Solid copper 14 AWG cable

[balavignesh002]

These days could find solid copper wires of this gauge on any of local stores or any online market in India, At least to my reach I couldn't.
So found these on EBAY finally and got these imported.

These are solid copper 14 AWG wires with PVC insulation. Just thought of trying to make a speaker cable and compare with my existing set of speaker cables.



Just kept it simple and twisted them on hand to make a set of twisted pairs. Terminated one end using a banana plug and the other side left it bare copper.



This cable gives me a feeling that it sounds totally different and better what ever cables I have used so far.

I really need to give a serious thought on this.

 

[drkrack]

This cable gives me a feeling that it sounds totally different and better what ever cables I have used so far.

I really need to give a serious thought on this.

Yes appears so but it lacked lack PRAT, some songs literally sounding like crying. I changed it over to multiple solid core wire with different thickness and variable (non uniform) core thickness improved the SQ by huge margin.
Kimber 12Tc is one of them

 

[Hari Iyer]

Wondering what would be the cable capacitance.

 

[balavignesh002]

Yes appears so but it lacked lack PRAT

What Gauge you tried?

Kimber 12Tc is one of them

To my ears, The above cable sounds better than 8TC varistrand on Mica RB42 with McIntosh MCC82 amp

I am yet to try it Lintons.

 

[sidvee]

These days could find solid copper wires of this gauge on any of local stores or any online market in India, At least to my reach I couldn't.
So found these on EBAY finally and got these imported.

These are solid copper 14 AWG wires with PVC insulation. Just thought of trying to make a speaker cable and compare with my existing set of speaker cables.

View attachment 87483View attachment 87484

Just kept it simple and twisted them on hand to make a set of twisted pairs. Terminated one end using a banana plug and the other side left it bare copper.

View attachment 87485View attachment 87486

This cable gives me a feeling that it sounds totally different and better what ever cables I have used so far.

I really need to give a serious thought on this.

I used solid core copper - acoustic revive spc-reference and when compared to Kimber select copper which I believe is stranded, these were much better, especially in the mid range. I have since moved entirely to solid core copper.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[drkrack]

What Gauge you tried?

1sqmm x 4 for each polarity, if I remember correctly.

The above cable sounds better than 8TC varistrand on Mica RB42 with McIntosh MCC82 amp

Depends on speakers too. Try 12Tc if you can get, unfortunately lots of copy cables in the market.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

I've been reading up on the subject of speaker hookup wire on several forums. And though I would'nt call it a consensus, the most common usage of solid core wires seems to be inside of the speaker, to hook up the drivers to the binding posts or inside the crossover. And stranded wires seem to be used more for external speaker cables.

The reason given is that solid core is too stiff, and frequent handling can shear the cable. Thus, is used for static runs of wire which are not moved or touched. Where as multi strand has more flexibility, and will with stand bending and handling without breaking, due to the finer / thinner cables inside. ( But i guess, OCC - Ohno continuous cast cables - are more flexible in this regard. And OCC solid core cables are being used to make speaker cables, like @sidvee mentioned in his acoustic revive cables )

But for bass drivers where higher gauge 12 AGW is used, they are again using stranded wires, mostly copper, as solid core wires will bring undue stress on the driver terminals, due to their stiffness. And copper is being preferrred to silver, to add some warmth and body.

But one thing, most folks seem to mention is the skin effect of stranded cables, which can result in a grainier / livelier sound signature. which some might prefer.

But one important point everyone is making is that apart from the material of the cable, the geometry and lay play a equal role in deciding the voicing of the cable. So too many variable in play to decide one way or the other I guess.

 

[balavignesh002]

the most common usage of solid core wires seems to be inside of the speaker

Yes, the GR Research upgrade kits has solid copper wire with polyethylene insulation.

But i guess, OCC - Ohno continuous cast cables - are more flexible in this regard

OCC are varistrand wire I think, are they available on a single solid core cable? I understand Kimber use OCC varistrand cables sourced from china only.

But for bass drivers where higher gauge 12 AGW is used,

Below 300hz, they may take a call to go stranded way as it may not to easily notice the difference.

But one thing, most folks seem to mention is the skin effect of stranded cables, which can result in a grainier / livelier sound signature. which some might prefer.

Yes.. OCC Varistrand doesn't degrade the signals on high frequency. Especially brighter bookshelf become more brighter and airy.

the geometry and lay play a equal role in deciding the voicing of the cable

Can hear the difference between 5mm rope and 8mm rope inside the OCC Varistrand. Cotton is a good dielectric I think.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

OCC are varistrand wire I think, are they available on a single solid core cable?

Hi

I've read very positive things about a cable company from China, called as Xangsane. They make both 8 TC and 12 TC OCC copper cable. Below is their link.

https://www.xangsaneaudiocable.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=226_243&product_id=496

And they also have some silver cables if anyone wants to try

 

[balavignesh002]

Hi

I've read very positive things about a cable company from China, called as Xangsane. They make both 8 TC and 12 TC OCC copper cable. Below is their link.

https://www.xangsaneaudiocable.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=226_243&product_id=496

And they also have some silver cables if anyone wants to try

Yes that's Varistrand only, 7 strands of different diameter solid copper insulated in teflon.

