| Copper, silver, wire myths? - Click HERE for Original Thread |
| maylar |
Everyone knows about the high priced audio wires out there catering to the folks who claim to be able to hear the difference.
I'm trying to research some factual data that might explain the physics of why one wire might sound different than another.
Like, what is 99% Oxygen-free Copper? And why would that, or Silver, sound any different than "regular" Copper?
Trying to keep an open mind... |
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| GRollins |
If I may be so bold as to make a prediction:
You won't find any answers that you will be happy with.
There aren't any "objective" reasons that everyone agrees upon as to why things sound different--they just do.
Grey |
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| markp |
| quote: | Originally posted by maylar
Everyone knows about the high priced audio wires out there catering to the folks who claim to be able to hear the difference.
I'm trying to research some factual data that might explain the physics of why one wire might sound different than another.
Like, what is 99% Oxygen-free Copper? And why would that, or Silver, sound any different than "regular" Copper?
Trying to keep an open mind... |
Take a look at the Adire web site for a great comparison of all metals(in voice coils). It is relative to wire too. The reason for O2 free wire is to prevent oxidization of the metal. Oxidized metal won't carry as much current as pure metal. |
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| Steve Eddy |
| quote: | Originally posted by markp
The reason for O2 free wire is to prevent oxidization of the metal. Oxidized metal won't carry as much current as pure metal. |
The reason for oxygen free copper is to prevent it from embrittlement when heated in a reducing atmosphere such as hydrogen.
Oxygenated copper such as your basic ETP copper is intentionally oxygenated under precisly controlled conditions. What the oxygen does is scavenge inpurities in the wire, removing them from solution. This actually results in higher conductivity.
In order for oxygen free copper to have the same conductivity as oxygenated copper, it needs to have a higher purity.
se |
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| maylar |
| quote: | Originally posted by GRollins
If I may be so bold as to make a prediction:
You won't find any answers that you will be happy with.
There aren't any "objective" reasons that everyone agrees upon as to why things sound different--they just do.
Grey |
Bummer.
I'm an Engineer by trade and an objectivist by nature. I believe that (with electronics) if it can't be measured, it doesn't exist.
With complex signal processors like amplifiers, I'm willing to accept, "It sounds different and I don't know why". Eventually maybe some scientist will explain some as yet unknown "distortion" mechanism that will explain why.
But for something as (seemingly) simple as wire... I'd have thought that someone would have already put an objective reason behind the subjective evidence that there's a difference between them. |
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| SY |
| quote: | | Like, what is 99% Oxygen-free Copper? And why would that, or Silver, sound any different than "regular" Copper? |
In 99.999% of the cases, marketing and sociology. Before the strawman zombies come marching out of their graves screaming for my brains, that is a VERY different thing than saying, "substituting wires in a system never changes the sound." That's just as wrong. But sonic changes verified by controlled listening tests are always due to very well known factors, like R, L, and C affecting frequency response and/or amplifier stability.
| quote: | | an objectivist by nature. |
Ayn Rand was a blowhard. And a really sludgy writer. |
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| Da5id4Vz |
| quote: | | Ayn Rand was a blowhard. And a really sludgy writer. |
Ouch!
Now don’t be telling that to Mr. Greenspan. If you upset him he might raise the prime interest rate. |
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| markp |
| quote: | Originally posted by Steve Eddy
The reason for oxygen free copper is to prevent it from embrittlement when heated in a reducing atmosphere such as hydrogen.
Oxygenated copper such as your basic ETP copper is intentionally oxygenated under precisly controlled conditions. What the oxygen does is scavenge inpurities in the wire, removing them from solution. This actually results in higher conductivity.
In order for oxygen free copper to have the same conductivity as oxygenated copper, it needs to have a higher purity.
se |
One step further, the oxygen is then driven from the metal to take the impurities with it resulting in O2 free wire. The oxygen does not stay in the wire or the impurities would be trapped with it in the wire making it worse off than without. |
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| markp |
| quote: | Originally posted by maylar
Everyone knows about the high priced audio wires out there catering to the folks who claim to be able to hear the difference.
I'm trying to research some factual data that might explain the physics of why one wire might sound different than another.
Like, what is 99% Oxygen-free Copper? And why would that, or Silver, sound any different than "regular" Copper?
