Building some cables

[mudrummer99]

I was up in the air as to whether I should put this here or in the interconnects area, so if one of the mods thinks this would get more hits there, please by all means move it. Now on to the actual thread...

I am going to making some customer speaker and rca interconnect cables. I'm pretty handy with building stuff, so this shouldn't be that difficult. For the speaker wire I'm going with the Canare 4s11 from BJC. What I would like to know is...

1) RG6 cable. What would you recommend? I would like something that is pretty flexible so I don't have to fight with it taming it down in my entertainment center.

2) Locking banana plugs. I've been looking at a lot of them, Nakamichi, Atlona, GLS and BJC are all very nice, in pictures, and are within the price I want to pay, no WBT for me Is there any that you would say stay away from?

3) RCA connectors. Same as above, would like the RCAs and the bananas to match though, no reason other than asthetics.

4) Tools. What tools would I need to do this. I have wire cutters and a soldering gun (if necessary). I know it would be a + if I had a heat gun for the heat shrink, but what else do I need? Do I have to have a RG6 stripping/cutting tool or can I get away without it?

5) Anything you guys think I may be missing.

Price is an object, but not that big. This will probably end up being my b-day present to myself (kinda odd, I know) so I'm willing to splurge.

One last thing. Would you guys recommend putting locking banana plugs on both ends of the speaker wire, or on one end and terminate the other end with something else? Again, I'm just worried about aesthetics so mainly thinking about the back of the receiver. Thanks as always for all your help.

Mike

 

[lsiberian]

I was up in the air as to whether I should put this here or in the interconnects area, so if one of the mods thinks this would get more hits there, pleas by all means move it. Now on to the actual thread...

I am going to making some customer speaker and rca interconnect cables. I'm pretty handy with building stuff, so this stuff shouldn't be that difficult. For the speaker wire I'm going with the Canare 4s11 from BJC. What I would like to know is...

1) RG6 cable. What would you recommend? I would like something that is pretty flexible so I don't have to fight with it taming it down in my entertainment center.

2) Locking banana plugs. I've been looking at a lot of them, Nakamichi, Atlona, GLS and BJC are all very nice, in pictures, and are within the price I want to pay, no WBT for me Is there any that you would say stay away from?

3) RCA connectors. Same as above, would like the RCAs and the bananas to match though, no reason other than asthetics.

4) Tools. What tools would I need to do this. I have wire cutters and a soldering gun (if necessary). I know it would be a + if I had a heat gun for the heat shrink, but what else do I need? Do I have to have a RG6 stripping/cutting tool or can I get away without it?

5) Anything you guys think I may be missing.

Price is an object, but not that big. This will probably end up being my b-day present to myself (kinda odd, I know) so I'm willing to splurge.

One last thing. Would you guys recommend putting locking banana plugs on both ends of the speaker wire, or on one end and terminate the other end with something else? Again, I'm just worried about aesthetics so mainly thinking about the back of the receiver. Thanks as always for all your help.

Mike

I prefer the screw type plugs. and only terminate the receiver end. Many speakers don't accept banana plugs. so I can unscrew and put in the bare wire if need be.

 

[Alex2507]

I think the GLS are a knock off of the BJC bananas and don't work as nicely. Midcow2 had a thread about bananas somewhere around here that was rather extensive.

 

[jwenthold99]

These look pretty nice, at a very reasonable price, and they have some rca's as well.

 

[highfigh]

Solid copper center conductor on the RG-6. Copper clad steel is the stuff you want to avoid if you want flexibility. As far as ends- you're locking yourself into something that you may not like/want/need by sticking with one brand. The old Nak RCA plugs were a royal PITA to solder. Neutrik are great, Switchcraft is a perennial favorite and most others are derivative of theirs. Parts Express has a good selection, as do BJC and Monoprice.

And don't make it look like:

 

[Haoleb]

RG6 is a poor choice of cable for the standard solder type connectors. Most of the time your going to find it very difficult to solder to the braided sheild and sometimes even the center conductor. There are special compression connectors that are made for RG6 but i would not reccomend them because the compression tool is quite expensive and your better off just getting some sheilded, twisted 2 conductor signal cable to make interconnects with and then solder the ends.

