Pingupenguins
Member of the Trade: BTG Audio / Q Audio
I have had a hard time finding wire and techflex so I thought I'd share my findings and maybe some ppl would share their findings for links to suppliers. I had to scour the Cable Gallery to find things but I only got product names not where to buy. But that also helped. So lets have it. Here are my finds!
Techflex: Mesh stuff that you can put to coat your cable
Where to buy: http://myworld.ebay.com/furryletters/
Price: ~$0.29 a ft. Shipping $3
Pros: This guy has a good selection of Techflex. Not every color but a good selection. He's on ebay for those who fear buying online (that's me! New sites are scary) so here's a little peace of mind.
Cons: Lack of responsiveness compared to Navships (below).
Where to buy: http://www.wirecare.com
Price: ~$0.39 a ft. Shipping $10-$13 (HOLY SMACK!)
Pros: HUGE selection. Every single color and size of techflex on the planet. Only bummer is the shipping. Under $20 will cost you a extra $3 and shipping alone is $10 minimum. I suppose if you have a huge order of dozens of colors this is no issue. But for me a small time DIY'er. No go unless I'm in a pinch. Still worth mentioning for people with disposable income.
Cons: PRICE!
Cotton, Nylon, Etc sleeving
Where to buy: http://www.shoelacesexpress.com/index.asp
Price: ~$6 ea. Shipping ~$5
Pros: One word, options.
Cons: These options don't include 1/8 in cotton only polyesther. The smallest is 1/4 in cotton laces. Sold in ~$30 spools or individually.
Where to buy: http://myworld.ebay.com/furryletters/
Price: ~$0.16 a ft. Shipping ~$3
Pros: Cheap nylon sleeving. Good price, fast shipping. EBAY! Up to 1/2 in diameter.
Cons: Only black or copper. Smallest black is 1/8in and copper 3/8 in.
Wire: The 2nd most important part of a cable
Where to buy: http://myworld.ebay.com/navships/
Price: ~$0.20 a ft. Shipping $3
Pros: Pretty good selection. This guy has soo much wire. All silver plated oxygen free copper solid and 19 strand. All sorts of colors but no clear. Very responsive to messages. Awaiting my first shipment of 50ft of white wire!
Cons: No clear wire
Where to buy: http://stores.ebay.com/kentelectronics-plus
Price: ~$0.20 a ft. Shipping $4
Pros: Good selection. Some clear silver plated copper but solid core. Never bought but I was recommended by a cable maker.
Cons: A little pricer than Navships, and unresponsive to messages.
Tubes: useful for tube amps.
Where to buy: http://myworld.ebay.com/desireme1979/
Price: Decent. Not great but not expensive
Pros: Great selection, Matched and single tubes. GREAT reputation. 100% over 11k+ transaction. O.o
Cons: Be careful to read through the fine print. Invaluable information such as readings, condition, etc. is hidden within the text. When hunting for tubes it can become a lengthy read.
Where to buy: http://www.audiotubes.com/
Price: fairly expensive, but has some of the best tubes in the world.
Pros: I used this site mainly for the amount of information that it has to offer. If there is a parent tube on the site, the author lists all of the variants that can be used in circuits with the same design as the parents tube. The site offers matching and has some of the best tubes in the world. Telefunken, Mazda, Mullard, Siemens, you name it, its probably there.
Cons: None really, maybe the price but to stock that kind of selection its justified.
All around cable supplies
Where to buy: http://www.takefiveaudio.com/mall/shopDisplayCategories.asp?id=1&cat=DIY+Supplies
Price: Decent considering collection
Pros: Seems to be the only place where I can find Neotech UPOCC cryo wire that many seek and few find. Lots of supplies. Termination, cable, sleeving, shielding, etc.
Cons: Located in Canada. Huge selection but not the BEST price. Have heard rumors of poor product or shipping but still retaining great customer service.
Where to buy: http://www.daleproaudio.com/default.aspx
Price: Very good connector prices. FREE SHIPPING!
Pros: Unlike most sites, Dale Pro Audio still stocks the T40RP MKII for $70 free shipping. I checked on plugs and connectors, and the the prices are lower than Mouser with free shipping. So all around costs are down.
Cons: Untested. I've never ordered from Dale Pro Audio, nor have I heard of anyone purchasing from this place. I was suggested the link by a member of the Hi-fi community but am unsure if she had ever purchased from the site.
Where to buy: https://www.redco.com/default.asp
Price: Good prices on Mogami and Canare cable.
Pros: Many cables like Mogami, Canare, etc. Good pricing and customizable lengths. Huge selection on so many things.
