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Silver (Ag) vs Copper (Cu) for an interconnect

post #1 of 39
1/21/09 at 4:32pm
Thread Starter 
I have always made my own cables, long beofre I got into audio. I was looking to buy some new cables for my headphones from soloz2 but they are unfourtunitly, out of my budget. I can afford, however, wire and interconnects. I may aswell make my own cables. My question is how much of a difference is Silver wire going to make over Copper wire. The reason I ask is because they don't have stranded silver wire and solid won't be flexable at all. probally not good. Copper is also cheaper. So what do you think? Thanks.

Sorry for spelling errors, no spell check on my school internet explore. crap.
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post #2 of 39
1/21/09 at 6:33pm
I prefer silver.
I've got the Kimber PBJ and the Kimber Silver Streak here; exactly the same cables except that in the SS the single signal wire is silver instead of the PBJ's copper. The similarities are larger then the differences, but the differences are audible on the freq. ends; the silver has a cleaner, more extended treble and a better defined bass.
And silver is more durable; both silver and copper oxide, but silver oxide has almost the same conducting value as silver, copperoxide is considerably less conductive then copper.

Now I'm out before people come to tell you that there is no difference because cables all measure the same (they don't, see f.i. the measurements in hifichoice) and in DBT you can't hear the difference (such a test was done here a few years ago in the Netherlands, and it was very significant that people could hear a difference).
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post #3 of 39
1/22/09 at 3:14am
No matter whether you prefer silver or not, a solid core phone cable doesn't seem like a great idea. It would be very susceptible to kinks, as well as just unwieldy.
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post #4 of 39
1/24/09 at 4:07pm
I made a super short LOD for my Ipod with 30g solid silver wire but it is very very short and does not need to be flexible.
The SQ is a little brighter than my old Siik adapter I got at Headroom,
But I still like it. When I get enough courage to solder aome copper silver combo or straight copper, I'll let you know.

FYI they do make silver in stranded but it's very expensive and the smallest is around 22g I think.
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post #5 of 39
1/24/09 at 4:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mudkip View Post
I have always made my own cables, long beofre I got into audio. I was looking to buy some new cables for my headphones from soloz2 but they are unfourtunitly, out of my budget. I can afford, however, wire and interconnects. I may aswell make my own cables. My question is how much of a difference is Silver wire going to make over Copper wire. The reason I ask is because they don't have stranded silver wire and solid won't be flexable at all. probally not good. Copper is also cheaper. So what do you think? Thanks.

Sorry for spelling errors, no spell check on my school internet explore. crap.
For a warm, natural, smooth sound copper is what you want. For something lean, detailed, and more neutral then silver is what you want. Neither is better, you just need to make this decesion bassed on taste. For me, I hate silver, it sounds tipped up and very un natural. I strongly recommend copper if you are not sure. I would look for some COAX wire with shielding built in, without shielding you will end up with a noisey cable and that kinda defeats the purpose of building cables for improvements in sound quality.
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post #6 of 39
1/24/09 at 4:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by olblueyez View Post
For me, I hate silver, it sounds tipped up and very un natural. I strongly recommend copper if you are not sure.
Same here
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post #7 of 39
1/24/09 at 4:38pm
http://www.canare.com/index.cfm?obje...9FCBEF6DC30BEF
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post #8 of 39
1/24/09 at 11:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by olblueyez View Post
For a warm, natural, smooth sound copper is what you want. For something lean, detailed, and more neutral then silver is what you want. Neither is better, you just need to make this decesion bassed on taste. For me, I hate silver, it sounds tipped up and very un natural. I strongly recommend copper if you are not sure.
hear, hear. I was never a believer in interconnects making an audio difference so I always just had one interconnect (a silver one). But when I DIYed my own interconnect and a LOD, I chose copper cause it was cheaper and I was likely to screw up and wow there IS a difference. And I prefer my copper DIY one, it matches/synthesizes with the rest of my rig really well.

So it's just a personal preference kind of thing whether you like the sound or you don't? and might depend on the rest of your gear whether they match well together.
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post #9 of 39
1/25/09 at 3:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by boomy3555 View Post

FYI they do make silver in stranded but it's very expensive and the smallest is around 22g I think.
where did you find the stranded silver?? my supplier still hasnt come through (so until he finances a large enough order it wont be coming my way), I have found some, but its too large for regular interconnects. I would be very interested in the stuff you have found
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post #10 of 39
1/25/09 at 3:41am
Here's one place

Homegrown Audio Co. | pure silver audio cables - Products - Silver Braid


I just Googled
"diy silver audio cable"
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post #11 of 39
1/25/09 at 3:55am
If I'm not mistaken, Homegrown Audio silver wires are all SOLID, not stranded. The braids they have listed are made from solid silver teflon wires. I dont think qusp was looking for these.

Vampire does have a stranded silver wire in clear insulation. Its rare, about $5 a foot but looks stunning. I have to dig the link up. Will PM you qusp.
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post #12 of 39
1/25/09 at 3:59am
Shielding? Or is it looks that is most important?
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post #13 of 39
1/25/09 at 4:27am
Silver Litz wire available here.
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post #14 of 39
1/25/09 at 4:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by musicmaker View Post
If I'm not mistaken, Homegrown Audio silver wires are all SOLID, not stranded. The braids they have listed are made from solid silver teflon wires. I dont think qusp was looking for these.

Vampire does have a stranded silver wire in clear insulation. Its rare, about $5 a foot but looks stunning. I have to dig the link up. Will PM you qusp.
yes mate you are correct; as I stated I was after silver STRANDED wire, not silver braid, its very difficult to get a hold of I have some but its too thick and the other one I have is piccolinio and we all know how expensive that is. that would be great if you could grab that for me mate. and vampire too; how did I miss that.
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post #15 of 39
1/25/09 at 4:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by olblueyez View Post
Shielding? Or is it looks that is most important?
no the fact that its silver and its stranded is whats most important. I dont actually find shielding is very important in a portable rig. and if I wanted shielding guess what I would buy......??? shielding. I dont like ready made cables and I dont really care for them; I would much rater put my own together how I like, which is copper on signal and silver on ground/return. sometimes I will go 100% one or the other, but again if I want shielding i'll add it. I also dont care if it comes in clear or bright green insulation as its going in a headphone cable that will be covered most of the way, but yeah clear would be nice. i'd be happy with any stranded silver no matter what colour at the moment. its been a long quest. I also find shielding makes cables too stiff in general
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