Copper Foil Speaker Cable - advice?

Rotellian · 9th September 2003, 02:14 PM

I plan on making some of these if i can make it relatively cost effective. Ive seen some stuff in the UK rfi/emi copper tape that is 19mm wide (roughly 3/4 inch) and 0.08mm thick. Is this sufficient? My guess is that it should be. I can then seal the runs using some translucent tape. Is there a problem for some amps using this stuff? Cheers

Peter Daniel · 9th September 2003, 02:30 PM

Works fine for me, tried in few different systems, no problem.

Follow up on copper foil speaker cables

Rotellian · 9th September 2003, 02:33 PM

OK, sounds good to me, thanks. I notice that you used an unrolled inductor - cant find them in uk - im assuming that the adhesive copper shileding stuf would be near enough the same?

Peter Daniel · 9th September 2003, 02:35 PM

I've heard people having good results with shielding tape as well.

Brett · 9th September 2003, 02:51 PM

I see no reason why it won't work. However a word of caution. Some amplifiers don't like the capacitance that this configuration of cable brings, with some becoming unstable, going into oscillation either completely or intermittently. I know a few people that have had amplifiers cook themselves when using Goertz (and the 9 plait versions of Cat5). I find these cables can have a very distinctive signature, one I don't like, but you might.

Rotellian · 9th September 2003, 03:40 PM

Yes i had something about some amps not liking the cable. Just out of interest what type of sonic signature is it? Or what is it you dont like? Cheers

Brett · 9th September 2003, 04:45 PM

It's always sounded hard and bright to me, incl on my non NFB amps (definitely not oscillating), the sort of sound favoured by the detail uber alles brigade.

Rotellian · 9th September 2003, 04:53 PM

hmm. Ive spent a lot of time trying to avoid hard and bright. Might need a bit more thought.

Holger Barske · 9th September 2003, 05:01 PM

The capacitance problem only occurs if you put the two conductors one on each other.
I'd suggest to try mounting them side by side, like madrigal did on their famous "CPC" speaker cable.
Had some very good experience with this setup some years ago.

Brett · 9th September 2003, 05:09 PM

Just IMO/IME. My hard and bright might be your airy and detailed. I definitely don't like my system to sound soft, but strident I hate (so I'll never be a mainstream audiophile again).

9th September 2003, 02:14 PM	#1
Rotellian diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: UK	Copper Foil Speaker Cable - advice? I plan on making some of these if i can make it relatively cost effective. Ive seen some stuff in the UK rfi/emi copper tape that is 19mm wide (roughly 3/4 inch) and 0.08mm thick. Is this sufficient? My guess is that it should be. I can then seal the runs using some translucent tape. Is there a problem for some amps using this stuff? Cheers

9th September 2003, 02:30 PM	#2
Peter Daniel diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Toronto, Canada	Works fine for me, tried in few different systems, no problem. Follow up on copper foil speaker cables __________________ www.audiosector.com “Do something really well. See how much time it takes. It might be a product, a work of art, who knows? Then give it away cheaply, just because you feel that it should not cost so much, even if it took a lot of time and expensive materials to make it.” - JC

9th September 2003, 02:35 PM	#4
Peter Daniel diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Toronto, Canada	I've heard people having good results with shielding tape as well. __________________ www.audiosector.com “Do something really well. See how much time it takes. It might be a product, a work of art, who knows? Then give it away cheaply, just because you feel that it should not cost so much, even if it took a lot of time and expensive materials to make it.” - JC

9th September 2003, 05:01 PM	#9
Holger Barske diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Ruhrgebiet	The capacitance problem only occurs if you put the two conductors one on each other. I'd suggest to try mounting them side by side, like madrigal did on their famous "CPC" speaker cable. Had some very good experience with this setup some years ago. __________________ Best regards: Holger www.holgerbarske.com

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9th September 2003, 02:33 PM	#3
Rotellian diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: UK	OK, sounds good to me, thanks. I notice that you used an unrolled inductor - cant find them in uk - im assuming that the adhesive copper shileding stuf would be near enough the same?

9th September 2003, 02:51 PM	#5
Brett diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002	I see no reason why it won't work. However a word of caution. Some amplifiers don't like the capacitance that this configuration of cable brings, with some becoming unstable, going into oscillation either completely or intermittently. I know a few people that have had amplifiers cook themselves when using Goertz (and the 9 plait versions of Cat5). I find these cables can have a very distinctive signature, one I don't like, but you might.

9th September 2003, 03:40 PM	#6
Rotellian diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: UK	Yes i had something about some amps not liking the cable. Just out of interest what type of sonic signature is it? Or what is it you dont like? Cheers

9th September 2003, 04:45 PM	#7
Brett diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002	It's always sounded hard and bright to me, incl on my non NFB amps (definitely not oscillating), the sort of sound favoured by the detail uber alles brigade.

9th September 2003, 04:53 PM	#8
Rotellian diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: UK	hmm. Ive spent a lot of time trying to avoid hard and bright. Might need a bit more thought.

9th September 2003, 05:09 PM	#10
Brett diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002	Just IMO/IME. My hard and bright might be your airy and detailed. I definitely don't like my system to sound soft, but strident I hate (so I'll never be a mainstream audiophile again).

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