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Wire gauge for interconnects?

post #1 of 12
11/14/09 at 8:26pm
Thread Starter 
It's a pretty quick question that I'm having trouble finding on google. What is the best gauge of wire to use for RCA interconnects? I have both 18 and 24 awg at my disposal, but it seems as if most people are using 20-22. I was just wondering if 18 or 24 would be sufficient, and which would be preferable. Thanks!
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post #2 of 12
11/14/09 at 10:33pm
I don't think there is a "best", it's low-level signal and anything above perhaps 36 gauge should be enough, though likely a pain in the butt to work with and very fragile.

For practical purposes 20-24 awg is flexible enough for stationary interconnects.
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post #3 of 12
11/15/09 at 12:20am
From all I've read from various sources, I'd say 24-26 AWG, or 4x 28 AWG in a star-quad arrangement or some variation of the above. 18 AWG is speaker cable.
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post #4 of 12
11/15/09 at 12:25am
I'm surprised this thread hasn't taken off with recommendations for gamma ray shielding and neutrino deflectors.

I used 18ga speaker wire for my hd650 cables. I imagine it would be alot easier to work with for IC's with multiple connector's than squeezing 2 pair into one.

24ga is plenty, unless you want to do some fancy braiding of the 18ga stuff for that extra oggling factor.
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post #5 of 12
11/15/09 at 1:57am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the replys guys. The 24awg is pretty small so I was just making sure it was large enough. Sounds like I'll be trying braiding the 24 first and see what happens.
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post #6 of 12
11/15/09 at 7:39am
Most stock headphone cables use around 30awg.
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post #7 of 12
11/15/09 at 10:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by crapback View Post
gamma ray shielding and neutrino deflectors.
doesn't that go without saying?

and yeah, i agree with the "whatever is usable" (not too thin like human hair, not like underground mains cable either), 24 AWG should be fine!
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post #8 of 12
11/16/09 at 12:44pm
Most of the arguments for thicker wires in an interconnect are based on durability. If you are reasonably careful with the cable 30ga is more than adequate, and even thinner has some potential benefits to cable capacitance and skin effects if you believe in that stuff (and who believes in cables and dosnt believe in that?).

I Have used 40ga (maybe 41, I built this thing about 2 years ago) magnet wire which is about as thin as human hair for signal in a thick & thin IC. The thick (ground) wire was 20ga magnet wire: It would have been a bunch easier to wind the ground wire if I had used 22 or 24 but I didnt have any on hand. It sounds great IMO.

It has survived countless system changes, 6 local meets, and 1 national but you should take care to give it good strain relief AND generally treat it well if you decide to go with a wire this stupid thin. I think it goes without saying after those warnings that no MFR is stupid enough to build a cable this delicate no mater what it sounds like.

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post #9 of 12
11/17/09 at 7:59am
As small as you can get and use properly.
I think you'll have problems getting or using anything that's too thin.
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post #10 of 12
11/17/09 at 8:10am
And I've met Ari before, those interconnects are pretty damn awesome! Not only do they look cool, they sound nice.
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post #11 of 12
11/17/09 at 8:55am
Here is a design done on 30ga.

Cotton Silver Interconnect Construction

I've seen reports that they sound very good.

Use whatever gauge you want and then build a set with a different gauge. They you can decide for yourself.
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post #12 of 12
11/17/09 at 11:58pm
22-26 seems to be the sweet spot. I like 24awg myself. Just feels right. I think for headphone cables, flexibility is more important than the specific guage. The SPC that I got on ebay seems way to stiff for a headphone use, although many seem to like it (Navships). Reminds me of coat hangers.
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