Trying to keep an open mind... |
Silver has the highest conductivity of any metal but is prone to oxidization. Gold is like 66% as conductive as silver but does not oxidize so it is used on 'high end' connectors to insure at least 66% conductivity. Silver starts at nearly 99% but gets worse as it tarnishes to the point of much less than 66% conductivity. Copper is very close to silver but it too oxidizes. A rhodium plating on silver prevents the silver from oxidization yet it maintains its high conductivity. |
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| mbroker |
Don't forget about copper-oxides making "micro-diodes...."
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/show...4957#post254957
:roll:
(was that debacle ever settled in one of the many subsequent threads? Has anyone attempted to contact Eric via phone - his disappearance was abrupt to say the least.)
I completely agree with SY: The cables have far more affect on the active components they connect than of the signal going through the cable. |
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| Steve Eddy |
| quote: | Originally posted by markp
One step further, the oxygen is then driven from the metal to take the impurities with it resulting in O2 free wire. The oxygen does not stay in the wire or the impurities would be trapped with it in the wire making it worse off than without. |
No, the oxygen does stay in the wire in the form of various oxides of the impurities. They can be seen in micrographs as small dark inclusions (because the oxides are insoluble).
ETP copper is usually oxygenated at about 0.04%.
se |
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| Circlotron |
| I think it comes down to some people feeling "superior" if they have something someone else hasn't got. :rolleyes: As soon as all and sundry started using CD's these people then switched back to vinyl and procaimed it's virtues. As soon as the hard disk is replaced by some solid-state thing, you can guess who will sing the praises of HDD's. If everyone started using inch-thick teflon coated silver speaker cables, you can bet your boots this crowd will "discover" 1940's vintage rubber covered wire ripped out of old houses. Of course, wires from some houses will be better than others because of having been conditioned by decades of AC with lower harmonic distortion than other areas. :dead: |
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| markp |
| quote: | Originally posted by Steve Eddy
No, the oxygen does stay in the wire in the form of various oxides of the impurities. They can be seen in micrographs as small dark inclusions (because the oxides are insoluble).
ETP copper is usually oxygenated at about 0.04%.
se |
Gee, that would make it 99.96% pure copper. Thats called oxygen free in most books....
:rolleyes: |
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| millwood |
| quote: | Originally posted by maylar
Like, what is 99% Oxygen-free Copper? And why would that, or Silver, sound any different than "regular" Copper?
Trying to keep an open mind... |
since you asked for "open mind", my understanding is that those oxygen atoms do nothing but gross atrocity to those electrons (only left spin ones not the right spin ones, mind you) rushing down the wire. As such, you will end up with a lot more right spin electrons on the other end of the wire.
rumors have it that certain elite members with golden ears can hear the imbalance between left spin and right spin electrons (like odd vs. even harmonics). As such, having oxygen in your copper wires is a bad bad bad thing.
Of course, those same members claimed to hear cable directionality but when put to a test, we haven't been able to hear from them ever since.
:) |
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| fdegrove |
Hi,
| quote: | | Of course, those same members claimed to hear cable directionality but when put to a test, we haven't been able to hear from them ever since. |
Not true.
I did report that with the sample sent, a piece of Vampire wire of 1 m length, by SE I couldn't detect any directionality.
Which, BTW, I consider a good thing as I'm lazy by nature.:D
Cheers,;) |
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| Steve Eddy |
| quote: | Originally posted by markp
Gee, that would make it 99.96% pure copper. Thats called oxygen free in most books.... |
No, it's not. What's called oxygen free in most books (the primary book being the Copper Development Association's book of specifications) has about two orders of magnitude less oxygen (less than 0.0005%) than oxygenated ETP copper.
The 0.04% oxygen in ETP copper is intentionally added (and not subsequently removed). Can't exactly call it oxygen free if you're intentionally adding oxygen. Sure, 0.04% oxygen isn't a whole lot, and for practical purposes with regard to audio it might as well be oxygen free, but what the metals industry calls oxygen free is something quite different.
se |
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| Steve Eddy |
| quote: | Originally posted by fdegrove
Not true.
I did report that with the sample sent, a piece of Vampire wire of 1 m length, by SE I couldn't detect any directionality. |
That you did. It was Eric who was abducted by aliens. :)
| quote: | | Which, BTW, I consider a good thing as I'm lazy by nature.:D |
I'll say. I'm STILL waiting for that EMail from you about what the doctor said. :)
se |
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| till |
| quote: | | Copper, silver, wire myths? |
There are big differences.
Price: material, Cu or Ag not so much, but for myth you have to pay serios hundreds of $$ each meter.
