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Solid Silver ICs and WBT/Furutech... Worth the price?

post #1 of 17
6/10/09 at 7:01am
Thread Starter 
This isn't truly a DIY question per se, but I thought since I'd be building them that this is the right place.

I am going to be building my first set of ICs very soon, and I am torn between making them with SPOFC from navships or if I want to take the plunge and go solid silver. I also have my eye on those very, very attractive RCAs from Furutech and WBT- but that's more from an asthetic viewpoint.

My question is, is it worth the price jump to go with pure silver, or would it be a waste. I am bitten hard with the placebo effect here and I need someone to talk me out of it.

This includes RCA Panel jacks as well.

Any thoughts?
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post #2 of 17
6/10/09 at 7:29am
Yeah, don't do it. Try the solid core silver but don't go with the expensive connectors. I am pretty sure you won't hear a difference.
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post #3 of 17
6/10/09 at 9:51am
when you said IC's I thought you ment intigegrated circuits! (Silver would be a very poor substrate due to it's lack of band gap precluding any semi conductivity)

Also as you asked to be talked out of it all audio cables are placebo past the point where they are constructed corectly (no loose connections and low level signals sheilded) and not stupid (Eg trying to use a wire the size of a hair to drive a 150W sub). Unless you have a noticable problem with a channel cutting out (bad connection), improperly sized wire to high power drivers getting warm, or external noise (Eg radio stations on your bass amp) then your just throwing money away. Have you ever heard a convincing argument for expensive cables?
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post #4 of 17
6/10/09 at 10:48am
Placebo nontheless but there is audible difference between silver and silver plated and OFC. But it's a 'difference', not necessarily 'better'. You should construct them three recipes and decide which one sounds the best to you.

Don't bother with the plugs, aside from asthetics.
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post #5 of 17
6/10/09 at 12:33pm
Okay, seeing this is pretty much covered I have a question myself. How important is shielding? I am about to build an interconnect with Mundorf SG wire and am thinking about shielding them. It will be relatively short interconnect (<50cm) but my computer is right next to it.
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post #6 of 17
6/10/09 at 12:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by individual6891 View Post

Don't bother with the plugs, aside from asthetics.
I would agree with that except that I think gold plated is worth it to make sure there is no oxidation/corrosion on your ICs. Even if the corrosion or oxidation is unlikely, it is worth spending $5 to prevent. There is no audible difference but there is a chemical one.
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post #7 of 17
6/10/09 at 1:27pm
Spend a little to get quality connectors, that will last a long time, make good connections, and not oxidize. However, don't go overboard. The Eichmann Bullets are a really good value for the money. Canare and Neutrik connectors would also be good.

For wire, I'd stay away from silver. A high-grade copper would probably be best. Jena Cable, Cryoparts, VH Audio, and homegrownaudio all sell some great wire for making cables. Cardas Crosslink is also a great cable with shielding and insulation already there. Cable shielding is optional. It probably will not have a huge impact on the sound, but if your rig involves close proximity to a computer, maybe it would be a good idea.
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post #8 of 17
6/10/09 at 1:46pm
If you really want to try silver, I'd suggest you might pick up a half dozen cheap RCA plugs at rat shack first. Make yourself a set in silver, a set with copper of your choice, and maybe a third pair with some other material. Starquad (Canare) and the Mogami equivalent are popular; cat5 teflon is popular; quality RG6 coax works well too.

After you confirm your favorite sounding conductor, reterminate with some decent Canare or Neutrik plugs. They are nice rugged plugs which work well and look decent. Even Cardas is practically giveaway compared to WBT.

No denying the beauty of WBT, but dayum they are very pricey, and I think you'd have to be pretty special to hear a difference. Yes, I know there are some people who can.
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post #9 of 17
6/10/09 at 2:45pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the replies everyone - I think I may do as you've all said and avoid the big ticket connectors and build several interconnects using different conductors. Damn Furutech and their nice design. The problem with me is that I hate gold plated stuff - I don't like the look of gold at all, so rhodium/silver is what I would opt for considering the lower quality of radio shack connectors that aren't plated.

I'm not actually expecting to hear a difference, strangely. I just have this notion that I want to get the best I can. I'm a perfectionist at heart.
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post #10 of 17
6/10/09 at 2:49pm
Oh I wouldn't use the radio shack connectors permanantly, just to facilitate quick comparisons of conductors without a lot of unsoldering/resoldering downtime.

Nail down what conductor sounds best, then add proper (but reasonable) terminations.

If you want silver/rhodium, Cardas GRCM are about $14 per pair. WBT is about ten times that, IIRC.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rshuck View Post
I'm a perfectionist at heart.
Uh-oh. You should just give your wallet to someone else for safe keeping right now.
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post #11 of 17
6/10/09 at 3:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rshuck View Post
I don't like the look of gold at all, so rhodium/silver is what I would opt for considering the lower quality of radio shack connectors that aren't plated.
Glad I'm not alone on this one. I have never liked gold on much of anything. Even when I buy the significant other jewelry she knows not to expect anything gold(except white gold of course).
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post #12 of 17
6/10/09 at 3:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Voodoochile View Post
Uh-oh. You should just give your wallet to someone else for safe keeping right now.
Precisely... I once spec'ed out a Tripath amp at over $700. When you take into account that I don't make that much money, bad things start to happen.
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post #13 of 17
6/10/09 at 4:37pm
Instead of cables, I'd put that time, money and effort into something like an amp, DAC or putting an old turntable back into spec. Any of those will yield tangible, measureable, benefits. They will also have resale value.

Cables... well, I've tried a few and didn't hear anything. I couldn't measure anything, either. When electrical phenomena can't be teased out with an oscilloscope and standard test gear, it's most likely something your brain tricks you into believing, like an optical illusion. Don't underestimate your brain - sugar pills can, apparently, relieve crippling pain. It isn't too far from there for a big price tag and a fancy advertising campaign to convince you that something sounds better.
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post #14 of 17
6/10/09 at 6:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by individual6891 View Post
Placebo nontheless but there is audible difference between silver and silver plated and OFC. But it's a 'difference', not necessarily 'better'. You should construct them three recipes and decide which one sounds the best to you.

Don't bother with the plugs, aside from asthetics.
Different wires have different specs ... so quite possibly you could have heard a difference. Due to say one cable being low capacitance for the system and another high capacitance. However, you can fairly easily get copper cable which capacitance matches or is even smaller than that of "audiophile silver interconnects". Same goes for impedance. Given the neglible price and this being DIY, it might well be worth testing if you still hear a difference between silver / coper after matching specs.
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post #15 of 17
6/10/09 at 6:28pm
Why are some allowed to lecture people who WANT to build cables that they ought not, and why is this allowed here? This ain't Sound Science.
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