DIY Cable Gallery!!

[philodox]

Nice work on the HD201s... I might just have to try the same thing when mine get here. Its not like its a big investment gone if you mess it up.

[headchange4u]

Finished my 6-strand to 2 3-strand braids headphone splitter cable. Decided to leave it naked and I left the heatshrink off the connectoes again.

22AWG silver plated copper in a Litz braid X 6
Canare F-12 mini
Calrad mimi jack X 2
Silver bearing solder






I have good news and bad news. The good news is that the cable came out looking great. The bad news is that it doesn't work very well. If coming straight out of the iPod you can barely here any sound at all, even with the volume turned all the way up. I also tried through my Pimeta. I got plenty of sound but it was horribly distorted. I was using the stock iPod buds and the stock buds that came with my Delphi MyFi unit. I think they are the same impedence.

I'm kinda bummed they didn't work cause I really like the cable. Maybe I am doing something wrong. Here's the pics either way....

[bg4533]

headchange4u,
is the sound distorted with only 1 headphone attached? if so you probably have a small short signal to ground on one of the connectors. Check for drips of solder and loose wire strands.

[RnB180]

Its the added resistance. which is why its distorted.
run it out of a headphone amplifier and see how it works.

you know, I used to think Kimber Kables looked spectacular and unique, after visting the DIY forums. When I see a kimber cable it looks like a home made DIY now

[headchange4u]

Originally Posted by bg4533

headchange4u,
is the sound distorted with only 1 headphone attached? if so you probably have a small short signal to ground on one of the connectors. Check for drips of solder and loose wire strands.

I took apart the connectors. I knew I didn't have a drip of solder or loose wire because I wrap each individual solder connector in Teflon tape.

My problem is those cheaply made Calrad connectors. The ground clamp has dislodged from the main body of the plug. I can plug my headphones and push the ground clamp in and they work fine. I can see the ground clamp slide out of the body of the plug when I let go of the wire. It just comes out a little bit but its enough to be causing problems in my ground channel. I'm going to try a little solder and see if that helps.

I really wish Canare would start making a 3.5mm cable end jack in their F-line of connectors, like the F-12. Maybe we should start a petition to get Canare to start manufacturing these.

Originally Posted by RnB180

Its the added resistance. which is why its distorted. run it out of a headphone amplifier and see how it works.

It's when its running out of my amp that I get the distorted sound. I get almost no sound straight from a source.


EDIT:
Thanks for the tip, bg4533!

It was the ground clamp on the Calrad connectors. I soldered the connectors where the ground clamp goes into the body of the plug and got nothing but crystal clean sound out of both my iPod and Pimeta. Problem fixed so now my cable looks good AND works properly.

I have used the Calrad connectors before with no problems, but I have always thought the ground clamp was a little lacking.

[RnB180]

like one of these

[headchange4u]

Originally Posted by RnB180

like one of these

[

That's it.

You can see where th ground clamp goes into the body. My ground clamp pulled loose from there.

[[AK]Zip]

Cable is 3 feet long. Mini connector used this time. Wires are soldered directly to the pins.





-Alex-

[Garbz]

you guys have no idea how jealous I am of your heatgun. Using a lighter just isn't the same.

[[AK]Zip]

Originally Posted by Garbz

you guys have no idea how jealous I am of your heatgun. Using a lighter just isn't the same.

I am using a really high powered blow dryer..