Cons: No indiviual cable. Only speaker, Star-quad and things of that nature.
So that's what I have found if anyone knows where i can get 26 AWG stranded silver plated copper with clear teflon... I will love you...
Techflex: Mesh stuff that you can put to coat your cable
Where to buy: http://myworld.ebay.com/furryletters/
Price: ~$0.29 a ft. Shipping $3
Pros: This guy has a good selection of Techflex. Not every color but a good selection. He's on ebay for those who fear buying online (that's me! New sites are scary) so here's a little peace of mind.
Cons: Lack of responsiveness compared to Navships (below).
Where to buy: http://www.wirecare.com
Price: ~$0.39 a ft. Shipping $10-$13 (HOLY SMACK!)
Pros: HUGE selection. Every single color and size of techflex on the planet. Only bummer is the shipping. Under $20 will cost you a extra $3 and shipping alone is $10 minimum. I suppose if you have a huge order of dozens of colors this is no issue. But for me a small time DIY'er. No go unless I'm in a pinch. Still worth mentioning for people with disposable income.
Cons: PRICE!
Cotton, Nylon, Etc sleeving
Where to buy: http://www.shoelacesexpress.com/index.asp
Price: ~$6 ea. Shipping ~$5
Pros: One word, options.
Cons: These options don't include 1/8 in cotton only polyesther. The smallest is 1/4 in cotton laces. Sold in ~$30 spools or individually.
Where to buy: http://myworld.ebay.com/furryletters/
Price: ~$0.16 a ft. Shipping ~$3
Pros: Cheap nylon sleeving. Good price, fast shipping. EBAY! Up to 1/2 in diameter.
Cons: Only black or copper. Smallest black is 1/8in and copper 3/8 in.
Wire: The 2nd most important part of a cable
Where to buy: http://myworld.ebay.com/navships/
Price: ~$0.20 a ft. Shipping $3
Pros: Pretty good selection. This guy has soo much wire. All silver plated oxygen free copper solid and 19 strand. All sorts of colors but no clear. Very responsive to messages. Awaiting my first shipment of 50ft of white wire!
Cons: No clear wire
Where to buy: http://stores.ebay.com/kentelectronics-plus
Price: ~$0.20 a ft. Shipping $4
Pros: Good selection. Some clear silver plated copper but solid core. Never bought but I was recommended by a cable maker.
Cons: A little pricer than Navships, and unresponsive to messages.
Tubes: useful for tube amps.
Where to buy: http://myworld.ebay.com/desireme1979/
Price: Decent. Not great but not expensive
Pros: Great selection, Matched and single tubes. GREAT reputation. 100% over 11k+ transaction. O.o
Cons: Be careful to read through the fine print. Invaluable information such as readings, condition, etc. is hidden within the text. When hunting for tubes it can become a lengthy read.
Where to buy: http://www.audiotubes.com/
Price: fairly expensive, but has some of the best tubes in the world.
Pros: I used this site mainly for the amount of information that it has to offer. If there is a parent tube on the site, the author lists all of the variants that can be used in circuits with the same design as the parents tube. The site offers matching and has some of the best tubes in the world. Telefunken, Mazda, Mullard, Siemens, you name it, its probably there.
Cons: None really, maybe the price but to stock that kind of selection its justified.
All around cable supplies
Where to buy: http://www.takefiveaudio.com/mall/shopDisplayCategories.asp?id=1&cat=DIY+Supplies
Price: Decent considering collection
Pros: Seems to be the only place where I can find Neotech UPOCC cryo wire that many seek and few find. Lots of supplies. Termination, cable, sleeving, shielding, etc.
Cons: Located in Canada. Huge selection but not the BEST price. Have heard rumors of poor product or shipping but still retaining great customer service.
Where to buy: http://www.daleproaudio.com/default.aspx
Price: Very good connector prices. FREE SHIPPING!
Pros: Unlike most sites, Dale Pro Audio still stocks the T40RP MKII for $70 free shipping. I checked on plugs and connectors, and the the prices are lower than Mouser with free shipping. So all around costs are down.
Cons: Untested. I've never ordered from Dale Pro Audio, nor have I heard of anyone purchasing from this place. I was suggested the link by a member of the Hi-fi community but am unsure if she had ever purchased from the site.
Where to buy: https://www.redco.com/default.asp
Price: Good prices on Mogami and Canare cable.
Pros: Many cables like Mogami, Canare, etc. Good pricing and customizable lengths. Huge selection on so many things.
Cons: No indiviual cable. Only speaker, Star-quad and things of that nature.
So that's what I have found if anyone knows where i can get 26 AWG stranded silver plated copper with clear teflon... I will love you...
