DIY Cable Questions and Comments Thread

[Shadee13]

I mean is there (hopefully good) flexible 4 core braided cable or only 8 and 16 core braided ones?

Here's some 4 strand braided silver plated wire for a decent price: https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Core-Bra...DIY-Amplifier-Headphone-Earphone/272993698275

Talking from experience it's very soft and perfect for earbuds. (look at my profile pic, same wire)

 

[kn0ppers]

My problem with those thin cables are microphonics. I hope it gets better once I sleeve them, but some are just horrible. The Litz I got from Norne Audio was perfect though, right now I am searching for some cheaper options. If I would want to build a truly high end cable I might as well order there again. The insulation really needs to be a little softer and thicker, I think having something like cotton strands in the middle also helps.

I think this blue 8-core braided cable looks awesome:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/7N-...2.html?spm=a2g0s.13010208.99999999.262.zAPA4I


Also for AliExpress shoppers from Germany (and maybe other EU contries, don't know about that): Some sellers offer Aliexpress Premium Shipping for relatively okay prices, and basically it always ends up being handed over to DHL Express in Hong Kong and they will deliver it to you, you can find the DHL Tracking Number once it says "shipment accepted by airline" (or a day after that) when you go to the DHL Express tracking and go to "Track by Shippers's Reference" (NOT tracking number) and put in the AE tracking number there, then you will get a DHL Number which you can easily track in basically every app, but usually once they have it processed it goes pretty fast.

 

[Allanmarcus]

I think this blue 8-core braided cable looks awesome:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/7N-...2.html?spm=a2g0s.13010208.99999999.262.zAPA4I

Looks quite interesting, but limited info on the wire itself. All it says is "7N single crystal copper silver wire". For $25 you might give it a try. It's a pretty short cable (1.3M). If you are going to use it for an IEM, it might be a bit bulky.

 

[kn0ppers]

Yes, 7N is pretty much always straight up BS as there is no real 7N copper out there

I just like the looks of it, would match my next buy, the AQ Nightowls pretty nicely. Black headphones, black+silver connectors and a blue cable. Most likely too bulky for IEMs, although some of the 8 Core braided cables are smaller than you would think. I just got this one which is like 2mm in diameter and sometimes the pictures on AliExpress are really misleading.

 

[Allanmarcus]

Yes, 7N is pretty much always straight up BS as there is no real 7N copper out there

I just like the looks of it, would match my next buy, the AQ Nightowls pretty nicely. Black headphones, black+silver connectors and a blue cable. Most likely too bulky for IEMs, although some of the 8 Core braided cables are smaller than you would think. I just got this one which is like 2mm in diameter and sometimes the pictures on AliExpress are really misleading.

Very interesting! .1mm x 7 strands is approx 29.6AWG. For a wire that thin, 7 strands probably is fine. Plus, you say you have it and it's pretty flexible, right?

The ability to get pre-braided on Ali is pretty interesting.

 

[kn0ppers]

Yes it is pretty flexible but like all pre-braided cables I bought so far its not super soft like the cable of my UE900s for example. Very thin 8 Core like that can definitely be used for IEMs, but you need to unbraid the upper part and rebraid it, which is also a little bit of work. But since I can't braid 8-Core by hand, I think it's a pretty cool option. Just look for a shop where you can get all you want in one place and they don't charge crazy prices. I like AliExpress because I can basically try out every option without paying a crazy amount...

 

[Paladin79]

Very interesting! .1mm x 7 strands is approx 29.6AWG. For a wire that thin, 7 strands probably is fine. Plus, you say you have it and it's pretty flexible, right?

The ability to get pre-braided on Ali is pretty interesting.

I like the pre-braided cable I have tried. The braiding is so precise compared to most things I can do by hand. I stay fairly busy so I like the fact I can use say eight braid and build a cable quickly when adapting to new headphones or amps.

 

[Allanmarcus]

I like the pre-braided cable I have tried. The braiding is so precise compared to most things I can do by hand. I stay fairly busy so I like the fact I can use say eight braid and build a cable quickly when adapting to new headphones or amps.

Can you share which wire you have purchased? Links and comments about the wire would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Miki_asd]

.1mm x 7 strands

Just like the cable i linked. So the diameter must be 2.2 mm as well.
That 8 -> 2x4 braid looks very cool, i love it, how can i do that when my 8 core braided cable arrives? What 4 of the 8 should i chose?

