Making your own interconnects

mingram1234
mingram1234 Posts: 31
edited March 2004 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I know there's a lot of experience on here, so I want to ask what is the best type/brand/size of cable to use making your own RCA Interconnecting cables-analog audio?
And what about RCA ends. Is it true that the crimp style is better than the solder type?

Thanks,
Mitchell
Post edited by mingram1234 on
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  • jaystine
    jaystine Posts: 1
    edited March 2004
    This url will take you to a very detailed step-by-step (with photos) tutorial for constructing your own interconnects. Lots of helpful info in this forum.

    http://ubb.outlawaudio.com/ubb/Forum14/HTML/000069.html
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2004
    Belden wire makes excellent cable. Crimping is better than soldering when done correctly.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • gidrah
    gidrah Posts: 3,049
    edited March 2004
    Any solid core (single strand) cable will work. I've used 24 awg to the smallest of magnet wire. Good luck.
    Make it Funky! :)
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited March 2004
    Originally posted by steveinaz
    Crimping is better than soldering when done correctly.
    Curious as to your source here...
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2004
    Because of impurities in solder, even high-silver content solder; a proper crimp is far better. Your best interconnects use high-temp welding with no solder. The wire is "welded" directly to the connector, similar to spot welding.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 936
    edited March 2004
    Having gone through NASA certification courses for soldering (iron and hot air), crimping, cable and harnessing, I can say crimping gives a far superior connection. Now these are not your run of the mill "crush-it" crimpers. These use anywhere from 4 to 12 "indents" in the terminals. They really are trick with these little rods coming in from opposing sides and applying A LOT of force to that contact area. After crimping we had to put the pin in a test rig that would pull on the wire while holding the pin. To pass the test, it had to break the wire before it pulled it out of the connector, or you reset your crimper and did another test before building your real cable. Now you had a connection that was permanent and impervious to outside contamination.
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