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Need to make interconnects...

100.36.144.196
Posted on June 5, 2016 at 10:46:26
gkargreen
Audiophile

Posts: 1562
Location: DC
Joined: February 5, 2005
 I am looking for suggestions on DIY interconnects. Why? Because the spacing of the various phono jacks on the vintage HH Scott amps are too close together to use typical fat audiophile connectors, so I need to make up my own. Back in the day, this was not an issue for Scott and other manufacturers as everyone was using those skinny wire connectors which fit fine. Nowadays, the big-ass connectors are too big to use side-by-side. The only one I have that works is a pair I made with DH Labs Silver Sonic cable and Radio Shack gold connectors years ago. Now I need to make up more pairs, do you have any suggestions?

 

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RE: Need to make interconnects..., posted on June 5, 2016 at 12:22:11
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002



The narrow profile Switchcraft 3502A rca connector is a popular option for vintage audio applications.

See link:

 

thanks, Duster, just placed the order!, posted on June 5, 2016 at 12:40:47
gkargreen
Audiophile

Posts: 1562
Location: DC
Joined: February 5, 2005
 any suggestions on cable? Perhaps Silver Sonic?

 

RE: thanks, Duster, just placed the order!, posted on June 5, 2016 at 13:33:51
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 What is the budget level for your DIY project, what length(s) do you require, and how many cables do you wish to build?

 

RE: thanks, Duster, just placed the order!, posted on June 5, 2016 at 13:37:02
krankkall
Audiophile

Posts: 296
Location: New Mexico
Joined: April 5, 2014
 Mogami 2549

 

RE: thanks, Duster, just placed the order!, posted on June 5, 2016 at 13:44:52
gkargreen
Audiophile

Posts: 1562
Location: DC
Joined: February 5, 2005
 I am looking for a low-price level for the cables, no more than $6/ft at this time, and am going for a pair that is 3' in length for now. Silver Sonic BL-2 is at that price, but that is really all I know about as far as decent cable, thanks

 

RE: thanks, Duster, just placed the order!, posted on June 5, 2016 at 14:04:41
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 Mogami 2549 is a 6mm OD cable which is too thick to terminate with the narrow profile Switchcraft 3502A rca connector that's limited to a 5.16mm maximum OD cable.

 

RE: thanks, Duster, just placed the order!, posted on June 5, 2016 at 14:43:12
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002



The original VH Audio Pulsar miniature coaxial cable featuring a solid core copper center conductor with FEP Teflon dielectric for $29.99 per meter is the best modest-cost level bulk interconnect cable, IME. The cable is 3mm OD so it will easily fit into the narrow profile Switchcraft 3502A rca connector. I use the original Pulsar coaxial cable for a vintage Nakamichi cassette deck.

See link:

 

RE: thanks, Duster, just placed the order!, posted on June 5, 2016 at 15:04:06
WntrMute2
Audiophile

Posts: 782
Location: Detroit
Joined: September 16, 2002

I mate this wire with Neutrik Pro-Fi RCAs. Nice sound and thin as well as sharp looking. I float the shield at one end.

 

RE: thanks, Duster, just placed the order!, posted on June 5, 2016 at 16:31:20
gkargreen
Audiophile

Posts: 1562
Location: DC
Joined: February 5, 2005
 thanks, wintr, that looks like a good deal, so you float one end in unbalanced, correct?

 

RE: thanks, Duster, just placed the order!, posted on June 5, 2016 at 17:08:52
WntrMute2
Audiophile

Posts: 782
Location: Detroit
Joined: September 16, 2002



@gkargreen. Yes I float one end. A few tricks I use to make things easier to construct is to use a bit of emery cloth or emery board from the drugstore to get through the Kapton coating. It is really tough. Next, I enlarge the hole in the tab where the braid and wire will be soldered. I use a pin vise and small drill bit to ream it out a bit. Makes it easier to pass the combination through. Finally, I slip a couple of pieces of shrink tubing over each end before soldering the Pro-Fi ends on. That gives the collet style of strain relief a better grasp on the wire. Much better than a set screw type strain relief.

 

Addendum: Consider experimenting with this..., posted on June 6, 2016 at 13:31:01
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002



I take it the Pulsar cable at around $9 per foot is too pricey for you. Before you buy another silver plated interconnect cable, I suggest you try this very inexpensive Mogami W3080 bulk cable for your vintage audio application. It should take the presentation of your system closer to its vintage sonic signature vs. silver plated copper conductors. It's a 5mm OD cable, so it will fit perfectly into the narrow profile Switchcraft 3502A rca connector barrel. Mogami W3080 is designed for AES/EBU digital applications, but it's also recommended for line-level analog applications. If you don't like it, you will not have spent much for the experiment.

See link:

 

RE: Addendum: Consider experimenting with this..., posted on June 6, 2016 at 13:51:12
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 With that configuration, I would expect it to work well for phono too.

Dave

 

RE: Addendum: Consider experimenting with this..., posted on June 6, 2016 at 15:01:45
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 Yes, it should do well for a phono-level application. However, if the capacitive loading of a 4-conductor, star quad, shielded Mogami microphone cable is not too high for a particular phono cartridge, it might also be worthwhile to experiment with, since a cross-connected star quad geometry tends to provide excellent hum rejection for phono-level applications. In fact, the new unshielded VH Audio V-Quad cable is reported to provide excellent hum rejection, even without a shield for a phono-level signal. I gladly use a shielded star quad XLO interconnect cable for my vintage Thorens TT, with a vintage Grace cartridge that requires a level of capacitive loading.

 

DIY Interconnect ... Helix Mark V, posted on June 6, 2016 at 16:30:42
PingPing
Audiophile

Posts: 196
Joined: May 22, 2014
 gkargreen, you could try this one ...

 

RE: Addendum: Consider experimenting with this..., posted on June 7, 2016 at 10:12:48
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 Hi Duster,

I was unaware that the hum rejection would be that significant with star-quad. I should give it a try. My Grace 707 tonearm needs a female instead of a male DIN, so DIY is the way to go if I want toe better the stock cable. I also have a Grace 704 that came without cables. Are there any higher-end cables in a star-quad configuration?

Dave

 

RE: Addendum: Consider experimenting with this..., posted on June 7, 2016 at 12:51:53
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002



To the best of my knowledge, the VH Audio V-Quad is as good as it gets when it comes to an unshielded star quad bulk interconnect cable. I recently built a stellar sounding DIY DC umbilical with it. It's recommended for a number of different applications, so it's a very versatile bulk cable design.

See link:

 

Excellent design, posted on June 7, 2016 at 18:52:04
madisonears
Audiophile

Posts: 1587
Location: midwest
Joined: September 6, 2006
 Looks like he has done considerable experimentation and come up with a great design using high quality materials. Not sure the silver conductor provides better sound than similar grade copper, but that's my personal taste.

Peace,
Tom E
berate is 8 and benign is 9

 

RE: Addendum: Consider experimenting with this..., posted on June 8, 2016 at 09:11:25
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 That looks like it would make a bitchin' headphone cord! That is something I need.

Dave

 

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