Ag is very good to work with, it solders easy. But silver plated Cu also, a little less expensive. Cu needs a clean surface to solder, it has oxides on surface after short time and does not take the solder anymore.
Of corse there is a BIG difference in what direction you connect it, because of this in one direction the negative halfwave is supressed, the other direction only has influence on the positive. If you only listen to positve music, such as Vivaldi or Mozart, you should always wire in the direction that only affects negative halfwaves, In case you like more negative Music like industrial or rap, otherway round. Cave: this scheme needs to be inverted in case you have a source with phase inverting output! The easyest way to test is to plug in the mains plug reverse into the wall outlet!
btw: does quicksilver cable sound more liquid? |
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| markp |
| quote: | Originally posted by Steve Eddy
No, it's not. What's called oxygen free in most books (the primary book being the Copper Development Association's book of specifications) has about two orders of magnitude less oxygen (less than 0.0005%) than oxygenated ETP copper.
The 0.04% oxygen in ETP copper is intentionally added (and not subsequently removed). Can't exactly call it oxygen free if you're intentionally adding oxygen. Sure, 0.04% oxygen isn't a whole lot, and for practical purposes with regard to audio it might as well be oxygen free, but what the metals industry calls oxygen free is something quite different.
se |
After checking about half a dozen manufacturers websites, the average was 99.95% being called oxygen free copper. Also .01 or .02% was the average for added O2. This might not be the book spec but it is what the industry is using and as such what we get from them. |
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| sam9 |
| Considering the audio obsession with gold plate, I remain amazed that no one in the non-automotive audio field is selling gold plated fuses and fuse holders. Think about the abominable abuses being inflicted on your mains power by those cheap, low-down, tin-plated fuses between the medical grade power entry socket and the transformer primaries. OH, the shame of it! :eek: |
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| analog_sa |
| quote: | | Think about the abominable abuses being inflicted on your mains power by those cheap, low-down, tin-plated fuses |
I have thought about it. And done one better - listened. That's why none of my boxes have any fuses inside.
Otherwise you make a very good point - there seem to be silver fuses available but i've never noticed gold plated fuse holders - a real business opportunity. |
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| Peter Daniel |
| Would it be so hard to make your own siver wire fuses? Would they work if appropriate wire gauge was chosen and then soldered between two lugs on a PCB? |
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| roadkill |
| quote: | Originally posted by sam9
... OH, the shame of it! :eek: |
LOL!
| quote: | | Would it be so hard to make your own siver wire fuses? Would they work if appropriate wire gauge was chosen and then soldered between two lugs on a PCB? |
I guess the dia of this wire would be very small, given the good conductivity of silver. Not to mention it's high melting point (compared to most fuse materials) makes the amount of heat required before the fuse, well, "fuses", requires a higher resistance wire, which means something thinner, if you've already fixed the material. |
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| Pjotr |
| quote: | Originally posted by analog_sa
Otherwise you make a very good point - there seem to be silver fuses available but i've never noticed gold plated fuse holders - a real business opportunity. |
Well, look at your car-hifi store then... :smash:
:cool: |
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| fdegrove |
Hi,
| quote: | | there seem to be silver fuses available but i've never noticed gold plated fuse holders - a real business opportunity. |
Both have been available for ages, even goldpalted mains plugs, you name it...
Cheers,;) |
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| Steve Eddy |
| quote: | Originally posted by markp
After checking about half a dozen manufacturers websites, the average was 99.95% being called oxygen free copper. |
CDA alloy 10200 OFHC requires a minimum 99.95% copper. CDA alloy 10100 OFHC certified requirs a minimum 99.99% copper.
You seem to be assuming that everything past 99.95% or 99.99% is oxygen. It's not.
| quote: | | Also .01 or .02% was the average for added O2. This might not be the book spec but it is what the industry is using and as such what we get from them. |
What websites are you looking at? I just picked the first half dozen I came across and 0.04% seems to be consistent with all of them.
se |
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| sam9 |
"Well, look at your car-hifi store then... "
The lowest amp rating is just a little high for my headphone amp. |
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| markp |
| quote: | Originally posted by Steve Eddy
CDA alloy 10200 OFHC requires a minimum 99.95% copper. CDA alloy 10100 OFHC certified requirs a minimum 99.99% copper.
You seem to be assuming that everything past 99.95% or 99.99% is oxygen. It's not.