 

[Paladin79]

I know HIFIKIng is one type I have laying around, they advertise on Amazon and sell completed cables from what I recall. Whenever I get some work caught up I am going to do some more blind testing but I know this particular wire has tested pretty high in my past tests. My newest tester is a trumpet soloist at one of the top schools of music in the country. Sorry I was responding to the previous post.

https://www.amazon.com/HiFiKing-8-C...4574&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=hifikings+8+strand

Mine is all copper, I am not a huge fan of silver plating headphone wire unless you are doing it for looks or similar reasons.

Tom

 

[musicmaker]

Trying to build some balanced headphone cables and interconnects. Have some questions and hoping to get some advice here (have been off the head fi scene for a long time and just getting back)

- I love the Jena labs ultrawire. Build a headphone cable with it a while ago and love it. Have been looking at the neotech stranded Cu and Ag wire as well. Are there any cheaper alternatives for OCC Cu wire that's stranded and sounds great ?
- What's a good source to buy the sennheiser HD600/650 DIY connectors ?

Thanks for any pointers.

 

[kn0ppers]

Yes, 7N is pretty much always straight up BS as there is no real 7N copper out there

Also what I said there was BS. There is no 7N OCC Silver, but Copper of that purity can apparently be produced. I also made a MMCX Cable with this stuff and it's quite microphonic. But it also has kind of hard insulation and only 7 strands per wire. I put Viablue small sleeve around the lower portion of the cable, plugs are MPS 3.5mm TRS and Plussound MMCX.


Concerning musicmakers question about HD600/650/6xx cables: I looked into that a little bit a while ago because I was about to order some of the Massdrop HD6xx's and wanted to check out if I could make real fancy cables for them. I ended up not getting them, but what I found is the following: There are no super-high-end HD600-Series connectors that I could find, you can get decent quality on AliExpress, but only plastic housings. So no option of more expensive connectors with anodized Aluminium housing or something like that. Just go to AliExpress and search for HD600 connectors, you will find plenty.

About the wire...well it kind of depends where you live or how much you care about cost. If you live in the US or Canada, you can get high quality wire and Eidolic connectors from DoubleHelix or Norne Audio (but it's kind of pricy!) or something like this new bulk headphone cable from Furutech on eBay (the seller has an introduction price right now, so it's kind of affordable - would make for a good mobile cable and you won't need to worry about microphonics, if you are in NA, maybe worth a try?!). In the EU, there is Toxic-Cables in the UK selling high quality DIY Components and wire. Aaaaand then you have AliExpress with multiple sellers who sell 20+AWG OCC Copper wire, they all claim it's from Hakugei Metals which is a large chinese manufacturer, but if you trust the purity claims on AliExpress....I don't. I ordered some of this stuff, once it finally arrives I will compare it to the Norne Audio wire and share my experience

 

[Allanmarcus]

What's a good source to buy the sennheiser HD600/650 DIY connectors ?

well, depends on what you want to pay. I get mine from the cheap sellers on eBay (see link on my DIY Suppliers page). Alternatively you can go with Furutech FT-2PS-F. $4/pr or $36 (from Sonic Craft). Sonic Craft also has Cardas Senn connectors for $10.45. I'm gonna add that to my site. I prefer the connectors where the shell comes apart. Easier for me to solder that way. I've gotten better as soldering, so I might try the all in ones again, but I will probably just get 'em from eBay.

I ordered some of this stuff, once it finally arrives I will compare it to the Norne Audio wire and share my experience

How you gonna test for purity?

 

[kn0ppers]

How you gonna test for purity?

Gonna test for sound and especially microphonics And for handling, the insulation on the norne stuff really melts very quickly when soldering, even when it's only like 2 seconds of heat. I did not like that but it wasn't too bad either.

 

[Paladin79]

I have used plenty of the HD650 connectors on Ebay and so far they are holding up well. I do prefer the two piece type to which Allanmarkus alluded.

Each of us probably have favorite music with which we "test the sound." I personally like to get many opinions and see if there is any correlation between price and performance. If you suddenly find some good quality OFC from Belden, Canare, or Mogami is chosen in blind testing it is feasible that there are some inexpensive wires out there that test highly.