Got bored, so decided to have cable fun

EndersShadow

So today I decided to play around with the custom cables I made and create 2 sets of jumpers for my LSi 15's for use when testing different cables. I plan to get the Audioquest CV-4 dbs wires re-termintated with banana at the amp end and spades at the speaker end.

Let me tell you this, using 14/4 speaker wire for individual jumpers is NOT fun lol. My fingers are raw but man do the jumpers look good. They are not totally done as I plan to get some tech-flex and shrink wrap to finish them off, but the jacket comes almost flush to the banana plug. When I add the techflex and everything I will tin the end of the wires as well. Took me about 4+ hours to do the jumpers and then modify my other speaker wire (will explain that at the bottom)

I took some in progress pics.



Look at how thick that wire is :eek:




Finally Finished!!!



Now I took my custom bi-amp wires and made them just regular wires utilizing 2 strands per cable. I still need to tech-flex and shrink wrap those as well and will do at the same time as the jumpers .

I also took the MIT EXp1's I got and connected those to the Front & Surround pre-outs and connecting them to my Carver amp for the time being. By setting the Integra to bi-amp I utilize 1 set of MIT EXp1's per LSi 15. The high's are connected to the speaker via the Audioquest CV-4 speaker wire and the low's are connected via the Audioquest FLX 14/4 speaker wire like the picture below:



This leaves my LSiC connected via Signal Cable Analog 2 IC and Audioquest FLX 14/4 wire using the stock jumpers. Not an ideal setup, but for now it works.

My thought are from a total cost standpoint that I am probably going to get some extra MIT EXp1's IC's (2 sets probably) from the sale going on and get 3 sets of EXp1 speaker wire (hopefully from forum sources at the sale price from April) so when I get the Sunfire amp I have everything running MIT EXp1's. The entire front stage will be bi-wired.

I will play with the better IC's and speaker wires in my office setup upstairs. Will save me some cash in the long run.

I am still enjoying the CV-4's for sure and will be looking forward to getting my hands on the other MIT demo wires and IC and playing with different combinations :eek:

EndersShadow

Thanks to Pepster's encouragement I decided to take on the task of tinning the wires. I also ordered my 3/8 nylon black covering and when that comes in will plan on getting the heatshrink and finishing the project.

Couple things I can tell you: tinning some 14/4 wire that is down to one strand is a PITA. Took me about 15 mins per side if not longer.


Here is how it stands:



One of my two observers:



Here is the other one...

codyc1ark

Lookin good, I need to finish up mine.

Put those dogs to work!:cheesygrin:

Systems

Looks like you got plenty of help there Dan.:cheesygrin:

You did good, I have seen other projects like this on other forums where it was just one big melted blob.
14/4 should be perfect for jumpers!

EndersShadow

pepster wrote: »

Looks like you got plenty of help there Dan.:cheesygrin:

You did good, I have seen other projects like this on other forums where it was just one big melted blob.
14/4 should be perfect for jumpers!

Thanks. I did a couple test ones first using smaller wire.

I will say at first I didnt think it was working since I didn't see the silver anywhere lol.

It was easy after I ghetto rigged the gun to stay on with a zip tie lol. I will probably clean them with steel wool later and maybe touch up any visible copper.

Will take some better pictures after the Super Bowl.

CoolJazz

Uh-oh! I think you're observers are going to take offense to this....so I've gotta say this fast and then split in a hurry...

But where you're going to tightening down screws, it's inappropriate to tin wire! You can get by with only tinning the very end to keep it from having loose strands. But not the clamped point...for binding post bare wires either. A "clamped" kind of connection like that is supposed to be bare wir....

Systems

He did it for oxidation reasons.
It will not be a problem.
Plus, it puts him just 2 small steps away to actually soldering them to the nanner.:cheesygrin:

EndersShadow

pepster wrote: »

He did it for oxidation reasons.
It will not be a problem.
Plus, it puts him just 2 small steps away to actually soldering them to the nanner.:cheesygrin:

That's probably what I will end up doing once I get it heat shrinked and covered

Who knows though. Depends. It keeps me busy on Sundays while my wife works

EndersShadow

Here is a close-up I PM'd to pepster on Sunday:

EndersShadow

Gonna have some fun at work on lunch



I have my dad bringing home his heat gun on Sunday and I will be buying the headshrink Friday. By next week I should have completed jumpers

P.S. for anyone on the fence, the nylon fabric feels MUCH better than techflex and fits perfectly over my 14/4 wire. I think I will order some more for my set of speaker wire as well :biggrin:

steveinaz

Sweet, I made a set some years ago that I ended up giving away in a karma. This is cool/inexpensive project.

EndersShadow

steveinaz wrote: »

Sweet, I made a set some years ago that I ended up giving away in a karma. This is cool/inexpensive project.

Yup. Picking up heatshrink on Friday and then Sunday finishing these off and also installing some car audio stuff in my parents garage.

Still need to pick up some spades for my CV-4 speaker wires though. Might just end up with the Audioquest ones since I can pick them up locally rather than having to order (which I can only do on paydays which are Fridays).

Thankfully I dont have to have the jumpers finished till I the MIT cable demo gets to me which is about a month out. Should give me time to get everything connected the way I want to be able to to A/B test pretty easy.