 

[Alex2507]

Here's a thread covering my first stab at making inter connects:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50771

 

[mudrummer99]

I prefer the screw type plugs. and only terminate the receiver end. Many speakers don't accept banana plugs. so I can unscrew and put in the bare wire if need be.

I thought that any 5-way binding post could accept banana plugs? Am I mistaken?

Mike

 

[mudrummer99]

Solid copper center conductor on the RG-6. Copper clad steel is the stuff you want to avoid if you want flexibility. As far as ends- you're locking yourself into something that you may not like/want/need by sticking with one brand. The old Nak RCA plugs were a royal PITA to solder. Neutrik are great, Switchcraft is a perennial favorite and most others are derivative of theirs. Parts Express has a good selection, as do BJC and Monoprice.

And don't make it look like:

Ok, maybe I'll rethink the same brand approach. How about a similar look approach, I like the dark alloy look, like the BJC or the GLS, but I also like the Atlona's and Nakamichis for different reasons. Let's try, what would be the most preferential for each style? I would like to just order the BJC's for both, but cannot find a place to order the rca plugs they use. Is there anywhere I can order them?

Mike

P.S. That picture is the reason I am doing this, so much extra cable laying around behind my stand due to standard 3,6, and 12ft sizes.

 

[mudrummer99]

RG6 is a poor choice of cable for the standard solder type connectors. Most of the time your going to find it very difficult to solder to the braided sheild and sometimes even the center conductor. There are special compression connectors that are made for RG6 but i would not reccomend them because the compression tool is quite expensive and your better off just getting some sheilded, twisted 2 conductor signal cable to make interconnects with and then solder the ends.

Any suggestions on brands/models? I'm all about not having to buy expensive, one use tools. Are there any special concerns with using this style of cable i.e. limitations on RCA plug styles/brands I can use?

Mike

 

[mudrummer99]

Update

Ok, little update. I think I have made up my mind on just about everything. I'm going to skip the RCA's for now since the only reason I was going to do them was to hook them up from my DVD player to my receiver and that's not completely necessary. As for speaker cables, I'm between the BJC and Atlonas, but that is just me trying to make up my mind. I'm thinking about going a little bit overboard and ordering these "http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_58.html" What I would need to know is, what would the OD of the twisted pairs of wire be coming from the 4s11 starquad cable? Anyone have this done already that can measure it? I know these are completely overkill but I think they will make them look very nice and finished. Thanks again for everyone's feedback, I really appreciate it.

Mike

 

[jwenthold99]

Ok, little update. I think I have made up my mind on just about everything. I'm going to skip the RCA's for now since the only reason I was going to do them was to hook them up from my DVD player to my receiver and that's not completely necessary. As for speaker cables, I'm between the BJC and Atlonas, but that is just me trying to make up my mind. I'm thinking about going a little bit overboard and ordering these "http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_58.html" What I would need to know is, what would the OD of the twisted pairs of wire be coming from the 4s11 starquad cable? Anyone have this done already that can measure it? I know these are completely overkill but I think they will make them look very nice and finished. Thanks again for everyone's feedback, I really appreciate it.

Mike

Here is the link to Canare's Mech. Specs for the cable. I think what you are looking for is there you might have to do some math with the area of the conductors.

 

[mudrummer99]

Here is the link to Canare's Mech. Specs for the cable. I think what you are looking for is there you might have to do some math with the area of the conductors.

Thank you much, but no link in your text

Mike

 

[jwenthold99]

Thank you much, but no link in your text

Mike

Stupid me, sorry! HERE it is

 

[Shock]

Do you really need to build the cables yourself? There are so man options now adays for cheap prebuilt cables it's hard to justify making them yourself. That is unless you just want to take on the challenge, then I completely understand.

 

[mudrummer99]

Do you really need to build the cables yourself? There are so man options now adays for cheap prebuilt cables it's hard to justify making them yourself. That is unless you just want to take on the challenge, then I completely understand.

I like building things. It's fun for me. I used to love Legos as well It just seems like something that I would enjoy doing and if it turns out nicely, then all the better.

Mike