While the stock Z1R cable is really good, I find the PWAudio 1950s cable is even better - especially with the bass control/impact. Since the PW cable is crazy expensive, I tried my hand at making my own version of an ultimate Z1R cable with the thought that maybe I get lucky and succeed with a great sounding cable (how hard could it be?). The thought was that I would be stunned with my result and thus resell my 1950s, enabling the purchase of more audio equipment lol.
Sadly, there *is* something to cable creation and I did not succeed. The cable I built from scratch is in the middle below, and I built it with these desired parameters in mind:
- Similar slim cable diameter to stock Z1R cable
- 8 cores (weaved as four pairs)
- Lots of silver-plated copper strands (66 per core, totaling 528 strands!)
- Teflon outer sleeve
- 4 feet long
Well the short of it is what I created does not sound anywhere near as good as the 1950s.
It makes the Z1Rs sound like reference monitors and while there is great clarity, the bass is anemic (which is not necessarily bad, but does not match my preferences).
There are lots of folks who don't think cables can have different sound, and at this point I am for sure not in that crowd. If anyone is in SoCal and want to audition the difference between my home-made cable and the PWAudio 1950s just PM me. In the mean time, it's back to the drawing board to try and match the 1950s!
66 strands per core!