What websites are you looking at? I just picked the first half dozen I came across and 0.04% seems to be consistent with all of them.
se |
If I said it was 99.95% copper and around .01 or .02% O2 then how could I be assuming everything past 99.95% was O2? Doing the math: 99.95%+.02%=99.97% that leaves .03% other impurities.
Don't assume. |
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| millwood |
| quote: | Originally posted by fdegrove
I did report that with the sample sent, a piece of Vampire wire of 1 m length, by SE I couldn't detect any directionality. |
Sorry, I forgot about that.
So I should have said the following: of the two people who were absolutely sure of their ability to hear cable directionality, one reported unable to hear them, and another was never to be heard from, when put under a test.
Either way, i am not sure if we would have concluded any differently, tho. |
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| fdegrove |
Hi,
| quote: | | So I should have said the following: of the two people who were absolutely sure of their ability to hear cable directionality, one reported unable to hear them, and another was never to be heard from, when put under a test. |
Do you always jump to conclusions like this?:smash:
Cheers,;) |
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| millwood |
| quote: | Originally posted by fdegrove
Do you always jump to conclusions like this?:smash: |
No. Otherwise, I would have said that "I can hear cable direcitionality" and then fell flat in a test. |
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| Christer |
| quote: | Originally posted by millwood
So I should have said the following: of the two people who were absolutely sure of their ability to hear cable directionality, one reported unable to hear them, and another was never to be heard from, when put under a test.
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Well, I am not so sure either of them claimed an ability to hear
directionality in any arbitrary cable. That raises the question,
if Frank couldn't hear any difference in this case, does that mean
the cable is so good that it isn't directional or that it is so bad that
other sonic imperfections swamp the directedness. Since he
said it was a good thing not to hear it because he's lazy, I
assume he found the cable so good that he would be happy
to use in either direction. ;) |
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| Peter Daniel |
| It would be interesting to see if they "hear" directionality when they know when cable is reversed. Some cables simply don't show any directionality. I ordered some of that wire myself, so I will "see". |
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| Christer |
| quote: | Originally posted by Peter Daniel
It would be interesting to see if they "hear" directionality when they know when cable is reversed. Some cables simply don't show any directionality. I ordered some of that wire myself, so I will "see". |
Ah, but if they know it, then we cannot exclude psychological
bias so the test is no longer of much value. |
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| millwood |
| quote: | Originally posted by Christer
Ah, but if they know it, then we cannot exclude psychological
bias so the test is no longer of much value. |
it would be extremely valuable to compare their scores when they knew the cable directionality and their scores when they didn't. The difference is then the 'psychological bias'. |
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| till |
| but dont forget: if the cable did lay some time on the floor, you need to turn it, the side that was on the downside looking upwards. At least every 2 weeks. To compensate gravitation effects on the elektron flow. |
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| fdegrove |
Hi,
| quote: | | That raises the question, if Frank couldn't hear any difference in this case, does that mean the cable is so good that it isn't directional or that it is so bad that other sonic imperfections swamp the directedness. |
From past experience I'd say that more and more wire, remember this was just a piece of magnet wire, sold for audio exhibits no directionality at all.
This is probably due to more care being taken at manufacture, but that's just my guess.
The reason that I'm glad this is the case is that determining correct directionality is a PITA in that it's a major waste of time.
However, as I said before this is not an issue I lose sleep over as this directionality tends to disappear with use.
Quite alot of cables (read interconnects) are directional due to geometrical layout and this, of course, is a different issue altogether.
As far as the test of the 1 m length goes, well I made an interconnect with it by just cutting it in 4 equal lengths, twisting it and fitting RCA connectors.
I than hooked it up between my MC headamp and phono pre and listened to it, than reversed it and listened again.
As I couldn't tell one from the other even if I reversed one channel only, I concluded I couldn't determine any preferred way.
Hence my conclusion: I couldn't detect any directionality with this piece of wire.
Note that at no point in time the wire was marked and other than paying attention in making a correct send and and return cable; I reversed the negative run on both cables, I had no visual clues as to which was which in the tests.
Cheers,;) |
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| Steve Eddy |
| quote: | Originally posted by markp
If I said it was 99.95% copper and around .01 or .02% O2 then how could I be assuming everything past 99.95% was O2? Doing the math: 99.95%+.02%=99.97% that leaves .03% other impurities.
Don't assume. |
I didn't assume. I said it SEEMED that you were assuming. I was just guessing as I didn't see a clear point in your statement:
After checking about half a dozen manufacturers websites, the average was 99.95% being called oxygen free copper.
