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I like the design, its getting good reviews, but why not copper? I like copper, cheaper, practically the same conductivity, and sounds good. Michael Percy sells some 30 GA XLO high purity teflon clad for 30 cents/ft, hard to beat.Dan
Follow Ups:
Heres my 2.5 cents. On my ESL's using various tube amps (I tried my new KTA Mk-3's, rebuilt Heath W5M's) on the electrostat I *think* I heard a slight change of the top end between the cables. I built 3 sets of cables per Chris's construction plans. One set all silver, another set silver plated copper (wire wrap conductor with the kynar insulation carefully removed so as not to nick the metal) and the 3rd set Cat-5 FEP wire (left over from my Cat-5 cable construction) wound around teflon tubing. (I still want to try Chris's "Caulking backer foam"...Chris, care to elaborate?) All cables were wrapped in teflon tape. All sets were made 40" long. (I probably will "bob" these things when I finally quit moving the gear around)My opinion? I am pretty sure that the "all silver cables" did add a subtle brightening effect to the sound, in my mind like a "spectral tilt" bringing up HF and diminishing the lower mids. (my ESL's crossover from the 'stats to the TL's at either 250 or 450 so please bear this in mind for my listening comments)The copper/silver wire cable did something similar but much more subtle and I still am not sure I heard it. I definitely didn't find the sonics to completely go to hell from the silver/copper wire as some claim) Finally, the copper wire cables did sound a bit darker, but not dramatically (Please note, the copper used isn't *pure* nor "single crystal, so keep this in mind when considering my comparison to the all silver) If I went away from the system for a bit and came back to listen later, I feel I wouldn't have felt there was *wrong* about the sound.
My feeling is that the "all silver wires" will compliment a system which my have a somewhat soft top end balance (all tube like mine) and be undesirable in a system which is all SS. Speakers are a big factor here as well. Also, I only used one set between amp and preamp (SDS Labs zero feedback set up). Replacing my other cables with the indentical cables to the one being auditioned might alter my perception.
Finally, thank you Chris V for the projects on line and helping me anger (ie: pi-- off) my wife by building cables rather than build the cages in the backyard to house her raccoons!
I originally made the IC's with: Magnet wire, Wire wrap, the same XLO wire you describe (I bought from Percy, too), and then the silver. My system preferred the silver. The copper was very musical, but a bit dark sounding. If you have an overly analytical system (hehehe, yeah whatever that means... :-), or a system that is on the bright side of neutral, then copper is the ticket. Otherwise, you may be happier with the silver version. Good luck.
I've been using this IC design made with 31 and 33 gauge copper Cardas single strand litz wire from Micheal Percy for about 4 months. A couple of weeks ago, I broke down and spent the money for the silver wire that Chris recommends and built some new cables. They were so bright at first I couldn't stand to listen to them. On the other hand, the copper cables I had been using sounded good to me after the first hour or two. The silver cables are finally breaking in a little now and I mainly notice an improvement in the detail of the bass and the top end. The copper cables are definately no slouch however and nearly hold their own against the silver, a great cable for the cost.Regards, Bob
I did. I used a 22awg high purity OFC with teflon. They sounded good at first but kinda dark and mushy when compared to silver.Rob C
Hmmm, well, with 22 AWG I guess I can believe it. A lot of the design for this is in the small conductor I think.Best
Dan
yeah, but i bet the 22ga had bass the 30ga only dreams about, even if it may be a bit 'mushy'.rhyno
I've tried 32+ AWG with no problems in the bass. These are IC's were talking about, not speaker cables.Dan
i know you're talking about ICs...so am i.if i "knew" why larger ga were better in bass, i'd tell you.
but i can say this w/ all confidence: i have a very resolving system (check inmate systems), and bass depth & articulation improved considerably by going to a lower ga. wire (that is, thicker than 30+ ga). i've tried, listened, and changed accordingly.
though i have nothing beyond my ears as evidence, my take is that the whole "skin effect" concern is a non-factor. thin wire is difficult to work w/, fragile, and bass-light below @ 50hz.
rhyno
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