DIY Cable Questions and Comments Thread

[holco]

I expect my new HD 650 any day now and need a long 5 meters balanced DIY cable, hope you guys can give me some advise for what to buy and how to connect?
 
Head-Amp is a Audio-GD NFB 28 (2015 model) (4-pin XLR or 1/4" output)

 

[scizzro]

  I expect my new HD 650 any day now and need a long 5 meters balanced DIY cable, hope you guys can give me some advise for what to buy and how to connect?
 
Head-Amp is a Audio-GD NFB 28 (2015 model) (4-pin XLR or 1/4" output)

If you bought the NFB-28 you should make the XLR cable. You need Sennheiser connectors, a male 4-pin XLR connector, heatshrink, something to sleeve it with (paracord/techflex), with 4 conductors inbetween. I don't know about any EU distributors for those parts, I'm sure you can find some
 
Do you know how you want the cable to look?

 

[holco]

  If you bought the NFB-28 you should make the XLR cable. You need Sennheiser connectors, a male 4-pin XLR connector, heatshrink, something to sleeve it with (paracord/techflex), with 4 conductors inbetween. I don't know about any EU distributors for those parts, I'm sure you can find some
 
Do you know how you want the cable to look?

The thing what for me is important are, good sound and not to stiff. 

 

[holco]

Sorry for my worthless last reply, answering from a cellphone without spelling check was no good idea
 
Ok I looked on the internet and see that the headphone plugs and the 4 pin XLR will be no problem.
 
But what cable to buy I don't know?? 
 
Things I look for are,
 
Flexible
Durable 
Oxygen-free copper wire (I think silver will be to bright sounding for my taste and gold plated silver to expensive)
Suitable for balanced use
Suitable for 5 meter lengt (not to thin I think) 
Affordable (€80 > €120 total is my coal when possible)
Low or free shipping rates (from the US is very expensive for us Dutch guy's

 

[scizzro]

 
But what cable to buy I don't know?? 

It depends on what style cable you want to make. Do you just want to make it as simple as possible? Or do you want to braid it? You need 4 conductors, you could do 4 single wires and braid them, 2 groups of 2, or find a wire that has 4 conductors in it and don't braid or twist anything. If you need some inspiration you can look through the cable gallery thread here:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/71148/diy-cable-gallery

 

[ArmAndHammer]

Getting ready to order my cable supplies. Quick question on the solder iron...better to get a decent fixed wattage iron or a cheap station with adjustable temp? I'm probably not going to be making loads of cables or interconnects. Really probably just one or two cables for my current headphones, maybe the occasional RCA as needed, and the odd repair job that might be needed on an electrical device around the house. 
 
The fixed wattage iron I was looking at is the Hakko DASH in either 15w or 20w. No idea on a soldering station. The dash is around $30 so I don't really want to spend more or much more than that. Maybe something like the Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station for $40? With the cable, connections, and tools...this project is already costing me about $100.

 

[JacobLee89]

  Getting ready to order my cable supplies. Quick question on the solder iron...better to get a decent fixed wattage iron or a cheap station with adjustable temp? I'm probably not going to be making loads of cables or interconnects. Really probably just one or two cables for my current headphones, maybe the occasional RCA as needed, and the odd repair job that might be needed on an electrical device around the house. 
 
The fixed wattage iron I was looking at is the Hakko DASH in either 15w or 20w. No idea on a soldering station. The dash is around $30 so I don't really want to spend more or much more than that. Maybe something like the Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station for $40? With the cable, connections, and tools...this project is already costing me about $100.

 
The fixed wattage is good for most of your needs. The main issue is that it'll just take a while for the soldering iron to warm up. Also remember to "tinn" your soldering iron when you first use it. That's just covering the hot soldering iron tip with a bit of solder and wiping it on the wet cleaning sponge, to help it with the soldering process and to prevent it from rusting after use (it means you also need to tin it after you're done with soldering).

 

[holco]

I have found two options, a DIY one and a assembled one.
 
A:
The assembled one looks nice but I am not sure if they used genuine plugs and can't find anything about the used cable, so sound wise
​it will be a surprise I think.
 
B:
The DIY cable is composed with genuine plugs and a much used cable for headphones, so I think I can't go wrong with this one but
​it needs work and in the end it will not look as nice as the assembled one although I will do my best to get the best out of it.
 
So for now I think option B is the best choice, but if anyone can tell me that option A is a great cable..................
 
