Connections on the cheap?

mca · « **on:** 26 Aug 2003, 04:01 am »

Anyone have any suggestions for some great sounding but low cost interconnects with bullet plugs and speaker wire? I am looking to connect my second system on the cheap. Would like to find something small in diameter and flexible for a simple installation and would like to try out the Eichmann bullet plugs. System consists of Unison Research Unico, Tjoeb 4000 CD and Kestrel 2 speakers.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 Aug 2003, 10:20 am »

Listener mag did the article on DIY magnet wire IC's. Similar to Chris VenHaus' recipe
http://www.venhaus1.com/diysilverinterconnects.html

Listener used magnet wire from Radio Shack (but they mentoned using silver as well).

Jay S · « **Reply #2 on:** 26 Aug 2003, 10:26 am »

Brian Cherry @ diyhifisupply.com is a good guy with good products. Check out: http://www.diyhifisupply.com/parts/cable&wire.html. The copper wire kits are at the top of the page, the silver wire kits are further down.

I bought my Full Music 300B mesh plate tubes from him.

ton1313 · « **Reply #3 on:** 26 Aug 2003, 10:52 am »

Please Define Cheap.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #4 on:** 26 Aug 2003, 11:35 am »

Quote from: Jay S

Brian Cherry @ diyhifisupply.com is a good guy with good products. Check out: http://www.diyhifisupply.com/parts/cable&wire.html.

http://www.diyhifisupply.com/parts/cable&wire.html

Jay's period at the end of link makes page unreachable.

mca · « **Reply #5 on:** 26 Aug 2003, 03:34 pm »

Would like to spend a max of $100.00 for the interconnect (1m) and $2-300.00 for speaker wire (10 foot).

ton1313 · « **Reply #6 on:** 26 Aug 2003, 04:21 pm »

Check out the Oxyfule from Zu Cable. This is a definite bang for the buck @$99 per 1 meter. If you can get the Zu Gede on ebay for your price, it would definitely be the definition of bank for the buck. As far as speaker cables, Zu also has some offerings in your price range. The Julian comes in at $250 for a 10' pair, nice cable more detailed than DH-Labs Q-10 in my tests. You can also watch ebay as they are running some of their cables there from time to time.

I have had both the Julian & the Oxyfule in my system with great results, the only reason I don't have them in now is from upgrading to higher end Zu cables.

Hope this helps

warnerwh · « **Reply #7 on:** 26 Aug 2003, 06:41 pm »

Try some DH labs or Analysis Plus. You can find both used on audiogon and if they don't work out you can resell them.

JohnR · « **Reply #8 on:** 26 Aug 2003, 09:50 pm »

Well, there was this huge thread not long ago about "budget priced silver cables with bullet plugs"... try a search

mca · « **Reply #9 on:** 26 Aug 2003, 10:13 pm »

Warnerwh, I don't beleive either DH Labs or Analysis cables are available with bullet plugs, are they?
JohnR, the few silver cables that I have heard were too bright and not to my liking, so I don't want to go that route. Maybe things have changed with silver though, I'll have to take a look.

JohnR · « **Reply #10 on:** 26 Aug 2003, 10:16 pm »

Well, you could do what I do now, which is solder 6 inches of magnet wire to a pair of bullet plugs. Takes a few minutes and sounds good. I haven't compared it to other interconnects because life is too bloody short but I didn't detect anything wrong with it.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #11 on:** 26 Aug 2003, 10:46 pm »

Quote from: JohnR

Well, you could do what I do now, which is solder 6 inches of magnet wire to a pair of bullet plugs. Takes a few minutes and sounds good. I haven't compared it to other interconnects because life is too bloody short but I didn't detect anything wrong with it.

The Listener article suggested that the cheapest Radio Shack RCA's were best (and I'm talking the REAL cheap ones--6 in a bag for a couple bucks).
As I remember, he opined that chunky metal plugs were "difficult" for the small signal to "get through".

Disclaimer: this is all just hearsay and submitted only for your interest. If you is happy with you's IC's, I is happy for you!

mca · « **Reply #12 on:** 27 Aug 2003, 12:53 am »

JohnR, I am intrigued by your suggestion, what exactly is magnet wire and where can I get it?

JohnR · « **Reply #13 on:** 27 Aug 2003, 01:09 am »

Quote from: mca

JohnR, I am intrigued by your suggestion, what exactly is magnet wire and where can I get it?

It's what they use for making transformers. And presumably, electromagnets

(never thought of that before). The one I used is supposedly audiophile grade magnet wire from Michael Percy, but I'm not convinced it makes any difference at all. Even so it's not expensive. You can get a packet of three sizes from Radio Shack, electronics suppliers may also sell small (-ish i.e. not by the pound!) quantities. Here in Oz Jaycar has it in all sizes. In the US www.hndme.com has it I think.

I think Tonto's idea w/ the cheapo RS jacks is a good one, I used those when I first experimented with ICs and could still tell the difference between cable constructions so the jacks can't be that bad. Maybe I'll make up a set using the Ratshack parts and compare to my Risch recipe ICs for a lark.

You can also braid the magnet wire if you get keen

See Chimera labs:

http://www.chimeralabs.com/diy_braid.html

[Edit: now that I think about it again, I expect the biggest use of magnet wire is probably in electric motors. So if you have a busted kids toy with a motor in it, rip it apart and you can get audiophile wire for free

]

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #14 on:** 27 Aug 2003, 01:18 am »

The Radio Shack package is
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F011%5F010%5F004%5F000&product%5Fid=278%2D1345
Might try this just to get one's feet wet in DIY IC's??? Then try the audiophile magnet wire with bullets??

Central Scrutinizer · « **Reply #15 on:** 27 Aug 2003, 02:57 am »

Anyone try this guy?

http://www.signalcable.com/

ratbbb2 · « **Reply #16 on:** 23 Dec 2003, 04:52 am »

I have a couple Of Homegrown silverlase ICs I bought for a Buck ($100) for the .5 m and $125 for the 1meter on audiogon and have purchased Zu cable Warmouth for as little as $120 plus shipping from the same site. I would go with the Zu cables as they are better rounded (MHO) Or you can make your oun as I have for about 20 bucks . The don't sound as good but I'm working on it . 22 Gauge mill spec and Calrad locking plugs (Also used bullet plugs).
roger

viggen · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 Dec 2003, 08:36 pm »

I used the Radio Shack magnet wires to build speakercable and interconnects during the summer but has since removed them in favor of the 47 OTA cables.

I tri-braided two 30awg and one 26awg cables. I connected them to the bulletplug with the two 30awg as signal and the single 26awg as ground. This was a fantastic analog as well as digital interconnect. I finished the cable off by wrapping a small piece of ERS around the inside of the bulletplug's barrel. This made a distinct improvement in detail and transparency.

I did the same for speaker cable but barewired the connections.

One note, I tried braiding with different tensions, tight, medium and loose. The loose sounds best. I think it is because more mechanical vibration is being conducted as the braiding gets tighter. Just a theory.

As you can see on my avatar, that is the magnetwire with bulletplug connected to the dackit.

Mark Rich · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 Dec 2003, 08:54 pm »

RhinoCables.net
Boldercables.com
Heartlandcables.com
Signalcables.com

rosconey · « **Reply #19 on:** 23 Dec 2003, 09:58 pm »

i went from expensive cables down to rat shacks-in my system the rats sound better