[tortugaranger]

While I'm sure there are other price points here's a sampling of pricing:

$0.21/ft - Milspec quality 24 AWG silver coated 19 strand copper wire
$0.60/ft - OCC6N 24 AWG Bare Copper
$4.95/ft - OCC5N 24 AWG Bare Silver
$2.09/ft - Neotech UP-OCC 20 AWG (24 not available) Teflon Coated Copper
$9.45/ft - Neotech UP-OCC 24 AWG Bare Silver
$12.20/ft - Neotech UP-OCC 24 AWG Bare Silver/Gold
$7.50/ft - HGA 99.99 24 AWG FEP (a version of Teflon) Coated Silver
$0.50/ft - Plain Teflon tubing

In the scheme of things even at $12.20+0.50/foot a few feet of the Neotech-in-tube in a product already priced well above $1000 may not be a bad option.

[tortugaranger]

...if you are talking about a preamp, which requires switching between mutiple inputs, the switch quality will probably make more difference than that between 4N/5N silver and OCC copper.

Which is why we use LDRs for channel switching in our finished preamp products like the LDRx/LDRxB and earlier LDR1/3/6. No mechanical interfaces in the signal path.

[DaveC113]

May I ask where you are getting your pricing?

I'm not sure Neotech actually sells bare wire and absolutely sure they do not sell the silver/gold alloy bare. It is possible someone custom ordered wire and it's not a "stock" Neotech product, but be careful... there are a lot of people selling fake UPOCC wire. It's worth it to buy from a reputable supplier, and you may want to get info on which dealers are legit straight from Neotech.

I will PM you info on contacting Neotech, there's no reason you can't buy direct from them and save some cash, depends on quantities of course... at least they can tell you if what you are buying is legit.   

[tortugaranger]

May I ask where you are getting your pricing?

I'm not sure Neotech actually sells bare wire and absolutely sure they do not sell the silver/gold alloy bare. It is possible someone custom ordered wire and it's not a "stock" Neotech product, but be careful... there are a lot of people selling fake UPOCC wire. It's worth it to buy from a reputable supplier, and you may want to get info on which dealers are legit straight from Neotech.

I will PM you info on contacting Neotech, there's no reason you can't buy direct from them and save some cash, depends on quantities of course... at least they can tell you if what you are buying is legit.   

Found Neotch pricing/supply by simply googling around. Canadian supplier in Ontario - Parts Connexion. Have purchased a few high end items from them in the past. Seem quite legit on the face of it. http://www.partsconnexion.com/wire_hookup_neotech_silver_teflon.html

[DaveC113]

They are legit and big enough to order custom wire so they may have some unique items like bare wire OCC.

[rajacat]

I suspect that most of the silver/teflon wire is not actually coated with teflon but uses tubular teflon. I took a pair of pliers and pulled on the end my Neotech silver/teflon and  it slipped through the tubing.

I bought my wire from Sonicraft which is offering 30% off the retail price. 24 gauge @ $6.62/ft. http://www.soniccraft.com/specials.htm

No affiliation.

[bonsai]

I built a DCB1 buffer two years ago and used .999 Fine Silver Round Wire, 20-Ga., Dead Soft wire from RIOGRANDE.  You pay by the foot which is nice

http://www.riogrande.com/Product/999-Fine-Silver-Round-Wire-Dead-Soft/105310?Pos=4

I then got some of this teflon tubing for the Ga of wire. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AWG20-0-86MM-TEFLON-Insulated-TUBE-FOR-BARE-WIRE-12M-/281302035592?pt=US_Audio_Cables_Adapters&hash=item417ee86c88

Unreal how good it sounds.. . I think the .999 is solid and sounds great.  I don't know if you need to go to the .9999 or not. 

PS - I have paid for my preamp and I'd like to know what the added $$ I'd need to pay you to do this.

Check out the ebay link I provided.  This is a source of the teflon tube if you would build your own wire.  It comes in sizes to fit any guage of wire.  If you buy jewlers 99.99% pure dead soft silver....  Run it thru some extra fine steel wool and then use WBT solder to tin the ends.  wear rubber gloves. 

[timoteus]

Definitely a hot topic.  Over 25 replies in a day.  Here is my opinion for what it's worth.

The last couple amps I've built had OCC5N Silver in the signal path, one with silver output transformers. And the last few preamps have too including the new Tortuga preamp that I have posted.  I have also built three pairs of VenHaus silver OCC5N interconnects with Eichmann silver RCAs.  The more silver I put into my system the better it gets.  I have slowly come to the conclusion that if adding silver to your rig doesn't improve the sound then you have a component in the chain that isn't up to snuff.