Was there a point there?
se |
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| Circlotron |
| On a more sensible note, if a cable exhibits directionality, does that mean both conductors (assuming there are two) have the same orientation? What if one of the conductors was flipped end for end? Would that make the cable non-directional? |
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| analog_sa |
| quote: | | if a cable exhibits directionality, does that mean both conductors (assuming there are two) have the same orientation? What if one of the conductors was flipped end for end? Would that make the cable non-directional? |
A very good point. I didn't quite get if Frank followed this or not but assume he did. The correct way to build the cable is to mark the wire prior to cutting and then make sure that the cable loop follows the same direction. Only then it is possible to test for directionality and get the maximum performance out of a cable. |
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| fdegrove |
Hi,
| quote: | | A very good point. I didn't quite get if Frank followed this or not but assume he did. |
I didn't express myself clearly in post #37 but, yes this is exactly what I did.
Cheers,;) |
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| markp |
| quote: | Originally posted by Steve Eddy
I didn't assume. I said it SEEMED that you were assuming. I was just guessing as I didn't see a clear point in your statement:
After checking about half a dozen manufacturers websites, the average was 99.95% being called oxygen free copper.
Was there a point there?
se |
Yes, you stated that O2 free was .0005% O2 or less. |
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| Steve Eddy |
| quote: | Originally posted by markp
Yes, you stated that O2 free was .0005% O2 or less. |
Ok. So what has that to do with your saying:
After checking about half a dozen manufacturers websites, the average was 99.95% being called oxygen free copper.
se |
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| markp |
| quote: | Originally posted by Steve Eddy
Ok. So what has that to do with your saying:
After checking about half a dozen manufacturers websites, the average was 99.95% being called oxygen free copper.
se |
That would imply the O2 free copper would be 5 nines pure(.0005) |
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| Steve Eddy |
Ok, here's the poop on oxygen free copper.
The CDA's (Copper Development Association) specification for electronics grade oxygen free copper, alloy number 10100, designated "OFE," "E" for "Electronic" specifies a minimum copper content of 99.99% and a maximum oxygen content of 0.0005%.
Non-electronics grade oxygen free copper, alloy number 10200, designated simply "OF," specifies a minimum copper content of 99.95% and a maximum oxygen content of 0.001%.
se |
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| Steve Eddy |
| quote: | Originally posted by markp
That would imply the O2 free copper would be 5 nines pure(.0005) |
No it wouldn't as the other 0.0095% may be impurities.
se |
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| Magura |
There is actually a point to choosing O2 free copper, or even better electrlytically pure copper. Any impurities in the copper coupled with oxygene produces a massive amount of oxide when power is applied. I have seen samples of the bus bars used for wind turbines, as i remember it the sample was 1 year old. It was visible with the naked eye that something had gone all wrong, and with a microscope you could see that the oxide had created small cracks all the way through the bar. Now this was a 12 times 50mm bar!! Just imagine what happens to a wire of 1mm diameter.
All of a sudden silver plated copper wire makes sense....oxidation problem solved!
Magura:) |
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| fdegrove |
Hi,
| quote: | | All of a sudden silver plated copper wire makes sense....oxidation problem solved! |
Solve one and gain another...
Depending on what you want to do with it but for audio use expect some problems with skin depth.
Cheers,;) |
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| Magura |
Im not so sure about the "gain another" part.
I recently have used silver plated copper wire for wireing up a tube amp, for interconnects, for internal wireing in speakers....all with excellent results. The interconnects made of the silver plated multi stranded wire, could not be distinguished from a set of nord ost interconnects.
Magura:) |
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| fdegrove |
Hi,
| quote: | | The interconnects made of the silver plated multi stranded wire, could not be distinguished from a set of nord ost interconnects. |
I assume you used much thicker conductors than you'd actually need relative to the current passing through?
BTW, don't think silver won't oxodize. Eventually it will just much more slowly than copper and it remains a superior conductor nonetheless.
Cheers,;) |
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| Magura |
| quote: | Originally posted by fdegrove
Hi,
I assume you used much thicker conductors than you'd actually need relative to the current passing through?
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Yes, why??
Magura:) |
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| fdegrove |
Hi,
If you care to experiment:
Try thin gauge silver plated copper wire of 1 mm diameter per run just between the amp and the speakers and listen to it.
Replace the same run by a 1 mm copper run of the same length and with the same insulator and listen to it.
