gauges of i/c

leftwinger57
leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
in Electronics
Even after all this time I was under the impression that I/Cs should be either shielded or of a gauge close to spkr. cable. I was wrong. Pumpkinman comes to my rescue when my i/c failed and gave me what I thought were the most thin, spindly little things w/ great ends. He said most I/Cs are 22 gu. and it's the quality of the wire and ends and not the gauge. This also was affirmed when Tony sent me 2 sets of I/Cs 1. Audio Quest Golden Gates and DH-Labs BL1 both looking like in need of beefing up (stupid me). When these were installed the clarity and exactness of music came back and now I do not have a generic i/c in my system. Only the built in RCAs from my tt are used. Thanks guys for widening my musical tech horizons and as Tony said, go try and experiment and thank me later.
I know there will always something better out there but when on a tight budget bang for buck through advice is not only appreciated but welcomed.
2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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Comments

  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    As long as your musical enjoyment is kicked up a notch LW, rock on. We've always maintained you don't have to spend tons of coin to get good sound. Experiment with whats available to you and your budget and sooner or later you'll find your own huckleberries in audio gear.

    I applaud you for at least trying....that's a big part of the whole audio thing. Many here are all about the bang for your buck products too. So stay tuned in, save your cereal boxtops, and keep rockin' away.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,500
    edited July 2015
    Your IC's aren't carrying heavy current so 22 gauge is fine. Shielding is optional to your routing situation. I cannot escape proximity with AC wiring with my IC's so I require shielding as I love and have the lowest noise floor possible. My 18' shielded balanced IC's to amp are only a little larger than 3/16" thick.

    It's Belden 1800F, their finest twisted pair shielded for balanced use. It consists of two 24 AWG stranded conductors insulated with foam polyethylene, encased in a tinned copper spiral braid with bare copper drain wire in a flexible PVC jacket.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • mikeyb128
    mikeyb128 Posts: 2,885
    My Nordost heimdall xlrs are no thicker than a round shoe lace. And they sound pretty sweet!
    2 channel:
    Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
    Theater:
    Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.

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  • Speedskater
    Speedskater Posts: 495
    The only constraints on the size of the center conductor (unbalanced) or conductors (balanced) are mechanical. If it's too small it will be fragile and break. If it's too large the cable will be bulky and stiff.
    Microphone cables are a different story. Because they may be very long and work into lower impedance loads, you want to keep the size reasonable.
    Longer RCA unbalanced interconnects do what a heavy braided shield.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    I have made very nice sounding "interconnects" -- I prefer the term "cables" or "wires" ;-) -- out of twisted pairs of varnish-insulated 30-gauge magnet wire. They're a little fragile but provide very high value IMO.

    Slipping 'em into Teflon sleeves makes 'em easier to handle if one has access to such material and the patience to do it.
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