Microscope images of individual wire strands
gmcman
Posts: 1,806
I've been wanting to do this for quite sometime, just one of many projects on the back burner. What inspired this was hearing the difference of my last internal rewire of my 2.3TL's. I was curious to how the 30+ year old factory wiring compares to modern wire. This is not the final say in how a wire can change the sound, but interesting nonetheless.
I had upgraded or changed out just about everything from the source to the terminals of the individual drivers, only thing left untouched was the factory internal wiring.
I switched from the factory wiring to 15.5 gauge Cardas Litz, I did one speaker then listened to both speakers with one having the factory, and one with the Cardas. The nice thing was, there was no second guessing if the internal rewire would make a difference, it was the last upgrade I had done, so it seemed to tie every change I had made together.
There was no mistake, you couldn't listen to both at the same time as the synergy was that far off. I had my son listen not telling him which speaker was changed, and he pointed out the better sounding speaker in a few seconds.
I would like to take this even further, but it's time consuming and after DK noted even more improvements using the AQ GO-4, from the Cardas...that has me intrigued even further.
So for this small experiment, I will not claim any expertise in microscope image capturing, I have quite a bit to learn. I don't have a good dedicated live capture software, or focus stacking software, so these images have a very, very shallow depth of field.
The 1080P monitor I have for this is not my main monitor, and while great for web viewing, it cannot remotely capture the resolution of the 36mp sensor of the D810, so accurate focusing was also a challenge.
The equipment used was a Nikon D810 on top of a trinocular Olympus metallurgical microscope. Vibration was as controlled as it could be, I set a delayed exposure to begin after the shutter opens. Camera settings were manual mode, 1.3 sec, ISO 64, no f-stop as the photo tube replaces the lens.
The images are not as crisp as I would like, but that's still progress in the making. Once I have a good live view monitor, and focus stacking software, these will improve.
I used a single strand from under the vinyl coating of the factory binding plate harness, as well as a single strand from a piece of 20ga copper wire I had from a small project. Based on the eyepiece adapter and objective alone, I was using 100x, 200X, and 400X. I do not know for sure what the total magnification is, but I believe the eyepiece and objective also have to be factored into the camera tube and sensor size, so anyone more knowledgeable about this please chime in.
Factory binding plate, and the section where I borrowed a few strands, I was as careful as I could be to not damage the surface I was viewing. Some of these images are cropped but the magnification listed is correct.
The 20ga stranded donor wire, no idea of the brand, but was used for a small R/C receiver battery charger.
This is the 20ga wire @100X using brightfield
20ga wire @100X in darkfield
The factory wire was not oxidized or didn't appear to be discolored, to the naked eye, it was silver in color.
Factory wire for the 2.3TL @100X brightfield
Factory wire @100X darkfield
20ga wire @200X brightfield
20ga wire @200X darkfield
Factory 2.3TL wiring @200X brightfield
Factory 2.3TL wiring @200X darkfield
20ga @400X brightfield
Factory 2.3TL wiring @400x brightfield
I wish I could have also viewed the Cardas wire but at this moment, I'm not sure how to get the outer coating off the individual strand without altering the surface of the wire. I figure a heat gun may work.
This was just an attempt to view the factory wire compared to a more modern copper wire. Feel free to post any tips on focus stacking, or image capture with the microscope, I'm sure I missed a few steps.
More to come for sure.
I had upgraded or changed out just about everything from the source to the terminals of the individual drivers, only thing left untouched was the factory internal wiring.
I switched from the factory wiring to 15.5 gauge Cardas Litz, I did one speaker then listened to both speakers with one having the factory, and one with the Cardas. The nice thing was, there was no second guessing if the internal rewire would make a difference, it was the last upgrade I had done, so it seemed to tie every change I had made together.
There was no mistake, you couldn't listen to both at the same time as the synergy was that far off. I had my son listen not telling him which speaker was changed, and he pointed out the better sounding speaker in a few seconds.
I would like to take this even further, but it's time consuming and after DK noted even more improvements using the AQ GO-4, from the Cardas...that has me intrigued even further.
So for this small experiment, I will not claim any expertise in microscope image capturing, I have quite a bit to learn. I don't have a good dedicated live capture software, or focus stacking software, so these images have a very, very shallow depth of field.
The 1080P monitor I have for this is not my main monitor, and while great for web viewing, it cannot remotely capture the resolution of the 36mp sensor of the D810, so accurate focusing was also a challenge.
The equipment used was a Nikon D810 on top of a trinocular Olympus metallurgical microscope. Vibration was as controlled as it could be, I set a delayed exposure to begin after the shutter opens. Camera settings were manual mode, 1.3 sec, ISO 64, no f-stop as the photo tube replaces the lens.
The images are not as crisp as I would like, but that's still progress in the making. Once I have a good live view monitor, and focus stacking software, these will improve.
I used a single strand from under the vinyl coating of the factory binding plate harness, as well as a single strand from a piece of 20ga copper wire I had from a small project. Based on the eyepiece adapter and objective alone, I was using 100x, 200X, and 400X. I do not know for sure what the total magnification is, but I believe the eyepiece and objective also have to be factored into the camera tube and sensor size, so anyone more knowledgeable about this please chime in.
Factory binding plate, and the section where I borrowed a few strands, I was as careful as I could be to not damage the surface I was viewing. Some of these images are cropped but the magnification listed is correct.
The 20ga stranded donor wire, no idea of the brand, but was used for a small R/C receiver battery charger.
This is the 20ga wire @100X using brightfield
20ga wire @100X in darkfield
The factory wire was not oxidized or didn't appear to be discolored, to the naked eye, it was silver in color.
Factory wire for the 2.3TL @100X brightfield
Factory wire @100X darkfield
20ga wire @200X brightfield
20ga wire @200X darkfield
Factory 2.3TL wiring @200X brightfield
Factory 2.3TL wiring @200X darkfield
20ga @400X brightfield
Factory 2.3TL wiring @400x brightfield
I wish I could have also viewed the Cardas wire but at this moment, I'm not sure how to get the outer coating off the individual strand without altering the surface of the wire. I figure a heat gun may work.
This was just an attempt to view the factory wire compared to a more modern copper wire. Feel free to post any tips on focus stacking, or image capture with the microscope, I'm sure I missed a few steps.
More to come for sure.
Comments
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Silver color may be (and likely is, I suspect) tinned copper.
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It is tinned copper.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
I like this thread. Better than looking at carcinomas or mrna-transformed endothelial cells all day.
My last set of 12 & 14 gauge stranded wire rolls, I got from a German manufacturing Co. After stripping the insulation, just by sight I could see that it was a very nice smooth uniform finish compared to some OFC rolls I got off Amazon a few months ago. I rewired 5Bs a few months back and there was an improvement to the openness of mids and somewhat in the highs.Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists. -
I would be very interested in tweeter voice coils if you get a chance to look at them.George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
I like this thread. Better than looking at carcinomas or mrna-transformed endothelial cells all day.
Oh wow....My daughter is loving the pond critters.Gardenstater wrote: »I would be very interested in tweeter voice coils if you get a chance to look at them.
I have a SL2000 and 194 laying around, I'm assuming the voice coil might me laminated? Doesn't look to be.
