Fun...Made myself a BNC digital cable today

steveinaz
steveinaz Posts: 19,538
edited March 2006 in Electronics
I'm sitting in a warehouse chocked full of communications installation tools and I thought....I'm bored, I'm gonna build me a digital cable.

I have 2000' of Belden 8241 RG59/U cable and amphenol 75 ohm BNC crimp-on connectors, so what the hell?

Pulled an Ideal crimp kit off the shelf and started playing around until I got the knack of it and understood how to use the sheath strippers, crimping tool/dies, etc. Long story short, a built a 2' BNC to BNC digital cable.

This **** is fun! I'm gonna try it tonight on the Benchmark from my CEC.
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
Post edited by steveinaz on
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited January 2006
    pics! And am interested in how you think it sounds.
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
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  • Skynut
    Skynut Posts: 2,967
    edited January 2006
    I need pics too because you were speaking a foreign language most of that post. :D

    I make my own coax cables and think they are the cats meow.

    I want to try my hand at interconnects someday when I can afford to replace all of them with silver plated ofc.

    Anyhows congrats.
    Skynut
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2006
    Thanks fellers, I'll get some pics up when I get home/access to my camera. I saw some crimp-on RCA's that looked really well made for Belden 8241 that were $1.75 each. Belden 8241 is the industry standard for 75ohm coax from what I've heard from our installers, and these guys are some of the best on the planet. Amp (amphenol) connectors and crimp tools are also favorites among them, so we have tons of belden and amp stuff.

    Our installers are the guys in Afghanistan, Kuwait and Iraq that are putting the fiber optic/copper commo infrastructure in place. :cool:
    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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  • jmierzur
    jmierzur Posts: 489
    edited January 2006
    Issue 74 of UHF has an article regarding digital cables. I skimmed a copy in the store, but did not get to read the comparison between the cables. The article discusses issues with digital cables and a proposed solution. It suggests that a cable length of 1.5 meters is better than a shorter cable. Refer to the article for details.

    Since you have access to all this equipment, can you conduct an experiment for us. Could you make several different cable lengths and try these at home. I would be interested to know there is a difference between 0.5m, 1m and 1.5m cables.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2006
    jmierzur wrote:
    Issue 74 of UHF has an article regarding digital cables. I skimmed a copy in the store, but did not get to read the comparison between the cables. The article discusses issues with digital cables and a proposed solution. It suggests that a cable length of 1.5 meters is better than a shorter cable. Refer to the article for details.

    Since you have access to all this equipment, can you conduct an experiment for us. Could you make several different cable lengths and try these at home. I would be interested to know there is a difference between 0.5m, 1m and 1.5m cables.

    I think I've read that somewhere too. I doubt I've got the ears to make that sort of comparison, but I will say that I prefer my 2' AES/EBU digital cable to my 1 meter DH Labs BNC-RCA cable. Treble seems the slightest bit smoother thru the AES/EBU; BUT---that could be differences in the DAC's interfaces (Coax vs AES/EBU) as well....
    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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  • jmierzur
    jmierzur Posts: 489
    edited January 2006
    Steve,

    The reason I ask is that you can make different cable lengths with the SAME MATERIALS. This would eliminate differences between player to DAC connection methods and cable geometry/construction.

    I also trust you to tell it like it is....
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2006
    Yep, understand. I'll make a 2 meter for comparison. Here's the cable:
    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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  • jmierzur
    jmierzur Posts: 489
    edited January 2006
    Thanks, looking forward to reading your impressions.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited January 2006
    Looks pretty neat! How long did it take for you to get the hang of putting it together?
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
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    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2006
    About 20 minutes to understand where the jacket splicer was going to cut, what position to hold the crimper in, etc. Once I got the hang of it, it took like 3 minutes to make this cable.
    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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  • phoneisbusy
    phoneisbusy Posts: 867
    edited January 2006
    Hehehe... Boutique-Smoutique! We're talkin' military spec'd audio cable...
    :D

    regards

    Dave
    Time is the best teacher. Unfortunately it kills all its students.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2006
    Ok, major brain-**** action. My CEC doesn't have bnc out. It has toslink, aes/ebu, and coax.

    Anyone got a Cambridge D500SE going into a BNC DAC? OR any other transport that has bnc output?
    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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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited January 2006
    ROFL!! Man, that's hilarious....I guess you'd have access to other means of cable-termination, though, right?
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2006
    I must have been thinking about the D500SE I had, which has the BNC dig out. What a bonehead. Maybe time for a cable Karma? LOL!!
    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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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited January 2006
    Well, just so we're not all let down too much, at least tell us how it sounds. Does the cable resonate at the same frequency no matter where you thump it?

    :p
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2006
    I'm going to find a male rca to female bnc adapter...I'll keep you posted.
    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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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2006
    Aha!
    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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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited January 2006
    Sweet. Now get to work with it! :D
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • goingganzo
    goingganzo Posts: 2,793
    edited January 2006
    i can make thoes cables i have made alot of rca cables but i dont have a need for bnc. but i do want to make some balanced cables.
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  • jmierzur
    jmierzur Posts: 489
    edited March 2006
    Any updates on this thread?
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2006
    Nah, I never got around to it....
    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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