[mca]

I just purchased a vintage Sansui 350 receiver that was up for sale on this site. Nice little receiver! It uses the old push speaker connectors with the small hole that seems to fit small bare wire only. I'm looking for some quality, thin, bare wire that can be used as speaker wire with this receiver. Any suggestion would be appreciated and if you have anything that would work lying around, let me know! I need about an 8' pair.

[woodsyi]

Search for this thread earlier today.

   
Re: Audio Art IC-3 interconnects
« Reply #12 on: July 30, 2006, 12:49:48 am »
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I just finished a bi-wired pair of speaker cables made out of the 12ga magnet wire with the red varnish coating. I am extremely impressed with the sound quality these cables bring to my system. They are far, far away from sounding thin. Just the opposite for me, very dynamic, powerfull bass & just downright musical. I couldn't be more pleased with my DIY project. On a side note I have a very large spool of the wire. If anyone is interested in trying a DIY project I am selling it for .35ft & a flat fee of 3.00 to cover shipping costs. Trust me I'm not getting rich with this offer. I'd just like to see others try it & am making it very easy at this price. If interested send me a PM.
Phil   

[mca]

That would work size wise, but the stiffness of that stuff is a pain in the butt. I would prefer something that is easy to bend, twist and drape.

[woodsyi]

Have you tried the pins?  I used something like this http://www.impactacoustics.com/product.asp?cat%5Fid=115&sku=29783from Home Depot to use with Bose speakers. 

[Bob Reynolds]

If 12 ga. will work, how about Belden 5000UE?

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

I use the 10 ga. and it's easy to work with.

[TheChairGuy]

I second woodsyi...speaker pins are the most versatile connector there is.

It works with push-pins, 5 ways, the weird connections on the back of the TEAC amps...everything I've thus far come across. My Alpha-Core MI-2's were terminated in these...and I couldn't be happier (versatility-wise  )

Parts Express also offers them (cheap) and they are nicely weighted, nicely finished.

[Merle]

Go to Madisound and look for Supra Cable. It's cheap, it sounds great and it's as flexable as a wet noodle! Highly recommend!

[mca]

Thanks for the suggestions. I did not even know those pins existed. Great find as I also have a stock Teac I can use them on.

Blue Jean is out of the Belden cable so I think I will order up some of the Supra cable from Madisound and track down a couple of sets of those pins 

[Bob Reynolds]

Thanks for the suggestions. I did not even know those pins existed. Great find as I also have a stock Teac I can use them on.

Blue Jean is out of the Belden cable so I think I will order up some of the Supra cable from Madisound and track down a couple of sets of those pins 

Obviously, others have had better luck with pins than I have -- they always break off. I have seen a flex type of pin which is essentially the same as bare wire.

http://zebracables.com/ is another source of Belden cable. Vampire connectors, too. They carry the 14 ga as well at $0.26/ft.

[Kevin Haskins]

None of those pins work worth a damn.   I typically just trim the copper wire and tin a thin section with solder.   It is still malable and the spring thingy will be able to get a bite on the cable.    Also... the copper won't oxidize and turn all nasty over time.

[Bob Reynolds]

The "sound guru" at M&K suggested to me to simply tin the tip of the bare wire to keep it from fraying. I intend on removing the Vampire bananas I'm currently using and following his advice.

Kevin, can you explain a little more on the "tin a thin section with solder"? I'm not sure I understand. THanks.

[JLM]

Single strand CAT5 or CAT6.  Category 5/6 comes in 4 twisted pairs.  Due to the small size (24 gauge) will fit easily into those connections, but you'll lose a bit of base.  But it's dirt cheap (usually can be found around IT installations or construction sites, or go to Radio Shack if you have to.  This stuff was all the rage with the DIYers a couple of years ago.  I've been using cryo'd CAT5 for the last 3 years.  (I'll switch over to some Element Cables as soon as I get around to rebuilding my speaker's compensation circuit.)