How do you build your own interconnects?

[Gary]

Never satisfied, I keep thinking about better stereo components. I have Kimber silver streak interconnects and they are great. However I want better midrange and do NOT want to sacrifice my sweet, detailed high end and low end.

I've tried a few other brands like Transparent Cable's Music Link, some Van Den Hul interconnects, some "private brand" interconnects, etc., with mixed results. Nothing is good enough.

I can upgrade to Kimber 1020's or 1030's but what happens if they are not good enough? They are not exactly cheap - and no one has any loaners!

Now I am thinking of buying a few feet of Kimber cable and making my own interconnects.

But should I try to get the " + " pure silver and the " - " pure copper? What components should I look for?

What do you think? And comments would be appreciated!

I have McIntosh MC240 amp and McIntosh MX110 pre with Kimber Cable and Tangent RS8 3 way speakers. And, yes, I am happy with my Kimbers. I just want to be happier. ;)

[Jamie Tate]

Are you wanting suggestions for RCA connectors?

Don't forget the silver solder!

[proufo]

Hello Gary.

I suppose at this level that you have no choice but to obtain loaners and test them.

Maybe you can buy used at ebay and resell if they don't satisfy.

Try http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/cables.htm

There's no reason to believe that they would be satisfactory though. No alternative in your case but to do the actual tests.

Good luck. Should be fun and if you succedd, exhilarating!

[Dave]

Jamie, I think Gary's looking for the whole ball of wax so to speak.

Gary, you know what the SS's sound like. The only up-grade I can honestly suggest is the KS-1020's as if you go total silver you will loose that bottom end warmth that you love for rock n' roll, just as you would loose part of that beautiful transparent high end that you get from the silver if you were to go all copper. Combination is the only way to go IMHO ;)

[Jamie Tate]

When I was a starving engineer I used to wire studios for a living. I've inhaled enough lead to deform my grandchildren (if I ever have kids).

I know it's not high end, audiophile kit, but I make all my cables and wire every studio with Mogami cable and Neutrik connectors. It's actually great cable and is easy to work with. The Neutrik connectors look great and are easy to put together. This is the stuff a lot of the larger mastering studios are wired with. (SHHH!:shh: That's a secret!!)

I know this isn't the kind of stuff you're looking for but my point is if you have any soldering questions I may be able to help. I don't know how much of an expert you are.:)

[Jamie Tate]

Originally posted by Dave
Jamie, I think Gary's looking for the whole ball of wax so to speak.

Gotcha!:righton:

Ignore my last post.:angel:

[Dave]

Well I wouldn't quite go that far Jamie.....as I have heard that Neutrik connectors are quite good, haven't tried em', but they have been recommended.;)

My experiences have been very similar to Gary's in that all other brands that I've compared (Cardas, Transparent, MIT, Coincident, just to name a few) haven't lived up to my Kimber's.

I would love to hear their absolute top-of-the-line IC's and speaker cable on Gary's system but my God! Have ya seen the prices?:bigeek:

[Gary]

Hi all!

Yes, I've done a just a bit of soldering in the past. Not very good at it but I eventually get it. I try NOT to 'cold solder' but heat both pieces up togeather....

In the past I had a source for Cardas RCA plugs. I should see if I can get more.

And price is a consideration which is why I am looking at DIY cables!

Thanks for your responses so far!

[Ron Stone]

LISTENER did an article on constructing a peculiar set of homebrew interconnects, using individual strands of bare wire tethered to the wall via plastic hooks (so they wouldn't cross and short out), soldered to the connectors on the jacks. The construction required lots of measuring, patience and more importantly no children or pets, but the sound was supposed to be spectacular. Never built them myself, as I had a cat at the time.

[Claus]

Why you want build your own interconnects... go to your dealer... take as much cables for a A/B test and then decide what is the best.

I have tested XLO's "Unlimited" and Transparent's "Reference", and both are like music should sound! Unfortunately they're so expensive and not in my price range...

[Beagle]

Gary, I built a few of THESE (http://www.soundstage.com/synergize/synergize021998.htm) cheap DIY interconnects and they sound very clear and pure. Not as 'full' sounding as others, but clean and 'grain' free.

Why do cables sound different anyway? Why should they?

[Ted Bell]

Gary,

Here's a link-they have been discussed quite extensively on the audioasylum cable discussion group: http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/i1.htm

Don't have any personal experience with them, though

Jay N.

[proufo]

Originally posted by Beagle
Why do cables sound different anyway? Why should they?

It's not the cable by itself, but how it interacts with your components.

For more than you ever wanted to know about cables, check Stereophile November 20001, Vol. 24 #11.

It's physics so results do not have to be proportional to cost. But it is a business too.

Check http://www.fatwyre.com/international.html for loaners.

[Gary]

Originally posted by Claus
Why you want build your own interconnects... go to your dealer... take as much cables for a A/B test and then decide what is the best.

I have tested XLO's "Unlimited" and Transparent's "Reference", and both are like music should sound! Unfortunately they're so expensive and not in my price range...

Been there. Done that. Bought the T-shirt. ;)

That's a problem for me - the cost!

Not too many dealers carry lots of selections around here. I have not even seen Transparent's Reference! But I probably don't WANT to hear them - know what I mean?

I believe interconnects are really system dependant, like Proufo indicated.

Ahhh, well, I guess I'll have to start the newest round of experiments!

[John Moschella]

Audio interconnects are system dependant and part of the reason is that there is no standard impedance terminations for audio components like there are for video components. If that Stereophile article is the one I'm thinking of it explains that.

Gary, what does this mean for you? Don't try to build your own. Think of it this way. Suppose you borrowed three or four or more different types of interconnects and choose the best for you system. If you set out to build three or four different types you'd be doing this for years, and even then you might not be optimized for your system. There are so many different types of interconnects and you can find something that matches your system to your tastes much more efficiently by trying things. Bet you can find dealers via the internet or classifieds that will lend you stuff with a CC deposit. Cables lay around shops and are cheap to ship. My two cents.

If you want to buy used cables go to AudioGon, much more high end stuff then Ebay and easier to deal with because 90% of the adds are classifieds.

John