How to make an interconnect Step by Step With Pics

[brschmid]

nice to see my thread still around

 

[The Monkey]

Thanks for stopping by!

 

[Eugene.C]

This thread is very useful. Thank you brschmid.

 

[chanzhf]

http://www.lutheransonline.com/lo/19...409-913197.jpg

How do i make this y split exactly? Some experienced DIY-ers plz help! I wanna make a 3.5mm to RCA. Thanks!

 

[RubbberDucky]

I am new to all of this and I want to get into making some of this stuff as a hobby/for convenience. I was wondering what type of solder to buy (is silver necessary?) What is some good starter stuff, after looking at my shopping cart with all the stuff you said to get this would be quite expensive because of shipping. Shipping for 20ft of StarQuad costs more than the blasted wire! What would be some good wire from Parts Express? They have more of the things that I would want and maybe I can save by shipping from the same site.

Also, does anyone know of a video tutorial of this? I might just have to make one someday if there isn't.

 

[DoYouRight]

fantastically helpful. thanks for the pics to show the sleeving

 

[FallenAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RubbberDucky /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am new to all of this and I want to get into making some of this stuff as a hobby/for convenience. I was wondering what type of solder to buy (is silver necessary?) What is some good starter stuff, after looking at my shopping cart with all the stuff you said to get this would be quite expensive because of shipping. Shipping for 20ft of StarQuad costs more than the blasted wire! What would be some good wire from Parts Express? They have more of the things that I would want and maybe I can save by shipping from the same site. Also, does anyone know of a video tutorial of this? I might just have to make one someday if there isn't.

Silver solder is not necessary and not preferred unless you are soldering silver contacts.

Don't worry much about shipping, it's generally the same price from most places and you aren't likely to pay all that much anyway.

I like Redco for an all-inclusive store with reasonable prices on everything. For high-end stuff, Percy and SonicCraft are nice.

 

[RubbberDucky]

[

 

[RubbberDucky]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FallenAngel /img/forum/go_quote.gif Silver solder is not necessary and not preferred unless you are soldering silver contacts. Don't worry much about shipping, it's generally the same price from most places and you aren't likely to pay all that much anyway. I like Redco for an all-inclusive store with reasonable prices on everything. For high-end stuff, Percy and SonicCraft are nice.

Thanks for the advice! Like I said I am very new to all of this, I am waiting for my first lower high-end earphones (Etymotic HF2s) at the moment and I figured I would look around the site while I waited these long days and I decided I would like to make some of my own cables. I just don't want to spend $100 doing it right away. I got my cart down to $55 for all the things needed except for solder and wire, which will cost $20 each. The wire cost about $10 plus $11 shipping(For 20ft). I figured I will wait and just order bulk once I have the money. However, I have some old CAT5 cable I found laying around that I figure I can start out with, just learning the very basics of soldering and all.

What solder is preferred for some standard Neutrik plugs?

 

[FallenAngel]

I use Cardas Quad-Eutectic exclusively as it's so easy to work with. I'm feeling in a good mood today, if you PM me your address, I can send you some very nice Thermax SPC and some connectors for a much smaller cost than you'll get retail and you'll be building in 2 days.

 

[RubbberDucky]

When making an RCA - 3.5 Mini interconnect is it alright to twist the two ground wires together on the Mini end?

This is my first interconnect and thanks to FallenAngel it is looking pretty sweet!

 

[Graphicism]

Planning to do my first headphone recabeling, having scoured through the DIY pages I think I have everything I but also have a couple questions.

• What size Techflex do I need for the main part of the cable from the plug to the Y section, and what size do I need from the Y to each speaker?
• Which particular cable would be best for bringing out the mids, tightening up the bass on say a DT770?

