DIY speaker cables
heiney9
Posts: 25,194
Got the itch to do some DIY speaker cables for my main rig and office rig. Looking at Belden 5T00UP 10ga wire. To make them look even more high tech I was going to use TechFlex sleeving. Having never used TechFlex are there any special tools needed to cut it for custom lengths or any tips those who have used it can give me?
H9
H9
"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
Post edited by heiney9 on
Comments
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hi, i used techflex or something just like it on my cables, i did 9 ga equivalent with cat-5e. anyway to cut the techflex i used a knife that i no longer cared for and heated it up so that when it cuts the techflex it just slices it like butter and melts the ends together so it does not fray. If the opening is completely sealed i used scissors to make a few slits so that it could open enough to slide the wires through. this will work perfectly if you are covering the ends with heatshrink, which i highly suggest.
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I'll be doing cable pants and heatshrink as well, so you think scissors or an exacto type sharp knife is enough or will it be better to do the hot knife treatment?
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
There is a non-fraying flavor of the Techflex sleeve, too. I've never seen it in the flesh, so I cannot comment further. The standard issue Techflex will unravel if it's cut without being "cauterized", so you have to use a hot knife.
http://www.partsexpress.com/mfg/techflex/techflex.cfm?CFID=2367826&CFTOKEN=20495819 -
Yes, it's called TechFlex Clean Cut and that looks to be the easier of the 2 to use. I like the pretty colors of the regular Tech Flex as the Clean Cut only comes in black. But, the Clean Cut can be cut/trimmed with regular Heavy Duty scissors and is cheaper. With cable pants and shrink wrap it should look real clean and professional.
HCM Audio has Audio Quest GBC 8 ft terminated speaker cables on close out for $79.95 with a total cost of $96 shipped to my door. Since I have my own bananna's (much nicer than the BFA's) if I can come in about 30-40% cheaper making my DIY cables it's worth it to me.
This is what I'm using for wire
http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/item/IXOSXHS706S
Then put a layer of Tech Flex Clean Cut, cable pants and shrink wrap with my bananna's and I should come in under $60 for the pair.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Where could someone get some silver DIY wire."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Where could someone get some silver DIY wire.
That's going to a tough one and when you do find it it's going to be expensive. The only way I'm coming out on top here is because a few months ago someone on the forum was nice enough to ship me (8) really heavy duty bananna connectors for free. If I actually had to buy the 'nanners I would be at or over the close out $$$ of the GBC cables at HCM Audio.
DIY isn't always cheaper.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
