DIY Cable Questions and Comments Thread

[sfo1972]

Mine arrive in 1.5 week to Brunei I was surprised since my local post was never on time 

That's really great to hear. I ordered my connectors and supplies from Amazon yesterday and they should be getting here in a few days so that will align nicely.

 

[Edwii]

I need to make a 20 foot cord for my HD650 
  
Can someone give me a link or model number to the cable I should use?   (shipping with in north america)
I'm assuming a big thicker gauge due to the length.  
 
Also, is there any one in north america that sells the sennheiser can plugs?
Please advise so I can place an order before the weekend.

 

[scizzro]

 
Also, is there any one in north america that sells the sennheiser can plugs?
Please advise so I can place an order before the weekend.

Soniccraft had the Cardas Sennheiser plugs for $12.80, best price I could find a few weeks ago. (Seems they are on sale right now for $10.24.) Ships from Texas. Redco also has them for $19.95 - they don't buy them direct, so they won't give any discount on that price. Ships from Connecticut.

 

[ThurstonX]

Finished my Female-to-Male RCA extension cable last night.  Photos are here:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/71148/diy-cable-gallery/14250#post_11206593
 
 
While it works fine in some scenarios (e.g., iPod --> 'Y' cable --> new extension cable --> A/V receiver; Schiit SYS --> new extension cable --> Lyr), unfortunately it is responsible for what sounds like a ground loop hum and some random static when used in its intended scenario: i.e., extended my turntable's fixed L/R output to the phono preamp.
 
When I switch back to the cheap RCA couplers and a too-short RCA patch cable (standard type that comes with consumer electronics), everything is fine.
 
The bulk of the cable is Mogami W2893 quad mic cable, but both ends have been stripped down to the individual wires, paired, then covered with some paracord and finally Techflex, but that's just for aesthetics.  Since the cable works fine with line level sources, all I can think is that the unshielded ends, and the ungrounded turntable are not playing well together.  FWIW, my turntable has no integrated ground wire, which in some versions has the ground wire protruding along with the L/R wires.  The AC plug does not have the wider left blade.  There is a screw just above the where the AC cord comes out, but I'm not sure that can be used for grounding.  And, as noted, the supposed ground loop hum does not happen with standard RCA cable + couplers.
 
If anyone has any thoughts about this, and any ideas about how to make a cable that would work, I'm all ears.  The only thing I can think to try would be some Mogami W2799 quad mic cable for two individual cables.  That would leave more shielding in place.  I have enough to make two cables of 7-feet each, which is what I need.  In the meantime, I ordered a 12-foot cable from Amazon, even though it's longer than I'd like.  There are not many F-to-M RCA cables available.

 

[musicinmymind]

  Finished my Female-to-Male RCA extension cable last night.  Photos are here:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/71148/diy-cable-gallery/14250#post_11206593
 
 
While it works fine in some scenarios (e.g., iPod --> 'Y' cable --> new extension cable --> A/V receiver; Schiit SYS --> new extension cable --> Lyr), unfortunately it is responsible for what sounds like a ground loop hum and some random static when used in its intended scenario: i.e., extended my turntable's fixed L/R output to the phono preamp.
 
When I switch back to the cheap RCA couplers and a too-short RCA patch cable (standard type that comes with consumer electronics), everything is fine.
 
The bulk of the cable is Mogami W2893 quad mic cable, but both ends have been stripped down to the individual wires, paired, then covered with some paracord and finally Techflex, but that's just for aesthetics.  Since the cable works fine with line level sources, all I can think is that the unshielded ends, and the ungrounded turntable are not playing well together.  FWIW, my turntable has no integrated ground wire, which in some versions has the ground wire protruding along with the L/R wires.  The AC plug does not have the wider left blade.  There is a screw just above the where the AC cord comes out, but I'm not sure that can be used for grounding.  And, as noted, the supposed ground loop hum does not happen with standard RCA cable + couplers.
 
If anyone has any thoughts about this, and any ideas about how to make a cable that would work, I'm all ears.  The only thing I can think to try would be some Mogami W2799 quad mic cable for two individual cables.  That would leave more shielding in place.  I have enough to make two cables of 7-feet each, which is what I need.  In the meantime, I ordered a 12-foot cable from Amazon, even though it's longer than I'd like.  There are not many F-to-M RCA cables available.

 
you cable looks awesome, blue Techflex looks great too. Do you think below wire is also using Techflex?
 

 

[scizzro]

   
you cable looks awesome, blue Techflex looks great too. Do you think below wire is also using Techflex?

No, that is twisted Paracord

 

[musicinmymind]

 

   
you cable looks awesome, blue Techflex looks great too. Do you think below wire is also using Techflex?

No, that is twisted Paracord

 
it shines a bit, could be nylon ones. It is from Double Helix Cables, wonder how can twist so perfection. Do you think it was hand twisted?

