Cable Asylum

Interconnect wire question

72.169.97.61

Kim S.

A

I know this has been discussed before but am looking for any new thoughts. I've noticed that many interconnect designs, even the high dollar ones use a more expensive wire like silver for the signal wire and use copper as the return wire. Is there any reason for this besides keeping the cost down? Is there a marked improvement in using "better" wire for both runs?

I'm thinking of building an interconnect using Chris Venhaus diy silver interconnect design except using 26gauge Neotech silver/gold alloy wire for the signal run and 24gauge Neotech copper wire as the return.

Follow Ups:

RE: Interconnect wire question - Jon Risch 10:02:32 02/13/16 (1)
From a physics standpoint, the so-called ground or return wire carries the signal just as much as the signal or hot wire does.

See:
http://www.AudioAsylum.com/audio/cables/messages/503.html

That said, when using a different material or geometry for a return leg, this will place it's signature onto the audio signal, just as the signal wire or hot lead does.

Thus, materials and geometry can be "mixed" to achieve a certain tonal balance and soundstage presentation.

In the case you are asking about, silver can sometimes have a bright or forward presentation, and using a copper return wire could help balance that out to some extent. Copper is often thought to sound warm and have a powerful bass. These attributes are hard to separate as being from the conductor materials or from the insulator materials, and so, such generalizations have frequent exceptions.

Realize that when mixing conductor materials or insulator materials, the net result can just as easily be a benign mixture of the two (or more) sonic attributes, or it can end up with the worst of both worlds too. Seldom, if ever, do the sonic attributes end up being the best of both worlds.

Jon Risch
- RE: Interconnect wire question - Kim S. 02:14:34 02/14/16 (0)
  Thanks everyone for the info. The combination of wires I am thinking of is a little arbitrary. Zenwave audio uses the same type wires but I don't know the gauge used or the geometry of the cables. My previous experience with the Venhaus design using all silver wire suggests to me that this might work well.
RE: Interconnect wire question - Awe-d-o-file 15:15:55 02/11/16 (0)
I'm in the camp that says copper is fine for the return. It's a money saver too. My Speltz Anticables are silver/copper. I don't believe the wire combo is what makes them great it is their unshielded design and minimal dielectric which is only on the copper return. The silver signal wire just has cotton.

ET
RE: Interconnect wire question - Jonesy 08:15:45 02/11/16 (0)
I believe Kimber Kable has silver/copper vs all silver interconnects. Definite price difference. Unfortunately I am not familiar with them. You could search comparisons. Might give you some idea.

Cheers!

Jonesy

"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."

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