 
A:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5M-Upgrade-Cable-For-HD545-HD565-HD580-HD600-HD650-Balanced-XLR-4-Pins-CANNON-/251805487141?
 

 
 
 
B:
http://www.redco.com/
 

 

[Arty McGhee]

  I have found two options, a DIY one and a assembled one.
 
A:
The assembled one looks nice but I am not sure if they used genuine plugs and can't find anything about the used cable, so sound wise
​it will be a surprise I think.
 
B:
The DIY cable is composed with genuine plugs and a much used cable for headphones, so I think I can't go wrong with this one but
​it needs work and in the end it will not look as nice as the assembled one although I will do my best to get the best out of it.
 
So for now I think option B is the best choice, but if anyone can tell me that option A is a great cable..................
 

so
 
option b;  50 bucks and you will learn some new skills and have a better understanding of how your equipment works
also a feeling of accomplishment and self-esteem that will make you a better person and have 75 bucks left over to pay bills
or put in the bank or buy someone you care about something nice 
 
option a:  125 bucks buys just a cable
 
its your decision none of my business really
just sayin
 
DIYorDIE

 

[scizzro]

  ...

Just to let you know, those sennheiser connectors come as a pack of 2 - you don't need to buy 2 of them. They also need to be covered by heatshrink, they are open and don't come with a cover plate. You'll need the heatshrink anyway when you make the y-split. 
 
I would get like 16 feet of the quad, and the last foot or so as 2 x 2 - it will be much easier that way, and you won't need to buy something to sleeve it with. Sorry for the crude drawing: 
 

 
 
You could use quad instead of the 2-conductor, but you only need 2 to each sennheiser connector. 
 
Do you have a soldering gun already? These connectors need to be soldered

 

[holco]

  Just to let you know, those sennheiser connectors come as a pack of 2 - you don't need to buy 2 of them. They also need to be covered by heatshrink, they are open and don't come with a cover plate. You'll need the heatshrink anyway when you make the y-split. 
 
I would get like 16 feet of the quad, and the last foot or so as 2 x 2 - it will be much easier to that way, and you won't need to buy something to sleeve it with.
 
Do you have a soldering gun already? These connectors need to be soldered

Oeps!! one set to many, thanks
 
I have a Weller station so soldering isn't a problem, and also a collection of sleeve's and heat-shrink.

 

[scizzro]

  Getting ready to order my cable supplies. Quick question on the solder iron...better to get a decent fixed wattage iron or a cheap station with adjustable temp? I'm probably not going to be making loads of cables or interconnects. Really probably just one or two cables for my current headphones, maybe the occasional RCA as needed, and the odd repair job that might be needed on an electrical device around the house. 
 
The fixed wattage iron I was looking at is the Hakko DASH in either 15w or 20w. No idea on a soldering station. The dash is around $30 so I don't really want to spend more or much more than that. Maybe something like the Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station for $40? With the cable, connections, and tools...this project is already costing me about $100.

For basic use a fixed temp is fine. I ended up getting this one 
 
http://www.amazon.com/Weller-SP40NKUS-Watt-Soldering-Black/dp/B00B3SG7F0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422107487&sr=8-1&keywords=weller+led+40+watt
 
Because it comes with tips, has a 7 year warranty, and gets hot as crap. 900 degrees, and in just a minute or two. They also have a 750 degree version. Good reviews on amazon and home depot, and I haven't encountered any problems yet. I did accidentally melt a pin on a switch, but it was my own fault. 
 

 

[scizzro]

  Oeps!! one set to many, thanks
 
I have a Weller station so soldering isn't a problem, and also a collection of sleeve's and heat-shrink.

Sounds like you are good to go, then =p
 
I added a picture to my last post, not sure if it's helpful. You just have to decide if you want to make your own cable now
 
I also just ordered the NFB-28, and am making a balanced cable for my Sennheiser HD600 

 

[holco]

  Sounds like you are good to go, then =p
 
I added a picture to my last post, not sure if it's helpful. You just have to decide if you want to make your own cable now
 
I also just ordered the NFB-28, and am making a balanced cable for my Sennheiser HD600 

Hit the buy button
 
I will let you know/see when the cable is finished. 
 
Good luck with your NFB 28, I am very happy with mine, great piece of equipment!!
 

 

[Shawn71]

Sounds like you are good to go, then =p

+1.....