Cable Asylum

Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys.

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RE: Advice Sought for Balanced Bulk Interconnect Long Runs

Posted by Mel on January 25, 2017 at 20:58:12:
The capacitance of the Connex silver interconnect is said to be 24pF C to S and 13 pF C to C. This is pretty low, but not close to the Mogami figure of 3.4pF C to C (23 pF C to S). All figures per foot. The DH Labs Silver Sonic BL-1 Series II capacitance is 44pF C to S and 24 pF C to C. A more recent Discovery cable capacitance is 22pF C to C. I mention this particularly because I am informed that at shows it was regularly, and successfully, demonstrated at 40 foot lengths between preamp and amplifier. The older (original) Discovery is 30pF C to C.
So that raises the question which I could never find written of in the Asylum, to wit, how much capacitance is tolerable and how much is too much?
To answer one question directly, as for connectors, given the relatively low cost of Asian connectors about which you have written I see no reason not to use good ones. I have also used Xhadow (silver over copper) spades and am now using these (below) said to be silver over copper, but possibly rhodium. I'll find out for sure as they age. I am also using Valabs.
As for my own use, first of all with real balanced components at each end I am a good candidate for long interconnects. Using VERY inexpensive wires both for interconnect and speakers (for the moment biwiring with 2m of SUPRA Ply 3.4/S on top and Home Depot 10 ga on bottom) I am confident that I have improved my system compared to the short interconnect and long speaker wire of "name" brands I have used for many years. In a word: Clarity. Like the window has been washed. I could live with what I have.
As for where to go from here. Like most of us, obsessive as we are, I wish for more of everything. Mostly I listen to orchestral music. I would like better articulation without boosting the high frequencies. That is the start and stop of instruments. More body (three dimensionality) of each to set them apart from their neighbors. Must keep the mellow quality on the bottom I hear in live concerts. And like everyone else a larger sound stage, deeper and wider outside of the speakers.
Thanks for listening here and thanks for all you do at the Asylum.