DIY Cable Questions and Comments Thread

[DMinor]

  28awg is pretty thin. The thinnest I've used it 26awg and I feel like that is almost too thin. I would recommend 24 or 26awg wire for a cable if you're going for flexibility.

Are you talking about solid-core or stranded?

 

[Zashoomin]

 
Are you talking about solid-core or stranded?

Stranded.  Highly recommend not going solid core.  Solid core is not very flexible and also has a tendency to break if you move it around too much.  I would have to agree with the others.  I would go 24 or 26 awg stranded wire.  

 

[PETEREK]

 
Are you talking about solid-core or stranded?

Agreed Zashoomin, do NOT use solid core for something you're going to be moving around often. 

 

[DMinor]

Thanks guys, but I really like solid core for sonic reasons. I guess you gain you lose.

 

[TrollDragon]

Here is a cat5 8 strand braid I made up for Schiit's & Giggles...

Solid core works great as a poseable device stand to...

 

[luisdent]

Thanks guys, but I really like solid core for sonic reasons. I guess you gain you lose.

It will only sound good until it breaks.

 

[PETEREK]

  Here is a cat5 8 strand braid I made up for Schiit's & Giggles...

Solid core works great as a poseable device stand to...

Hey this is a DIY cable questions and comments thread! Take your crazy 8 stranded braid pictures here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/71148/diy-cable-gallery !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
 
But seriously, that looks insane. How long did it take? It looks super tight too! Very nice.

 

[SkyBleu]

Is making a 10cm 3.5mm (female) to 6.3mm (male) an okay idea? And is there any custom made ones on this thread? Or the other thread? Couldn't find any..

 

[TrollDragon]

  Hey this is a DIY cable questions and comments thread! Take your crazy 8 stranded braid pictures here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/71148/diy-cable-gallery !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
 
But seriously, that looks insane. How long did it take? It looks super tight too! Very nice.

Pictures in the question thread and Questions in the picture thread... I'll have to be minding my P's & Q's.

 
Thanks!
It was fun to build and was a "wonder if I can braid 8 wires" type thing. I have since repurposed the ends onto other cables, my LOD for the car took one of them...
It took a few hours to braid up, was my first 8 conductor and all I had lying around was a chunk of cat5. The solid core is real easy to work with since it basically stays where you put it and requires no tension to keep it in place. You also have to pay attention with this many wires as it can get botched up quickly. I had it about 3 inches long and had to leave it for a bit, when i came back I could not remember the next sequence and had to rip it out and start again. With practice it wouldn't be an issue but I would do the whole braid in one sitting without interruption for the first one.

 

[DMinor]

  Here is a cat5 8 strand braid I made up for Schiit's & Giggles...

Solid core works great as a poseable device stand to...

 
That's beautiful cable. Nice work.
 

It will only sound good until it breaks.

 
I have enough solder to deal with the breaks. LOL.
 
Yeah that's the trade off. Perhaps some extra soft/more ductile solid cores will do it.

 

[luisdent]

I wouldn't use it personally.

Because not flexible enough for daily handling (say 4' length)?

Yes. It wouldn't be very "useable" due to the inflexibility. And bending solid core wire over and over "can" lead to breakage. Depends on the cable and use though. I would go stranded for the flexibility and solid would be o.k. if it was staying in place....

 

[Kamakahah]

With a short 4 foot cable on a desktop rig you can avoid most issues as long as you remain aware, but that isn't always easy to do.

I agree with stranded for a long-term solution. If the cost of the solid core is significant to you, then do stranded instead.

If the cost means nothing and it's no biggie if it breaks, then go for it.

I recommend weaving in strands of other soft cord into the braid to give it greater flexibility and strength. So 4 conductors and 4 strands of supporting cotton or nylon.

I've been experimenting with it, and it's been pretty successful so far.

 

[Zashoomin]

  I have enough solder to deal with the breaks. LOL.
 
Yeah that's the trade off. Perhaps some extra soft/more ductile solid cores will do it.

Doesn't matter how soft it is.  It will eventually probably break.  Especially if it is a headphone cable because those tend to move around a lot.  I don't know if solder will be a fix for it though if it is in the middle of the cable soldering it together again will be a bit of a chore.  I mean there are probably cables out that that sound as good as the solid core you are talking about. If you are set on solid though go for it but don't say I didn't warn you.  

Is making a 10cm 3.5mm (female) to 6.3mm (male) an okay idea? And is there any custom made ones on this thread? Or the other thread? Couldn't find any..

Its a fine idea but the only reason you don't see people do it is because it is usually simply fixed with a 3.5mm to 1.4" converter.  I would love to see one made though.  If you need to convert and also extend than it sounds like it will be a wonderful idea.  

 

[luisdent]

If it's the gauge that matters, get a thicker stranded cable... Unless the gauge is too small, the sound should'nt be affected. Especially over shorter runs. Is there a specific type of solid cable you're looking at using?

 

[SkyBleu]

  Its a fine idea but the only reason you don't see people do it is because it is usually simply fixed with a 3.5mm to 1.4" converter.  I would love to see one made though.  If you need to convert and also extend than it sounds like it will be a wonderful idea.  

Ah, yes that is a fair point. I'll just stick with the converter for now, but if I ever have an itchy wallet, I'll go play around with a silver adapter for the thrill of being an audiophile.