VH Audio DIY ICs

OBF · « **on:** 21 Oct 2004, 11:19 pm »

Has anyone built the VH Audio ICs using the bulk silver/cotton wire he's selling? Is it generally a good idea to use IC that are totally unshielded?

JoshK · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Oct 2004, 12:50 am »

IC's that are unshielded ARE a good idea if you don't have too much RFI/EMI problems and/or twist the wires. I have made CVH's silver IC's from the recipe but not from his silver/cotton wires.

OBF · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Oct 2004, 01:05 am »

Did you find them worth building? Like what I'm wondering is if you found them bettered by other reasonably priced cables or if you're still using them. I'm tempted to give them a try, but I've never built an IC before and am hence reluctant to buy an entire spool of wire and source the connectors, etc.....

I've had old Bolder Type 2s for quite a while and while I think they are surely a decent cable, I haven't tried many others. Just don't want to blow much money when I could use a new universal player instead.

JoshK · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Oct 2004, 01:20 am »

well, put it this way, you need to compare the tradeoff between the Bolder M80's which, imo, are pretty much the best reasonably priced IC's out there, or DIY and for cheaper maybe getting a tiny bit better.

but to answer your question, I would definitely say YES! It is worth doing, the silver cables I made turned out wonderfully but they will reveal problems you may not know you had elsewhere if you do. Catch 22 of resolution.

JoshK · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Oct 2004, 01:21 am »

btw, cables, especially ICs are really easy to build, stick with something proven and you can't go wrong.

OBF · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Oct 2004, 02:37 am »

Ok, thanks Josh, I got ya. It would probably be a worthwhile endeavor. Although as you mention the price for resolution..... my system already leans toward the analytical, I think a result of the combo of a digital amp and Ellis 1801s and I don't want to push it any further in that direction. That said, I don't really believe in using cables as tone controls and I'll probably change one of those 2 components at some point anyway.

JoshK · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Oct 2004, 02:45 am »

Try a hi-purity copper coax IC instead of silver if you system leans towards analytical. You won't color it but it won't be lean either. It'll be open and detailed but slightly warmer in the bass which you might need, imo.

Your Type 2's are probably just right in your case, so I'd be picky about what replaces them. You may try VH's pulsar DIY cables for an easy to make cable that will fit your bill.