SDA-1C DIY Interconnect Questions

EkMotten

Hello,

I need a Pin/Blade interconnect for my SDA-1C's and have decided to build one. I've seen people on here make these cables out of a single composite audio cable by cutting off the shielding/support around the pin. I've also seen other people use speaker wire or multiple braids of speaker wire into one pin termination. The people who have used speaker wire all tend to say that they experienced a greater SDA effect and a larger soundstage both laterally and dimensionally. I have an Acoustic Research Performance Series 12-Foot Audio Cable with Composite Gold RCA Connectors (http://www.amazon.com/Acoustic-Research-Performance-Composite-Connectors/dp/B00006JP55). Could I use this to build my interconnect cable? The manufacturer advertises that the cable is "directionally balanced". I'm not really sure what this means or if it eliminates it from being used as an interconnect. Also, could I cut off the terminations on it and connect the bare wires inside to a single Pin termination to create a Interconnect better cable?

Thanks a Lot Guys!

F1nut

You are better off using real speaker cable and using SpeakOn connectors. The RCA pin isn't exactly a tight fit and an RCA cable shouldn't be used in place of speaker cable.

EkMotten

Okay, I will definitely use SpeakOn terminations and sockets. Will 12 AWG 2 Conductor wire from Parts-Express work well? They have a few brands, Talent and Carol both make these cables but Carol is more expensive...? Or what do you recommend? I'm shooting for no more than a dollar per foot. Thanks a lot.

F1nut

That price per foot way of buying cable is not the way to go about it. Do some research, read reviews. There's more to cable than the gauge or price.

tonyb

EkMotten wrote: »

I'm shooting for no more than a dollar per foot. Thanks a lot.

That's like saying your shooting for the worse sound quality possible. No offense my good man, but a buck a foot....really ? You seriously think you'll get anything of quality for a buck a foot ?

If your dead set on bulk cable and doing connections yourself, look at Canare cable in bulk, simply the best bulk cable on the cheap and I wouldn't go anything less even on cheap speakers.

pitdogg2

tonyb wrote: »

If your dead set on bulk cable and doing connections yourself, look at Canare cable in bulk, simply the best bulk cable on the cheap and I wouldn't go anything less even on cheap speakers.

here you go some of the cheapest prices I have found on this.

http://store.haveinc.com/p-49380-canare-4s11-starquad-speaker-cable-14-awg-cut.aspx

Darn good cable and blends in well...

zingo

I recently did the SpeakOn SDA cable with 10AWG wire and it was a great upgrade. I highly recommend the Canara 4S11 at it's price.

EkMotten

Thanks guys, I was looking at using SpeakOn Neutrik SPX series connectors with Blue Jeans Cable 5T00UP 10 gauge wire. I've been reading really great things about it and it's only $0.99 per foot. From what I've read all over and some of my own experience, I think that a lot of people would disagree with tonyb that cables around $1 per foot and below will give you "the worst sound quality possible" and that there isn't anything of quality at that level.

EkMotten

I'm glad you guys recommend the Canare 4S11, I was planning on using that already for my SDA-1C's. I'm having trouble deciding between the BJC 5T00UP and the Canare 4S11 though. There are a ton of really great reviews for both of them. Eventually I'd like to power my SDA's with a pro 2Ch Amp that's very capable of pushing high wattage so I've been leaning toward the BJC cables. Any thoughts? Thanks

(Amps in mind: Crown XLS Series, QSC GX Series, Behringer iNuke Series)

zingo

Crown XLS2500 out of those options

EkMotten

Do you recommend that because of the relatively audible noise floor on the XLS1000 and XLS1500?

EkMotten

Zingo what kind of 10 gauge wire did you use?

pitdogg2

Other than price with the Belden being cheaper both are good choices for wire. The Belden is a 10ga. the Canare is 11ga. very small difference. I like the softness of the Canare I have not used Belden but I did help install it and it is just a little stiffer in the outer jacket. Like I mentioned previously you can get the Canare in black jacket if that helps..

EkMotten

I do prefer the black jacket on the Canare and I like that there are 4 separate insulated conductors. I've read in a few places that this design has some advantages, over regular - and + cable, with noise isolation and other factors that I can't remember and honestly don't understand yet.

EkMotten

I just noticed that Blue Jeans Cable has the 4S11 for 3 cents less than Have Inc. lol

pitdogg2

only in gray

EkMotten

Oh darn I didn't see that

zingo

EkMotten wrote: »

Do you recommend that because of the relatively audible noise floor on the XLS1000 and XLS1500?

The XLS1000 does have higher noise at 97dB, but the XLS1500-2500 are all the same at >103dB. The 2500 has the most power, but all three would have similar performance.

EkMotten wrote: »

Zingo what kind of 10 gauge wire did you use?

The Blue Jeans Cables Belden 10AWG, but the Canare 4S11 is also very good.

F1nut

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

EkMotten

Okay, thanks a lot Zingo

EkMotten

The Crown XLS series is at the top of my list...I'm just having a really hard time getting over the looks of it lol. I really like the looks of the other two brands mentioned though, but most everyone recommends the Crown amps for home use. Thanks for the feedback!

EkMotten

Hey all, thanks for all the responses. I appreciate all the willing help Can't wait to make my interconnect with your suggestions

F1nut

but most everyone recommends the Crown amps for home use.

No, they don't. Quit hanging out at AVS.

EkMotten

F1nut, what do you have against the Crown pro amps? Any suggestions for similarly priced performance?

EkMotten

Thanks nbrowser, I'm glad to hear more good stuff about the Canare wire. I'll be using it for my 1Cs and for the Interconnect based on everyone's recommendations for it

Dabutcher

I just ordered the Speakon connectors. On the male plug do I connect one wire to one connector and on the female connector that I mount to the speaker back. Since there is only the pin that does anything. Do I connect that to all four pins or is one suffice? Since the blade does nothing do I just leave that one be? Thanks for all the help. Peace. D

EkMotten

I have the same kind of question. So there are four terminals on the Speakon connector, and for the 1C's I believe that the Blade doesn't do anything. So do we insert all the speaker wires into one terminal, and when installing the port to the cabinets do we connect the wire coming from the crossover to the matching terminal?

Dennis Gardner

You only need one signal cable for the pin/blade connection. Most people would choose 1+ on both ends to make it easier to recall where you put the signal. Whether you choose to combine both wires if you are using a dual stranded speaker cable together is your choice, or if you wire it the same as Polk did with grounding lug on the neg. side of 1. Either is acceptable.

VSAT88

How many ft long is recommended for this interconnect ? I do not have a stock one so I built one using copper stranded 8g however I did not know what length so I made mine 20 Ft. Long. They (SDA IIb) sound a lot better now that I am using it instead of that cheap piece of speaker cable I was using...

westmassguy

The original were around 18' + or - I believe. I usually make them 14-16' You don't want a coil of wire behind the speakers. Just make it long enough to reach the speakers, and 2-3 feet for the drop, and that's your length.

VSAT88

westmassguy wrote: »

The original were around 18' + or - I believe. I usually make them 14-16' You don't want a coil of wire behind the speakers. Just make it long enough to reach the speakers, and 2-3 feet for the drop, and that's your length.

Thanks, you are one of the most prompt and helpful people I have ran into here at the the Polk site westmassguy. I hope I can be as helpful to others as you one day !