 

[scizzro]

   
it shines a bit, could be nylon ones. It is from Double Helix Cables, wonder how can twist so perfection. Do you think it was hand twisted?

Paracord can have a shimmery appearance
 
http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Grey-Paracord-Midwest-Parachute/dp/B007ZSBR52
 
It really is an amazing twist, I bet he glued it...

 

[Armaegis]

  Finished my Female-to-Male RCA extension cable last night.  Photos are here:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/71148/diy-cable-gallery/14250#post_11206593
 
 
While it works fine in some scenarios (e.g., iPod --> 'Y' cable --> new extension cable --> A/V receiver; Schiit SYS --> new extension cable --> Lyr), unfortunately it is responsible for what sounds like a ground loop hum and some random static when used in its intended scenario: i.e., extended my turntable's fixed L/R output to the phono preamp.
 
When I switch back to the cheap RCA couplers and a too-short RCA patch cable (standard type that comes with consumer electronics), everything is fine.

 
Just something random to try... is there hum when only one channel is connected? or try touching just the shells and not the pins and see if that's where it's coming from.

 

[musicinmymind]

 

   
it shines a bit, could be nylon ones. It is from Double Helix Cables, wonder how can twist so perfection. Do you think it was hand twisted?

Paracord can have a shimmery appearance
 
http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Grey-Paracord-Midwest-Parachute/dp/B007ZSBR52
 
It really is an amazing twist, I bet he glued it...

 
Thanks for link

 

[ThurstonX]

 
you cable looks awesome, blue Techflex looks great too. Do you think below wire is also using Techflex?
 

 
If I had to guess, I'd say paracord, and if not that, some multi-filament stuff, but I lean toward paracord.  I should specify that I used Techflex PET.  They make lots of different stuff.

 

[ThurstonX]

 
Just something random to try... is there hum when only one channel is connected? or try touching just the shells and not the pins and see if that's where it's coming from.

 
Just tried the cable into the phono preamp, so, female ends "loose."  Definitely a wicked hum going on, which was accentuated by touching the barrels at either end.  For schiits and grins I plugged in the RCA ends of an Audioquest RCA-to-3.5mm TRS, and it was hummy as well.  The cheap stereo RCA cable had the least amount of hum, and that's the only one I can use with the turntable (until my 12-footer arrives, or I make a new pair of cables from W2799).
 
What do you think this signifies, esp. given that the cable was silent when plugged into the Lyr from the SYS?
 
I'm not sure I've got enough stereo receiver antenna wire to make a ground cable.  I need about 9 or 10 feet to stretch it across the room, and there's still the question of where to attach it to the turntable.  Time to start hunting around.

 

[Edwii]

  Soniccraft had the Cardas Sennheiser plugs for $12.80, best price I could find a few weeks ago. (Seems they are on sale right now for $10.24.) Ships from Texas. Redco also has them for $19.95 - they don't buy them direct, so they won't give any discount on that price. Ships from Connecticut.

 
Thanks for the help, very helpful. Everything else is across the pond and expensive. 
 
Would you also be able to point me towards the best kind of cable options I should get?

 

[Armaegis]

   
Just tried the cable into the phono preamp, so, female ends "loose."  Definitely a wicked hum going on, which was accentuated by touching the barrels at either end.  For schiits and grins I plugged in the RCA ends of an Audioquest RCA-to-3.5mm TRS, and it was hummy as well.  The cheap stereo RCA cable had the least amount of hum, and that's the only one I can use with the turntable (until my 12-footer arrives, or I make a new pair of cables from W2799).
 
What do you think this signifies, esp. given that the cable was silent when plugged into the Lyr from the SYS?
 
I'm not sure I've got enough stereo receiver antenna wire to make a ground cable.  I need about 9 or 10 feet to stretch it across the room, and there's still the question of where to attach it to the turntable.  Time to start hunting around.

 
So with just the cable dangling free off the phono, the hum gets worse? That's... like your cable is acting as an antenna or something weird. What if you short the barrels/grounds together at the phono preamp? Just trying to eliminate as much as possible.

 

[creatip]

 
 
Thanks for the help, very helpful. Everything else is across the pond and expensive. 
 
Would you also be able to point me towards the best kind of cable options I should get?

 
Any kind of cables will work, even those cheap electrical/light bulb cables will work. Just browse around and get the cable that appeals to you most. While there are neverending debates on different cables yields different sound quality, personally I haven't experienced any solid facts about it. Just take a few things in consideration:
 
- how thick is the cable you want. Thicker will be better in durability, but more bulky, stiff, and heavy
- what kind of cable do you want, the sandwiched type (all polarities encased in 1 jacket), or the single polarity type (1 polarity in each cables)
- aesthetic, which cable is the most easy on your eyes. You can also use paracord sleeving to remedy ugly looking cables
- your budget. Audio cables can go from $1/m to over $100/m