So yeah, I'd say that adding silver to the already incredibly detailed and transparent Tortuga is a great idea.  The small gauge and short lengths needed make it very doable.  A lot of upside for a minimal cost.  If your source is grainy or your amp is marginal then the preamp is going to tell you.  But you'll also know that your Tortuga isn't part of the problem.   

[tortugaranger]

The more silver I put into my system the better it gets.  I have slowly come to the conclusion that if adding silver to your rig doesn't improve the sound then you have a component in the chain that isn't up to snuff.

As clear an endorsement for silver wire in audio as you're likely to read (or hear).

Which brings to mind a new branding idea... "Hi-Yo Silver Cable" and its new "Away" line. I'm dating myself. 

[srb]

I am replacing all of the signal path copper traces on my printed circuit boards with silver traces.  Then my components will be up to snuff.

Steve

[tortugaranger]

I am replacing all of the signal path copper traces on my printed circuit boards with silver traces.  Then my components will be up to snuff.

[bonsai]

Are you offering to do these options:

$0.21/ft - Milspec quality 24 AWG silver coated 19 strand copper wire
$0.60/ft - OCC6N 24 AWG Bare Copper
$4.95/ft - OCC5N 24 AWG Bare Silver
$2.09/ft - Neotech UP-OCC 20 AWG (24 not available) Teflon Coated Copper
$9.45/ft - Neotech UP-OCC 24 AWG Bare Silver
$12.20/ft - Neotech UP-OCC 24 AWG Bare Silver/Gold
$7.50/ft - HGA 99.99 24 AWG FEP (a version of Teflon) Coated Silver
$0.50/ft - Plain Teflon tubing

I'd pay the extra to have mine built with  $7.50/ft - HGA 99.99 24 AWG FEP (a version of Teflon) Coated Silver

I sent you a PM to ask about cost to have this sort of upgrade on the unit you are building for me with the 4 RCA inputs / two RCA outputs...  Are you working thru the options before responding?  Ok if you are.

I think it would be a worth while extra $$ for sure.

Thanks,
Andy

[tortugaranger]

Are you offering to do these options:

$0.21/ft - Milspec quality 24 AWG silver coated 19 strand copper wire
$0.60/ft - OCC6N 24 AWG Bare Copper
$4.95/ft - OCC5N 24 AWG Bare Silver
$2.09/ft - Neotech UP-OCC 20 AWG (24 not available) Teflon Coated Copper
$9.45/ft - Neotech UP-OCC 24 AWG Bare Silver
$12.20/ft - Neotech UP-OCC 24 AWG Bare Silver/Gold
$7.50/ft - HGA 99.99 24 AWG FEP (a version of Teflon) Coated Silver
$0.50/ft - Plain Teflon tubing

I'd pay the extra to have mine built with  $7.50/ft - HGA 99.99 24 AWG FEP (a version of Teflon) Coated Silver

Have ordered some of these for evaluation. Will be able to respond once I've heard them relative to baseline silver coated copper with Teflon. Few days.

Will not offer all of these multiple options. Will pick one. Have found better pricing for Neotech than shown here. The relative cost differences between the various silvers won't be the determinator. There's not that much total wire to make the cost delta for silver all that big in the scheme of things. There will be some added labor time relative to copper wire. This is all point to point hand wiring so with silver we are going to be more deliberate.

[tortugaranger]

We've decided to offer optional silver hookup wire for audio signal/ground path in our new LDRx/LDRxB Passive Preamps.

We've chosen Neotech teflon coated 26AWG UP-OCC Silver. UP-OCC stands for "ultra-pure ohno continuous cast" which results in extremely large/long silver metal crystals with the absolute minimum grain boundaries. This is state-of-the-art conductor material for the audiophile community.

The Neotech silver wire option will be $100 for the LDRx single ended and $200 for the LDRxB balanced. Contact me if you're interested in this option if you've already placed a pre-order. We'll be sending out notices of this to everyone with pre-orders. The website will be updated soon to reflect this option.

Cheers,
Morten

[bonsai]

Nice choice in optional silver hookup wire !!!

Can you PM me or Invoice me for the extra cost for the unit you have in the works for me?  I'm the two input and four output RCA shipping to Minnesota.

Getting siked!

Andy

[tortugaranger]

Nice choice in optional silver hookup wire !!!

Can you PM me or Invoice me for the extra cost for the unit you have in the works for me?  I'm the two input and four output RCA shipping to Minnesota.

Getting siked!

Andy

Hi Andy,
Nice upgrade. Will send you an invoice within the next 24 hours.
Best,
Morten