DIY power cables

[skrulle]

Hi,
I'm doing some experiments on mains cables.
I generally like the sound of solid core as interconnects and speaker cables becuase of the clean and fast sound it makes.

Now i'm experimenting with some DIY power cables. These are the same type of cable that electricians use when they are wiring households.
They consist of a 2,5mm2 solid core copper conductor with pvc insulation.

These power cables gives my stereo very good clarity, especially in the midrange and great bass. The thing that annoys me, is that I get a lot of "white noise" in the treble when using these cables. I know that the danish scientist Steen Duelund found out that plastic insulation could give this type of white noise in the treble on interconnects. Then my question is: Is it possible that plastic insulation on copper wires on power cables also can cause this kind of signal distortion?

 

[avnetguy]

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74005

Steve

 

[skrulle]

I've discovered after many years of cable-sceptisism that there are some really big and important things about cables. The same things can, of course, also be said about capacitors, resistors, transistors etc.

1. Huge difference between stranded and solid core wires. Stranded wires always adds some grain in the treble, it makes the midrange unclear and bass wooly.

2. Huge difference in wire gauge. A thin wire sounds a lot brighter than a fat wire.

3. Isolation - I have not experimented with this, but people who experiments with this says, that it's also important.

The best wire I've tried so far is DIY silverfoil with cotton insulation. But what about powercables?

 

[jinjuku]

Cables can be designed to sound 'different' and that difference marketed.

You come on over with what you have, let my plug it in and switch it around with what comes with the amp/pre-pro/source and you tell me when I have switched and WHAT I switched with statistical signifigance, well we will then have something to talk about.

For Power give me over gauged stranded, properly insulated cables. For signal give me any Belden, Canare, Mogami etc..., for speaker level some Belden or Canare (5000ue or 4s11).

 

[skrulle]

I think I posted this question in the wrong forum or something.
I'll post it somewhere else instead.

I understand your sceptisism about this, especially when seen from a classic scientific view. These differences are unfortunately of great importance and cannot be ignored.

It still annoys that it took me 5 years before I discovered how big the big the losses in the signal path were. Why the hell was the sound in my stereo so bad? I had done everything by the book. Perfect source, perfect pre-amp and amplifier. A lot of acoustic treatment and measurements. But still it sounded awful. The only thing I didn't try was to change the cables, because I really didn't understand why they would make any difference. The first time i swapped from a fat stranded speaker cable to a solid core wire, i was really, REALLY shocked. Now I'm trying to find out which of these factors that are of importance and which that are not. Then I can hopefully make some really cheap and good cables for my stereo.

 

[Rickster71]

You might want to read this:
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm
Hope it helps with your question.



.

 

[jinjuku]

I think I posted this question in the wrong forum or something.

I'll post it somewhere else instead.

I understand your sceptisism about this, especially when seen from a classic scientific view. These differences are unfortunately of great importance and cannot be ignored.

Here is the key phrase: trust but verify. If your changes have a real or perceived (Psycho-acoustically) benefit to you than I am honestly happy for you. Unfortunately study after study after study doesn't back your claim.

I'm not here to argue your point, I'm here to provide, and in some ways, protect the newb from this form of non-sense.

 

[gpost3]

I agree with jin. This guy sounds like an employee of one of those over hyped better cables through marketting companies. The issue of cables has long become boring now and study after study yields not even a slightest hint towards their significance. Bottom line is get a cable that is thick enough and properly shielded and such cables dont cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.

 

[sawzalot]

I think I posted this question in the wrong forum or something.
I'll post it somewhere else instead.

Now that first sentence may hold just a tiny bit of merit.

second sentence, please provide a link as I would be interested in reading other thoughts and impressions that you may get elsewhere, this subject has always been an interesting read for me,

I have two 25 foot extension cords w/ bananas and tech flex, they work , pretty darn well.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I've discovered after many years of cable-sceptisism that there are some really big and important things about cables.

Yes, of course. Some are $.30/ft, others are $1000/ft. Huge difference indeed.

The same things can, of course, also be said about capacitors, resistors, transistors etc.

Sure. Many different applications require different parts.

1. Huge difference between stranded and solid core wires.

All depends on your definition of of 'huge difference.'

Stranded wires always adds some grain in the treble, it makes the midrange unclear and bass wooly.

Nonsense, period, end of story.

2. Huge difference in wire gauge.

Yep. a 0000 is certainly different from a 30ga wire

A thin wire sounds a lot brighter than a fat wire.

More nonsense. Another end of story.

3. Isolation - I have not experimented with this, but people who experiments with this says, that it's also important.

Isolation from what?

The best wire I've tried so far is DIY silverfoil with cotton insulation. But what about powercables?

Great, be happy. Just don't electrocute yourself with this in power cable use.

I understand your sceptisism about this, especially when seen from a classic scientific view. These differences are unfortunately of great importance and cannot be ignored.

Perhaps all of your discovery can be found in a peer reviewed journal paper???

The only thing I didn't try was to change the cables, because I really didn't understand why they would make any difference.

And you still don't understand it. Keep on dreaming though.

The first time i swapped from a fat stranded speaker cable to a solid core wire, i was really, REALLY shocked.

You need to turn off the power before swapping cable. It prevents getting shocked.

Now I'm trying to find out which of these factors that are of importance and which that are not. Then I can hopefully make some really cheap and good cables for my stereo.

Have at it.

 

[highfigh]

I think I posted this question in the wrong forum or something.
I'll post it somewhere else instead.

I understand your sceptisism about this, especially when seen from a classic scientific view. These differences are unfortunately of great importance and cannot be ignored.

It still annoys that it took me 5 years before I discovered how big the big the losses in the signal path were. Why the hell was the sound in my stereo so bad? I had done everything by the book. Perfect source, perfect pre-amp and amplifier. A lot of acoustic treatment and measurements. But still it sounded awful. The only thing I didn't try was to change the cables, because I really didn't understand why they would make any difference. The first time i swapped from a fat stranded speaker cable to a solid core wire, i was really, REALLY shocked. Now I'm trying to find out which of these factors that are of importance and which that are not. Then I can hopefully make some really cheap and good cables for my stereo.

Care to tell us what equipment is in your system?

 

[BMXTRIX]

I'm not here to argue your point...

You are a better person than me. I would entirely argue his point as pure manure.

I need to go fluff my wooly audio now.