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Cable Asylum Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys. |
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Cable Asylum Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys. |
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In Reply to: Would Belden 8214 make a good sounding speaker cable? posted by Kevin Ross on May 19, 2000 at 16:04:32:
I was preparing a post on this very subject!There are several stock coaxial cables that have a decent combination of materials that would enable them to be used for speaker cables, and perform better than PVC based zip cords. They would not be in the same category of performance as Cross-Connected 89259 or braided teflon CAT5, but somewhere in between those and the large zip cords in terms of sonic performance. Since they would not require any braiding or work other than terminations, they represent an easier route to better than zip cord performance. Even there, if you had length to burn over time, they could be terminated in the bare copper, and periodically cut-off when tarnished.
There is one problem from an EMF standpoint with these types of constructions, and that is even though they tend to have a decently low inductance due to the coaxial construction, the larger center conductors will still be prone to the skin effect, and some smearing of the sound will occur. In order to use these as is, without taking them apart or reassembling them in a more effective geometry, the center wire must come close to balancing the outer braid DCR, so as to not be too unbalanced electrically, or waste copper.
BTW, due to the PVC jackets, and the larger center wire, these are NOT recommended for Cross-Connection ala my 89259 recipe, the PVC dielectric will become a part of the insulator system, and degrade the sound. Cross-Connection works so well on the 89259 due to the smaller center wire (22 gauge), and the teflon jacket used on the 89259, a combination not found elsewhere.
The 8214 you mentioned can be used. Approx. 70 cents a foot.
So can these, and my first choice is:
Belden 8213, Foamed PE, 14 gauge solid bare copper wire, and bare copper braid, Alpha Wire #9847, approx. 56 cents a foot. The smaller center wire has less smearing, so these will sound slightly better. This is the only one of this group that i have formally listened to, some ofthe others were auditioned informally.Belden 8237, Solid PE, 13 gauge stranded bare copper wire, and bare copper braid, Alpha Wire #9008, approx. 55 cents a foot.
Belden 9251, Solid PE, 13 gauge stranded bare copper wire, and bare copper braid, approx. 72 cents a foot.
Belden 8267, Solid PE, 13 gauge stranded bare copper wire, and bare copper braid, approx. 76 cents a foot.
Triaxial cables can be used IF connected with the center and outermost braid as one polarity, and the middle braid as the other. These will be more unbalanced electrically, with unequal DCR's, however, the inductance will be lower than the coaxial types, and the capacitance commensurately higher.
The 9888 you mentioned, which does have a PE jacket, and:
Belden 8233, which also has a PE jacket, with a 14 gauge solid bare copper center wire, and bare copper braid.These are unusual types of coaxial cables, and may or may not be readily available. The ones I have a cost for, are available from Newark, but only in 500 foot spools, which is the case with all of these part numbers, minimum spool size is 500 feet.
So if you can get any of these coaxes without a special order, at a reasonable price, then you may want to try them out as an easy alternative to PVC based zip cords. However, if you have to order them, you would really be better off getting the good stuff, 89259, and making the CC version of the speaker cable, and the leftovers will make excellent IC's, hookup wires, etc.
Just as a recap, the 89259 is a foamed teflon inner insulation coax, with a 22 gauge bare copper stranded center wire, and bare copper braid, with a teflon jacket. Runs about $1 a foot, with two coaxes needed for the Cross-Connected speaker cable version.
See:
http://members.xoom.com/Jon_Risch/s1.htm
and
http://members.xoom.com/Jon_Risch/page2.htm
for the details on how to assemble the 89259 into speaker cables, and
http://members.xoom.com/Jon_Risch/i1.htm
for info on the interconnects made using 89259.Jon Risch
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Follow Ups
- Good Question, and some answers. - Jon Risch 08:26:25 05/20/00 (0)
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