I don't believe cables make a difference, any input?

[mrfeedback]

Electrical suppliers sell 4 wire mains flex, and this can be configured as star-quad and is cheap.
This works very well for the price.
An alternative is
Canare Star-Quad

Eric.

[jh6you]

Originally posted by fdegrove
plain vanilla star quad

Originally posted by mrfeedback
configured as star-quad and is cheap

Thanks, both of you.
Yes, I will buy some of cheap cables configured as star-quad and will compare them to find one set as speaker cables, and I will use remaining cables for other purposes. This is the only solution I could manage safely and economically.

[janneman]

Originally posted by The Paulinator
I'm sure any of those differences between the cables can be remedied with the use of an in-line flux capacitor. and if you didn't read a few of the past posts, bubble gum at the joints (or even surrounding the binding posts) will reduce the negative effects of the emissions of sunspots. All the gums mentioned are fine, I'm sure, but Bubble Tape wins in the ease of use category (for you..... not them!)

Paulinator,

This may be a little off toppic, but since you seem to know what you are talking about I'm going to ask anyway.

I have done some prelimminary tests on transformers without iron cores, to lower the losses from that, eddy current and core losses. I decided to try a wooden core for ease of manufacturing, but got very low efficiency. A friend woodworker pointed out to me a rare tropical wood called iron wood. This, because of its iron content actuall has a specific weight above 1, (it sinks in water). I am currently trying to get some.
Have you any experience with this or, if not, an opinion?

Jan Didden

[Sproggit]

janneman
I have worked a bit with iron wood before (occasionaly used as railway-sleepers here in South Africa).
You will need to invest in some serious equipment to work with the stuff... Example:You need to use nails designed for concrete, the standard hardwood stuff just bends. I used a metal lathe and high speed steel bits to for the wood.....

You can also try to get hold of Rhodesian Yara, for similar properties (they are related).

If you like I can try and source some for you, but the shipping cost will be prohibitive... (Yes, it weighs a LOT!).

May make a prettier than metal enclosure though...... (Darkish ochre coloured wood, not exceptionally pretty grain, but not bad ... polishes VERY well.. and of course, durable).

Regards
Jan

Originally posted by janneman

A friend woodworker pointed out to me a rare tropical wood called iron wood. This, because of its iron content actuall has a specific weight above 1, (it sinks in water). I am currently trying to get some.

[IanHarvey]

Originally posted by Christopher
Really? One ohm lamp cord? What gauge is it?

Two cores, about 0.75mm^2 each, sold as extension cable for garden tools - I think the current rating was 8 or 10A.. The 10m length I was using had a DC resistance of about 0.5R each leg.

The cable was several years old, and maybe quite a lot of the copper had oxidised; perhaps new cable is not as bad. Nevertheless, this is what I had been using and I'm sure other people have the same or worse.

Cheers
IH

[Christopher]

Hi George, thanks for dropping in and offering the input.

I too was using some computer ribbon cable,(your configuration 1). Presently I'm back to my cardas cables, not because I think they're superior or different, just that before I put them up for sale, I figured I'd do some dblt tests between them and the ribbons. (I haven't yet)

I hate to harp, but when you listened to all the configurations did you do it blind ABX or such? I am assuming you didn't measure or calculate the LC's or you would have posted your results.

Chris

[gpapag]

Hello Chris
I did not do any blind test (both eyes open), nor ABX. All cables were burned in for 2 days. Then each one was connected for 2-3 days in the same position of the chain for proper listening. After this, another position in the chain was chosen ( i am talking about interconnects), and so on. I did also some short term change overs just for confirmation. Two friends (one believer and one non believer) were invited for a few beers. Then they took some of them with for local testing, then i went for a few beers over there and so on. Pretty scientific! Now i am left with two interconnect pairs and one speaker cable pair, not necessarily my favorites. But i still love my friends.

I do not have the gear to measure L and C.
I do not have the time to calculate L and C. This is not plain easy too. Some assumptions have to take place in the beginning, and the validity of them should be verified by actual measurements.

Chris, If you will compare your ribbons with the Cardas, please inform us for your findings

Regards
George

[jh6you]

Originally posted by gpapag

All cables were burned in for 2 days.

I am just wondering. 2 days are common practice?

[mrfeedback]

Pretty scientific! Now i am left with two interconnect pairs and one speaker cable pair, not necessarily my favorites. But i still love my friends.

Are you saying that your friends won't give them back ?.
If so what did they say about the cables that they prefer ?.

Eric.

[fdegrove]

Hi,

If so what did they say about the cables that they prefer ?.

That they want more beers?