Neutrik NYS231BG 3.5mm TRS Stereo plug

Canare Star Quad Microphone Cable
-or-
Mogami W2534 Quad Mic Cable

Flexo PET - 1/4"
Flexo PET - 1/8"

Shrinkflex Polyolefin Heatshrink Tubing - 2/1 - 1/4"
Shrinkflex Polyolefin Heatshrink Tubing - 2/1 - 1/8"

 

[RubbberDucky]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graphicism /img/forum/go_quote.gif Planning to do my first headphone recabeling, having scoured through the DIY pages I think I have everything I but also have a couple questions. • What size Techflex do I need for the main part of the cable from the plug to the Y section, and what size do I need from the Y to each speaker? • Which particular cable would be best for bringing out the mids, tightening up the bass on say a DT770? Neutrik NYS231BG 3.5mm TRS Stereo plug Canare Star Quad Microphone Cable -or- Mogami W2534 Quad Mic Cable Flexo PET - 1/4" Flexo PET - 1/8" Shrinkflex Polyolefin Heatshrink Tubing - 2/1 - 1/4" Shrinkflex Polyolefin Heatshrink Tubing - 2/1 - 1/8"

Well I may be a noob, but you could probably just use the same size techflex for both, I did on my mini-RCA cable. *But I used Nylon Multi-filament sleeving. Ive been told it is better, but more expensive.

I don't think you are looking at the right cables for headphones... Id go with some mini Mogami or Starquad... Regular is so thick... :/

This if I am not mistaken... (Experts Correct me)

Mogami Wire & Cable Corp. Mogami 2799 Neglex Mini Quad Console Cable Bulk Audio Cable at Markertek.com

Or

Canare Corporation Of America Canare L-4E5C Miniature Star-Quad (0.189in O.D.) Audio Cable Bulk Audio Cable at Markertek.com

 

[Graphicism]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RubbberDucky /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well I may be a noob, but you could probably just use the same size techflex for both, I did on my mini-RCA cable. *But I used Nylon Multi-filament sleeving. Ive been told it is better, but more expensive. I don't think you are looking at the right cables for headphones... Id go with some mini Mogami or Starquad... Regular is so thick... :/

Thanks for pointing that out, I think I'll go with the Starquad you linked too.

Heres what I'm thinking; from the plug to the Y I will leave the cable cover on the wires, and cover it with sleeving. From the Y to each cup I get a little lost, not sure if I just use shrinkflex or...

I'd like the cable to look like this one from skyline889:

Nice looking cable and sheath from the 3.5mm to the Y, and after that just a neat looking cover upto the headphone.

Also do I NEED a heatgun or can I use a hair dryer or something similar?

 

[RubbberDucky]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graphicism /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for pointing that out, I think I'll go with the Starquad you linked too. Heres what I'm thinking; from the plug to the Y I will leave the cable cover on the wires, and cover it with sleeving. From the Y to each cup I get a little lost, not sure if I just use shrinkflex or... I'd like the cable to look like this one from skyline889: Nice looking cable and sheath from the 3.5mm to the Y, and after that just a neat looking cover upto the headphone. Also do I NEED a heatgun or can I use a hair dryer or something similar?

Ohhh ok. You probably want to check out the Nylon sleeving like I was talking about, it feels more like a fabric, rather than a plastic, which I am assuming Techflex feels like. It appears that he just used the nylon sleeving and heatshrinked, or something similar to it, the wires at the Y after stripping off their outer casing of course.

Link! https://www.wirecare.com/products.asp?prodline=NM

I thought you meant you wanted it to look like this cable I am making, which has sleeving on the separate wires after the Y. Take a look. * I used the same sleeving, but I suppose you could buy smaller sleeving for after the Y and it might actually work/look better*

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/DSC_0003.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/DSC_0001.jpg

I didn't want to spend decades heatshrinking, so I bought a cheap $20 heatgun at Home Depot. Its not much, but it gets way hotter than a hairdryer and it does the job! I figure I can upgrade later if necessary. Im pretty sure it has a year warranty too...