DIY Cable Questions and Comments Thread

[brunk]

  Does anyone know where to find affordable 26-28 gauge clear and/or black cable, or any color really as I can't find any?  When I say affordable I mean less than $.30 a foot.  I can buy some 4-conductor cable (I can split into individual cables) at home depot for $.33 a foot, but it's not very flexible (think ethernet cable strands).
 
I am currently using some excellent monster cable speaker wire (usually so overpriced) that I got at a local hardware store.  It was a 50ft roll for less than $7.  That's $.14 per foot!  And it's very good for audio cables, but it's 24-gauge.  I have some things that I'd like smaller gauge for.  Any ideas?  I don't mind if it's not named
"for audio", as long as it's basic stranded type flexible cable.

Your standard bulk CAT5 cable can be found in 26awg.
 
EDIT: Whoops, you're looking for black and clear. Maybe try Markertek.

 

[luisdent]

Ye

 
Does anyone know where to find affordable 26-28 gauge clear and/or black cable, or any color really as I can't find any?  When I say affordable I mean less than $.30 a foot.  I can buy some 4-conductor cable (I can split into individual cables) at home depot for $.33 a foot, but it's not very flexible (think ethernet cable strands).

I am currently using some excellent monster cable speaker wire (usually so overpriced) that I got at a local hardware store.  It was a 50ft roll for less than $7.  That's $.14 per foot!  And it's very good for audio cables, but it's 24-gauge.  I have some things that I'd like smaller gauge for.  Any ideas?  I don't mind if it's not named

"for audio", as long as it's basic stranded type flexible cable.

Your standard bulk CAT5 cable can be found in 26awg.

EDIT: Whoops, you're looking for black and clear. Maybe try Markertek.

s, but cat 5 isn't flexible

 

[SkyBleu]

Hey guys, I was thinking about butchering one of my cables to use the PCOCC-A wire for a DIY interconnect, and this is what I plan to use.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/content/type/61/id/978961/width/1000/height/5000/flags/LL
 
But one thing has been worrying me...all I see is two cables, so which one is L/R/ground?

 

[Kamakahah]

  Hey guys, I was thinking about butchering one of my cables to use the PCOCC-A wire for a DIY interconnect, and this is what I plan to use.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/content/type/61/id/978961/width/1000/height/5000/flags/LL
 
But one thing has been worrying me...all I see is two cables, so which one is L/R/ground?

 
If you take off both plugs, then you can make them whatever you'd like. 
 
In this case, the shielding layer was used as a ground and the two wire conductors as L/R channels. So you could potentially cut the ends, stripped a portion of the outer black PVC and reuse it with your desired plugs or whatever. 
 
Still, there are plenty of cheap options like Canare or even Navships with some paracord that would likely be easier to work with and possibly be better overall (IMO). 

 

[SkyBleu]

If you take off both plugs, then you can make them whatever you'd like. 

In this case, the shielding layer was used as a ground and the two wire conductors as L/R channels. So you could potentially cut the ends, stripped a portion of the outer black PVC and reuse it with your desired plugs or whatever. 

Still, there are plenty of cheap options like Canare or even Navships with some paracord that would likely be easier to work with and possibly be better overall (IMO). 

Oh, I see. I never knew that ground could be used via insulators!

Yeah, the cable was free for me, and barely used, so I guess it doesn't hurt to butcher and experiment it.

 

[sikwidit]

Are some headphones sealed with anything other than glue? Even for headphones sealed with glue are there some that are just not able to be opened? I have these XB400s sitting here and I really want to open them up and mod them but I dont want to kill them as they seem to be sealed extremely well and tight.

 

[ben_r_]

Anyone tried an LOD with one of these yet? LINK
 

 

[-DMD-]

Hey guys! Been reading a few topics about these DIY cables and it is simply amazing what you can do!!
There's just something I don't seem to get, does the connector's/cable's brand matter sound wise?
Won't my headphones sound better/worse with different connectors(the 3.5mm)?
I guess what I'm actually asking is, can I just buy the simplest cool looking 3.5mm connector on eBay,
cover the cable with a cool looking paracord and solder the connector to it without decreasing my headphone's sound quality?
Thanks a lot!! =]

 

[65535]

As long as the cable has large enough conductors and flexible enough too be comfortable you really shouldn't worry about it. Just be sure to get decent quality connectors that won't fall apart or make poor contact. I recently read about some Via-Blue connectors that made such a bad connection with 3.5mm jacks they ruined the headphones performance. 
 
Keep in mind sleeving and heavy cables can cause mechanical noise to transfer to the headphones and can be really annoying.

 

[-DMD-]

Thanks a lot, but will shortening my cable hurt the audio quality? I have one of those 2.5 meter cables and I use the headphones on the run.
Ah and I didn't actually understand your answer regarding connectors, I see many guys here buy expansiveness and good looking ones, will simpler ones hurt hinder the quality?

 

[luisdent]

If your connections are solid and wire not too small you should hear no major differences with shorter lengths

 

[FraGGleR]

  Thanks a lot, but will shortening my cable hurt the audio quality? I have one of those 2.5 meter cables and I use the headphones on the run.
Ah and I didn't actually understand your answer regarding connectors, I see many guys here buy expansiveness and good looking ones, will simpler ones hurt hinder the quality?

If you do a good job with your soldering, shortening your cable will not hurt.
 
Just about every headphone connector is made from brass with a gold, nickel, or rhodium plating so the signal quality will be the same for all intents and purposes.  Now build quality can make a difference in how long it lasts and how easy it is to work with.  But in general, it shouldn't really matter which one you pick.

 

[-DMD-]

Wow those are great news!! Just have to order a few stuff and gonna have a blast. =]
Thanks guys.

 

[DMinor]

Does anyone hear sound difference between using different 3.5mm plugs? I have used various plugs for my LOD cables but so far I have not heard any difference in sound.
 
Just curious if you guys have the same experience.

 

[AnakChan]

Does anyone hear sound difference between using different 3.5mm plugs? I have used various plugs for my LOD cables but so far I have not heard any difference in sound.

Just curious if you guys have the same experience.

This isn't a DIY but I had access to two Tralucent Uber cable for the 1Plus2 at one stage. One had the ATL rhodium coated plug whilst the other a standard Oyaide gold plated. At that point I didn't think plugs would make such a big diff so when I heard the difference in sound, I complained to Gavin his Uber cable was inconsistent. He was quite insistent that they are the same (batch?? Roll??) and the only difference we could conclude was the plug differences. My sincere apologies for accusing him for inconsistency in his cables.

Since then I've stuck to Rhodium plated/coated plugs. However they see. To wear out quicker than gold plated.