I am using 8TC with 8mm cotton rope inserted in to it for maintaining the weaving diameter constant.

 

[sachinchavan 15865]

But one important point everyone is making is that apart from the material of the cable, the geometry and lay play a equal role in deciding the voicing of the cable. So too many variable in play to decide one way or the other I guess.

Manohar can you please elaborate on the geometry and lay aspects? What does lay mean in this context? And which geometries are better?

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

Manohar can you please elaborate on the geometry and lay aspects? What does lay mean in this context? And which geometries are better?

Hi Sachin

I really have no clue at the moment. And still reading up on the subject. And the more I read, the more confusing it is

But what i learnt so far, is that there is no single universally accepted way of doing it. Though a Litz configuration seems to be suggested quite a few times.

When i meant lay and geometry, I was referring to the same thing actually. That is how the individual wires are wrapped around each other or through each other.

Below is one pic, showing a recommended lay or geometry, though I havent tried it yet

By the way, I have to add, that I dont intend on making any speaker cables or interconnects. Way too much research and complexity invloved in it. I dont have the time to read up on so much material and experiment. Iam good to go with whatever is sold off the shelf from established brands, who have done their research, and charging us for that.

Iam only reading up on internal hookup wire for connecting the drivers inside the speaker. A simpler configuration, but is a much over looked subject as compared to speaker cables and interconnects . When i opened up my PMC speakers, there was probably 10 INR a meter, noodle thin wire inside, from the crossover to the driver. On top of it, the driver was connected to this starved wire with a clip-on connector. There wasnt even any solder . And here I was trying different cables outside from the amp to the speaker, when it was going through that joke of a cable inside.

So Iam presently only reading up on internal wire for my next build. So will probably never have the answers for speaker cables or IC's.

 

[balavignesh002]

Below is one pic, showing a recommended lay or geometry, though I havent tried it yet

In Kimber cables. Look at the difference between Dase and Ascent, its only the insulator material, which is pe and teflon respectively. For carbon its the sponge in the middle and insulator.

By inserting a sponge, They just change the lay and geometry I belive.

Wondering what would be the cable capacitance.

For a 2 meter length will that create significant impact?

 

[Hari Iyer]

For a 2 meter length will that create significant impact?

Since your wires are tightly twisted chances are the capacitence will be quite high even for a 2 meter length. Maybe around 700pF - my guess. In my setup this translates to artificial HF distortion.

To avoid this in my speaker cable the + and - are separated and they do not touch each other and hence their capacitance is negligible. This gives me a smooth high- end void of distortion. YMMV.

 

[balavignesh002]

To avoid this in my speaker cable the + and - are separated and they do not touch each other and hence their capacitance is negligible. This gives me a smooth high- end void of distortion. YMMV.

Thanks for the input. Any idea what range of high frequency may be affecting?

 

[Hari Iyer]

Thanks for the input. Any idea what range of high frequency may be affecting?

It's difficult for me to comprehend the particular HF range. Mostly it's in the mid highs from 6khz till 10khz - if I may say. If you have some extra wire with you, it can be tried in your setup too. Your system needs to be resolved enough to make this difference noticeable.

 

[balavignesh002]

mid highs from 6khz till 10khz -

Thanks a lotI got this cable to Hook up the kick bass mounted on my car door. Currently this is playing between 70hz to 300hz. Or some times 70 to 3000hz is the midrange is not working.

Amp to foot rest this varistrand may be used.
foot rest area to inside the door will use this hookup. I used the GR Research tube connector to bridge these.

If you have some extra wire with you, it can be tried in your setup too. Your system needs to be resolved enough to make this difference noticeable.

In the remaining the length, I made this speaker cable, so no extra I have.

But I am planning to make a 10 AWG cable which I will not twist, rather will make a parallel wire or free hanging wire.

 

[Hari Iyer]

Thanks a lotI got this cable to Hook up the kick bass mounted on my car door. Currently this is playing between 70hz to 300hz. Or some times 70 to 3000hz is the midrange is not working.

Amp to foot rest this varistrand may be used.
View attachment 87557foot rest area to inside the door will use this hookup. I used the GR Research tube connector to bridge these.View attachment 87556

In the remaining the length, I made this speaker cable, so no extra I have.

But I am planning to make a 10 AWG cable which I will not twist, rather will make a parallel wire or free hanging wire.

I shall suggest you to not make parallel wire either as they too will touch each other and have higher capacitance. First try single wire only separated and not touching. Check if they work for your setup. Later you can design as per your requirement.

 

[balavignesh002]

parallel wire

Parallel wire mean, using a spacer, so that it can maintain gap. Any feedback on this plan?

 

[Hari Iyer]

Parallel wire mean, using a spacer, so that it can maintain gap. Any feedback on this plan?

Not required to use any spacer for testing. Just leave them hanging. Doesn't matter much.