I made some speaker cables...

slammin86
slammin86 Posts: 238
edited December 2011 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
So I decided to try some DIY speaker cables. I initially tried this with dual 12 ga wire from monoprice and all gls safe banana plugs. This attempt failed. The gls safe plugs and the back of my amp didn't play well together, and dual strands of 12 ga wire inside the techflex ended up not being flexible at all.

I then ordered 50ft of blue jeans cable quad 14ga wire. I also ordered 6 locking banana plugs for the back of the receiver. I ordered 25 ft of carbon techflex and 25 ft of black techflex, as well as all the heat shrink. Here is the result.

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I know I should have dusted off the entertainment center before I took these pics.

Now I am left with 28ft of the quad 14ga wire, approx 21 ft black tech flex, 10 gls safe banana plugs, and lots of heat shrink. I guess I will make another set using black tech flex and then sell them.
Receiver: ONKYO 709
Amplifier: Acurus A200x3
Front: EmpTek E55Ti
Center: EmpTek E56Ci
Surround: EmpTek E5Bi
Sub: Elemental Designs A5-350
TV: LG 55"
Blu-Ray: PS3
Post edited by slammin86 on
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Comments

  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited March 2011
    Hey guy-- nice work.I just love it when folks post step by step pics of their builds.Good on you. Right now,, I'll bet visions of interconnects are jumping around in your head,,eh?

    Good job--thanks for posting. :smile:
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2011
    Is that Canare S411 wire? I have some of that and it does real nice in my system. I go back and forth with my AQ-CV4 and they both have their pluses.
    Enjoy
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,980
    edited March 2011
    Nice and Clean!!!!!!

    Great Job..
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited March 2011
    Nice Work, very clean looking.


    Steve

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,396
    edited March 2011
    Very nice work. Canare Star Quad is really very good for the price. I made a pair for my office rig.

    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 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited March 2011
    I used the same cable for my HT rig, it's nice stuff.
    "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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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited March 2011
    Nice job. DIY is very satisfying. My Canare 4S11 cables,to my ears, sound better in my rig than any of the factory made sets I've tried (DH Labs,Kimber,Cardas,MAC,Morrow,etc.).
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • packetjones
    packetjones Posts: 1,059
    edited March 2011
    Very nice. I have recently had to place some cheap cable in my rig as it is pieced together while I move. Once I get in the new house and have a free weekend i may try my luck with some of these.

    How much was all the materials if you don't mind me asking?
    Front - RTiA5's
    Rear - RTiA3's
    Center - CSiA4
    Sub - PSW110
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  • slammin86
    slammin86 Posts: 238
    edited March 2011
    Yes I used the Canare S411. Thanks for all the kind words guys.
    packetjones wrote: »
    Very nice. I have recently had to place some cheap cable in my rig as it is pieced together while I move. Once I get in the new house and have a free weekend i may try my luck with some of these.

    How much was all the materials if you don't mind me asking?

    I would have to figure everything up. I can do that when I get home.
    Receiver: ONKYO 709
    Amplifier: Acurus A200x3
    Front: EmpTek E55Ti
    Center: EmpTek E56Ci
    Surround: EmpTek E5Bi
    Sub: Elemental Designs A5-350
    TV: LG 55"
    Blu-Ray: PS3
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited March 2011
    Looks great and those are fun cables to make!
    Jake
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited March 2011
    slammin86 wrote: »
    I know I should have dusted off the entertainment center before I took these pics.

    LOL. Everytime I post a pic I notice dust that I missed. :biggrin:
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,545
    edited March 2011
    Nice work man!
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,980
    edited March 2011
    slammin86 wrote: »
    Yes I used the Canare S411. Thanks for all the kind words guys.



    I would have to figure everything up. I can do that when I get home.

    I'd be interested in the cost as well. I came into a length of AQ CinemaQuest wire that I was planning on doing a DYI center cable with. Thanks for posting this. Looks great!
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,650
    edited March 2011
    Nice work,want to make me a set?:smile:
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2011
    It's $1.30 a foot.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • slammin86
    slammin86 Posts: 238
    edited March 2011
    IDK If this is all in my head or what, but music seems to sound different with these wires. Seems to have a wider soundstage, more defined highs, snappier mids...

    Must be snake oil or something.

    Prior to this I had dual 12 ga monoprice wires going to each front and center channel.

    Man I love this hobby.
    Receiver: ONKYO 709
    Amplifier: Acurus A200x3
    Front: EmpTek E55Ti
    Center: EmpTek E56Ci
    Surround: EmpTek E5Bi
    Sub: Elemental Designs A5-350
    TV: LG 55"
    Blu-Ray: PS3
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  • slammin86
    slammin86 Posts: 238
    edited March 2011
    FTGV wrote: »
    Nice work,want to make me a set?:smile:

    I have about 28 ft of wire, 21 ft of black techflex (and one approx 4 ft piece), enough heat shrink and gls safe banana plugs. If you really want a set let me know.
    Receiver: ONKYO 709
    Amplifier: Acurus A200x3
    Front: EmpTek E55Ti
    Center: EmpTek E56Ci
    Surround: EmpTek E5Bi
    Sub: Elemental Designs A5-350
    TV: LG 55"
    Blu-Ray: PS3
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  • slammin86
    slammin86 Posts: 238
    edited March 2011
    As far as a cost if you wanted to do this yourself...I paid $39 shipped for 25ft of techflex and the heat shrink. 25ft of wire and 3 sets of banana plugs comes to $56.45 shipped. 10 GLS Safe banana plugs comes to $36 shipped. So you can make yourself a set of these for about $130 total. Obviously you have many choices on banana plugs and could do this much cheaper. I kind of messed up on the whole deal and ended up with a lot more than I needed...lol. Still very fun to make.
    Receiver: ONKYO 709
    Amplifier: Acurus A200x3
    Front: EmpTek E55Ti
    Center: EmpTek E56Ci
    Surround: EmpTek E5Bi
    Sub: Elemental Designs A5-350
    TV: LG 55"
    Blu-Ray: PS3
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,628
    edited March 2011
    Nice job! Those look very nice.
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited March 2011
    Nice! I have that same wire stripper~
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited March 2011
    Nice Job!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,396
    edited March 2011
    slammin86 wrote: »
    IDK If this is all in my head or what, but music seems to sound different with these wires. Seems to have a wider soundstage, more defined highs, snappier mids...

    Must be snake oil or something.

    Prior to this I had dual 12 ga monoprice wires going to each front and center channel.

    Man I love this hobby.

    Yep, cables matter in this hobby. Again Canare Star Quad is a proven design and offers great bang-for-the-buck performance. Isn't it better to find out for yourself than to get into a heated discussion about the differences between inexpensive mono-price stuff vs. something like this? And you didn't have to spend an arm and a leg to achieve a little better sound.

    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 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • slammin86
    slammin86 Posts: 238
    edited March 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Yep, cables matter in this hobby. Again Canare Star Quad is a proven design and offers great bang-for-the-buck performance. Isn't it better to find out for yourself than to get into a heated discussion about the differences between inexpensive mono-price stuff vs. something like this? And you didn't have to spend an arm and a leg to achieve a little better sound.

    H9

    I honestly had no expectations of sound improving. I always though wire was wire. I guess I just proved myself wrong. Almost makes me want to try some high dollar wires...but I won't...lol. I'm very happy with these for now.

    I only did this to improve the looks and make connections easy. This is much easier than twisting the wire together and trying to squeeze it down into the posts on the speakers and amp.
    Receiver: ONKYO 709
    Amplifier: Acurus A200x3
    Front: EmpTek E55Ti
    Center: EmpTek E56Ci
    Surround: EmpTek E5Bi
    Sub: Elemental Designs A5-350
    TV: LG 55"
    Blu-Ray: PS3
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited March 2011
    Nice job. Maybe I will take a crack at this?
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,396
    edited March 2011
    slammin86 wrote: »
    I honestly had no expectations of sound improving. I always though wire was wire. I guess I just proved myself wrong. Almost makes me want to try some high dollar wires...but I won't...lol. I'm very happy with these for now.

    I only did this to improve the looks and make connections easy. This is much easier than twisting the wire together and trying to squeeze it down into the posts on the speakers and amp.

    The best kind of performance improvement is when you're not expecting it.

    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 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • JimAckley
    JimAckley Posts: 1,138
    edited March 2011
    Those look really good man! Well done!
    - Computer Rig -
    YAΘIN MS-20L, polkaudio RT5

    - Main Rig -
    Pioneer SC-37, Overnight Sensations, Samsung 52" LCD

    - Currently In Progress -
    Curt Campbell's Uluwatu LCR, LMS Ultra Gjallarhorn, JBL W15GTi stereo subs, 2.1 entertainment system for the gf
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,065
    edited March 2011
    Good job there, looks sweet.....and all you had to do was take the step to at least try something different. Congrats on a job well done.
    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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  • slammin86
    slammin86 Posts: 238
    edited March 2011
    Keiko wrote: »
    Slammin cables. Very nice. :smile:

    Now that's marketing. I can put my other set on ebay and call them "slammin cables" then everyone will want them and create a bidding war driving the price up to several hundred dollars...

    LOL...one can always dream.
    Receiver: ONKYO 709
    Amplifier: Acurus A200x3
    Front: EmpTek E55Ti
    Center: EmpTek E56Ci
    Surround: EmpTek E5Bi
    Sub: Elemental Designs A5-350
    TV: LG 55"
    Blu-Ray: PS3
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  • slammin86
    slammin86 Posts: 238
    edited March 2011
    I am going to try to make the other set to sell tomorrow. Any suggestions on how long I should make these to make these to make them the most appealing? I will have to double check the techflex length but I believe I should be able to make upto a 11 ft pair.
    Receiver: ONKYO 709
    Amplifier: Acurus A200x3
    Front: EmpTek E55Ti
    Center: EmpTek E56Ci
    Surround: EmpTek E5Bi
    Sub: Elemental Designs A5-350
    TV: LG 55"
    Blu-Ray: PS3
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  • JimAckley
    JimAckley Posts: 1,138
    edited March 2011
    I suppose 8' or 10'. Those the most common lengths I find for sale.
    - Computer Rig -
    YAΘIN MS-20L, polkaudio RT5

    - Main Rig -
    Pioneer SC-37, Overnight Sensations, Samsung 52" LCD

    - Currently In Progress -
    Curt Campbell's Uluwatu LCR, LMS Ultra Gjallarhorn, JBL W15GTi stereo subs, 2.1 entertainment system for the gf
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter