

If you look at the price for the NEP1001 Silver Power Cable, it is $1000 per meter (AKA $333 per foot). As you can imagine, most (including myself) would not make this kind of investment for such a power cable. Now imagine the cost if they carried the NES-1001 Speaker cable (which they nor Soniccraft carry AFAIK).

I dont know if they had increased their prices since Neotech just jacked up their prices. If this is new old stock and they run out, expect a price increase when they purchase new stock. If they purchase it direct from Neotech, they have to commit to a purchase of 25000 feet min.

FTGV

PolkMaster1 wrote: »

I admit I can be wrong from time to time. However, that is rare. It happens as often as the big bang. :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Duly noted.