DIY Cable Questions and Comments Thread

[rmoody]

  I recently built a cable using pretty cheap but extremely stiff wire do you guys know where I could get a nicer more pliable wire?

I guess it first depends on what you used. I have been using Mogami W2534 from Redco with the outer insulation and the shielding removed (ie just the inner 4 conductors). It's pretty flexible.
 
I've also used Gotham GAC-4, it is more flexible than the Mogami. I like the Mogami because I'm making cables using the same connectors that Dan uses on his Ether headphones and the crimp on ring make a much better mechanical connection with the larger Mogami wires (well, at least with 4 conductors, with 2 it won't). Also, the Mogami stays twisted where the Gotham untwists if you look at it funny.

 

[Allanmarcus]

  I recently built a cable using pretty cheap but extremely stiff wire do you guys know where I could get a nicer more pliable wire?

 
Lots of variables there. How long will the cable be? What's it for; headphones, IEMs, or interconnect? How pliable do you want it? How much are you looking to spend?

 

[Arty McGhee]

  I recently built a cable using pretty cheap but extremely stiff wire do you guys know where I could get a nicer more pliable wire?

as the artist formerly known as caspertfg
mogami 2799, can't beat it
it whips a llama's a** 

 

[SeEnCreaTive]

I've just finished re-wiring my iGrados & the only thing i'm concerned about is the possibility of the nylon multifilament cable sheath being too microphonic (I know there's a lot of discussion about what this means elsewhere but I'm specifically referring to the sound of the cable sheath knocking & rubbing against my body, ultimately bleeding into the earphones).

I've seen folk recommend Paracord but I'm wondering, does anybody know of any cotton stuff, rather than nylon, that can do the same job? Preferably in different thickness's too (2mm - 6mm ideally). I'm in the UK so would prefer something sold within Europe.

Thanks, in advance.

I'm using 550 paracord over my w2799. Oh gosh the cable noise is bad, sounds like someone is cleaning my ear drum with a brush when I move heh.

My only guess is something softer may be quieter.

 

[EdgarMadhook]

I road-tested mine today, jogging round my local park. The nylon multifilament is pretty microphonic above the split but, so long as I have the cable running under my t-shirt, it's OK.
Still, I'm going to try out some unwaxed cotton shoelaces that are heading my way. I'd like the cable to be a bit more soft & flexible. The nylon stuff holds it's shape a bit too much.

 

[PETEREK]

I road-tested mine today, jogging round my local park. The nylon multifilament is pretty microphonic above the split but, so long as I have the cable running under my t-shirt, it's OK.
Still, I'm going to try out some unwaxed cotton shoelaces that are heading my way. I'd like the cable to be a bit more soft & flexible. The nylon stuff holds it's shape a bit too much.

Cable noise can be better or worse depending on how you attach it to the connector as well. If you have the wire crimped in the strain relief and then the sleeve over that and hot glued into the connector or something similar to that, the noise from the wire will transfer louder to the headphone's 3.5mm input. If you crimp the wires AND the sleeve in the connectors strain relief, the sleeve will absorb a little bit of that noise that's transferred from the wire by being between the wire and the strain relief. Maybe try that method if you haven't done it that way already.

 

[EdgarMadhook]

Interesting.

The 4-braid wire, multifilament & heatshrink made the cable too thick for the small plastic crimp inside the Neutrik jack so I removed it. Are there any other tricks besides hot glue?

 

[mengoswag]

Do you know where I could get just straight wire (maybe a spool of wire) though? Not like the full cable because I want to be able to use my own sleeving and other stuff.

 

[PETEREK]

Interesting.

The 4-braid wire, multifilament & heatshrink made the cable too thick for the small plastic crimp inside the Neutrik jack so I removed it. Are there any other tricks besides hot glue?

I would just hot glue it in that case. Another  thing that'll reduce cable noise is not pulling your sleeve so tight that it feels hard, use enough sleeve on the cable for just a little slack so it's relaxed and soft. A lot of people pull the sleeve so tight that it makes the cable stiff, put just a few more inches of the sleeve on so it's just a little loose. 

 

[liquidzoo]

Do you know where I could get just straight wire (maybe a spool of wire) though? Not like the full cable because I want to be able to use my own sleeving and other stuff.

A lot of people (myself included) buy quad cable and strip out the outer shielding (leaving you with just the 4 cores).

Mogami 2799 or 2893 (same as 2799 with more shielding) is a popular and cheap starting point. Once you have it down to the 4 inner cores you can sleeve it as you please.

 

[PinkyPowers]

I would just hot glue it in that case. Another  thing that'll reduce cable noise is not pulling your sleeve so tight that it feels hard, use enough sleeve on the cable for just a little slack so it's relaxed and soft. A lot of people pull the sleeve so tight that it makes the cable stiff, put just a few more inches of the sleeve on so it's just a little loose. 

Ace advice. Thanks. I'm going to keep that in mind.

 

[Johnnystuff]

Kinda OT cause it's not a DIY question but still. I just bough a simple interconnect 3.5mm male to male, one end is angled one's straight. Problem is it's TRRS on the angled side and TRS on the straight one. It works as intended but how does it compute?

 

[mengoswag]

Aight thanks for the advice

 

[Eudis]

Looking to mod my incoming THX00 with removable cables.
 
Anyone here try it yet?
 
I saw that smc connectors and jacks can be used but are there others that can be used without modifying the housing for the THX00?
 
Also can I used any smc connector or are the hifiman type special?

 

[skierdb526]

Looking to mod my incoming THX00 with removable cables.

Anyone here try it yet?

I saw that smc connectors and jacks can be used but are there others that can be used without modifying the housing for the THX00?

Also can I used any smc connector or are the hifiman type special?

I did with 2.5mm inputs. Check out my history and you will see it. I had to modify the housing, but it didn't alter the sound. I'd definitely recommend getting it done by a pro like PETEREK If you are worried about damaging your new headphones.