[nahpungnome]

Got annoyed using the XLR to 1/4 adapter on my BasX A100 for my HE6se. So I decided to make a XLR to banana plug cable. This was my first time making a whole cable end to end, including the braiding. I used 16 awg OFC speaker wire, so it was quite the pain in the butt to braid and cumbersome to deal with in general as one could imagine, but I wanted a thicker look.

 

[legopart]

Got annoyed using the XLR to 1/4 adapter on my BasX A100 for my HE6se. So I decided to make a XLR to banana plug cable. This was my first time making a whole cable end to end, including the braiding. I used 16 awg OFC speaker wire, so it was quite the pain in the butt to braid and cumbersome to deal with in general as one could imagine, but I wanted a thicker look.

In which case can I use speaker amp for headphones connection ?
if you know, the negative (-) on the speaker amp is the same one for all of the connectors (except if you using mono-blocks for each channel)

so only planars can used the speaker amp power ?

*in addition tried to twist the cable like this without successes

 

[nahpungnome]

In which case can I use speaker amp for headphones connection ?
if you know, the negative (-) on the speaker amp is the same one for all of the connectors (except if you using mono-blocks for each channel)

so only planars can used the speaker amp power ?

*in addition tried to twist the cable like this without successes

Depends on the power of the amp, but on my BasX A100, I've used my HE6se, Auteur, and Elear on the headphone out with bypass, which gives the same amount of power as the speaker connections. This amp does 50W into 8ohms. I don't know that I'd try with a more powerful amp except for maybe my HE6 since they can probably handle more power.

With my Auteur and especially my Elear, I can't turn the volume pot without it getting too loud so a more powerful amp could be dangerous.

As far as your first question, I'm not sure what you mean by the negative terminal on the speaker amp. For 4 pin XLR it's easy since it's L +/- and R +/- to the corresponding speaker terminals on the amp.

 

[RestlessZombi]

Depends on the power of the amp, but on my BasX A100, I've used my HE6se, Auteur, and Elear on the headphone out with bypass, which gives the same amount of power as the speaker connections. This amp does 50W into 8ohms. I don't know that I'd try with a more powerful amp except for maybe my HE6 since they can probably handle more power.

With my Auteur and especially my Elear, I can't turn the volume pot without it getting too loud so a more powerful amp could be dangerous.

As far as your first question, I'm not sure what you mean by the negative terminal on the speaker amp. For 4 pin XLR it's easy since it's L +/- and R +/- to the corresponding speaker terminals on the amp.

I think that Legopart was pointing out that Speaker amps use a common negative terminal for both Left and Right channel so there is no reason to be wiring the cable as balanced. In other words, the negative connection eventually meet unless you are using mono-block amps where each channel would have a separate amplifier circuit.

Only a few headphones would be able to take the power of a speaker amp, it depends on their sensitivity rating.

 

[nahpungnome]

I think that Legopart was pointing out that Speaker amps use a common negative terminal for both Left and Right channel so there is no reason to be wiring the cable as balanced. In other words, the negative connection eventually meet unless you are using mono-block amps where each channel would have a separate amplifier circuit.

Only a few headphones would be able to take the power of a speaker amp, it depends on their sensitivity rating.

Ah ok, understood. The reason I did 4 pin XLR is that my cables are all XLR. Easier to just do it that way, unless there's another way to go from 4 Pin XLR into banana plugs?

 

[RestlessZombi]

Ah ok, understood. The reason I did 4 pin XLR is that my cables are all XLR. Easier to just do it that way, unless there's another way to go from 4 Pin XLR into banana plugs?

I'm sure you've done it the better way

The alternative would only be to connect the 2 and 4 pins together in the XLR plug so that you can run one negative cable to the amp where you can split it again between the channel negative connections. This is just going on the assumption that it is a shared negative later down the line. I feel, as you have done, sticking with balanced connections is the right thing as you have more options for using that cable if something changes later, and i feel its a little safer too.

 

[nahpungnome]

I'm sure you've done it the better way

The alternative would only be to connect the 2 and 4 pins together in the XLR plug so that you can run one negative cable to the amp where you can split it again between the channel negative connections. This is just going on the assumption that it is a shared negative later down the line. I feel, as you have done, sticking with balanced connections is the right thing as you have more options for using that cable if something changes later, and i feel its a little safer too.

Thanks for the explanation! I certainly appreciate it.

 

[funch]

Some amps use a common ground output, but some do not, so beware of connecting the negative leads together if you don't know.

 

[nahpungnome]

Some amps use a common ground output, but some do not, so beware of connecting the negative leads together if you don't know.

Yeah I'd just do it the way I did it for this cable, + to + and - to -, makes things simpler (and safer).

 

[krazyxazn]

Mogami W2333 cable
Rean NYS373 RCA plugs
750 Paracord (Royal Blue)

 

[killaHz]

My workout cable. It reaches far enough to attach the Radsone ES100 to my collar, and that's about it. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears are stuck in the hot glue inside that TRRS plug; building my first CIEM cable was a humbling experience. But the sonic and ergonomic advantages of a rig like this make it all worthwhile.

 

[Dawnrazor]

Home brew xlr cables. Crisscrossed 30g magwire around cotton with some c37 painted on. All in a techflex sheath. Only pins 2 and 3 were connected. Basically an adaptation of Allen Wrights recipe.

 

[legopart]

Home brew xlr cables. Crisscrossed 30g magwire around cotton with some c37 painted on. All in a techflex sheath. Only pins 2 and 3 were connected. Basically an adaptation of Allen Wrights recipe.

Why do you use so thin wires to make this cable?
Its looks like AWG30 thickness, or less

 

[Dawnrazor]

Why do you use so thin wires to make this cable?
Its looks like AWG30 thickness, or less

Yep its 30g. I use them because they are thin and solid core. Allen Wright in his Cable Cookbook explains why thin solid core is best (next to thin ribbons). Soundwise they are super clean, fast and spread out the stage and imaging. They excel at PRAT. FWIW I used a 28g construction as speaker wires between my Halo A21s to my Magnepans. Thick wires blow. And this is line level so its thin gauge anyhow. I just got a pack of 38g. That will be fun to work with!

Anyhow here is a paper on the science behind the thin solidcore:

https://www.stereophile.com/reference/1095cable

 

[musicinmymind]

My workout cable. It reaches far enough to attach the Radsone ES100 to my collar, and that's about it. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears are stuck in the hot glue inside that TRRS plug; building my first CIEM cable was a humbling experience. But the sonic and ergonomic advantages of a rig like this make it all worthwhile.

Looks great, which cable did you use