Greetings, fellow cheepskates. Just posting three quick photos of my recently completed DIY cables. The designs were the result of knowledge gained in basic undergraduate physics classes combined what I learned from some in-depth reading on various websites. I then sprinkled in a little common sense in the form of the thought that the best cable is the one with electrical characteristics that allow the entirety of a signal to pass without loss or addition. My skepticism of gimmicky cables that equal my speakers in cost kept the project in check (and subsequently in this circle).
The speaker cables are first up. They are constructed of ApexJr's 20AWG solid core PTFE insulated copper wire - two twisted pairs were twisted together to comprise each conductor, resulting in a 14AWG finished product, plenty large for any signal I may send the 12 feet to each of my Salk SongTowers. The cables are finished in some TechFlex. I chose to terminate via bare wire; Any connector is simply another potential source of signal degradation. These cables have the desirable electrical characteristics of solid core wire without any worry of potential skin effect secondary to the 20AWG wire size.
The sole pair of interconnects in my system is up next. These deliver CD audio from a PS1 to an Onkyo 818 AVR. Home Grown Audio's solid core OHFC with an unbleached cotton dielectric comprise these interconnects that are constructed as simple twisted pairs with VALAB rhodium plated tellurium copper solderless RCA plugs. They are simple, though quite effective. As shown in my photo below, I only require a very short interconnect for this use, so this construction should be more than sufficient. The cotton dielectric is unique, and it is more effective than the more frequently used options.
Costs: The single pair of 24" RCAs ran $50. The 12' speaker cables came to $65. My shipping costs were included in this pricing.
In the end, I am very happy with how they've turned out. I can't tell you with any certainty that my sound has improved, though I get the impression that at least clarity and imaging are improved somewhat. The system sounds less...restricted. This could very well be placebo, though I don't really care. Real or imagined, any perceived improvement in sound, which would directly correlate with increased enjoyment of our hobby, is a good thing. Admittedly, these are not the cheapest cables. However, I presume that they may be near the sweet spot of the all important price/performance curve, and I think that is what this circle is all about.
Thanks for reading!