You may hear the difference, maybe not.
Cheers,;) |
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| Magura |
Ive done that allready (bought 500 meters of 1mm2 (19*0.25mm)teflon insulated silver plated wire to make experiments for reasonable money). I couldnt tell the difference between them.
What would you expect the difference being?
Magura:)
Edit:
Thin speaker cables though sounds bad in my system unconditionally....havnt quite figured that one out yet.
Works well from approx. 4mm2 and up |
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| fdegrove |
Hi,
| quote: | | What would you expect the difference being? |
The high frequencies will appear too forward and brilliant sounding with the Ag plated silver wire.
Cheers,;) |
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| Magura |
So i should expect a similar effect, but less of it with silver plated copper.
Would it be worth the effort to make a set of 4mm2 silver plated copper speaker cables to compare to my 4mm2 ofc cables, or would that experiment be waste of time?
Magura:) |
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| fdegrove |
Hi,
| quote: | | Would it be worth the effort to make a set of 4mm2 silver plated copper speaker cables to compare to my 4mm2 ofc cables, or would that experiment be waste of time? |
You'll never know untill you tried it...Give it some time to run in though.
BTW, since you're running tubes amps, you could try twisting the LS cables too and see how you like that.
Cheers,;) |
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| fdegrove |
Hi,
Loud Speaker.;)
P.S (Post Scriptum) did you buy your wire from Habia in Sweden? |
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| Magura |
| quote: | Originally posted by fdegrove
P.S (Post Scriptum) did you buy your wire from Habia in Sweden? |
Yes, E 1819
I will try twisting the LS ;) wires.
Magura:)
Post Scriptum: I dont run tube amps, I wired up a tube amp for a friend of mine in sweden. |
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| fdegrove |
Hi,
| quote: | | Post Scriptum: I dont run tube amps, I wired up a tube amp for a friend of mine in sweden. |
Post Post Scribblum: if you run transsssistor amps don't bother twisting the cables, put a ferrite clamp at the speaker end instead.
Cheers,;) |
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| jeff mai |
| quote: | Originally posted by Circlotron
I think it comes down to some people feeling "superior" if they have something someone else hasn't got. |
I find anti-elitism much more prevalent in audio than the elitism you describe above, particularly on the internet.
One thing is certain: you can't measure peer acceptance with a scope or hear it in the music. |
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| Magura |
Frank:
I made a set of 4mm2 silver plated speaker cables to sample against my 4mm2 ofc cables. You mentioned break in...theyre only a couple of hours old, but i hear no difference.
Magura:) |
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| fdegrove |
Hi,
| quote: | | but i hear no difference. |
That's possible with a plating that's done as it should be.
When not done correctly, people often complain that they find silverplated copper bright sounding.
On a smaller system, not my reference but it's not bad at all, I use silverplated copper myself.
It sounds very good but not as good as full solid silver as used in the bigger system.
Cheers,;) |
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| Magura |
I had a friend over with a pair of full silver cables a couple of days ago...he had to leave in dispair, cause he couldnt tell my ofc cables from his monster expensive silver cables.
What could have been the difference between my ofc's and the pure silver??
As for the quality of the silver plated wire i got, I bought it from Habia since the have a reputation of being second to none. The Habia wire have been used for so many things by now, and with great satisfaction....especially its ability to take the heat from a soldering iron makes it easy to use for wireing up an amp or the like with limited space (teflon insulation).
Magura:) |
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| Magura |
All this talk about materials...it must too be a matter of how the specific material is implemented??
Magura:) |
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| fdegrove |
Hi,
| quote: | | All this talk about materials...it must too be a matter of how the specific material is implemented?? |
I was about to reply something like that.
It could very well be that the expensive cables suit your friends system well and not yours or vice versa.
I heard alot of this and that about cables, from the most exotic to the more down to earth stuff.
I even was commissioned to design a range which I did but in the end I can only think of a few brandnames that really stand out for a consistently good product range across the board.
Coincidence or not these brands have been around for more than a decade and still going strong so that must account for something.
To me the thoughest ones to make are the ones for very low signal levels such as MC phono and tonearm wires, there you really hear the big differences.
For the rest, I just make my own as I go based on what I believe works. Paying attention to little details such as taking care in stripping away the insulator, soldering and type of solder used can all make a small contribution.
What few people realise,however, is that with a relatively small outlay you can make a great sounding system.
Far too often I see silly money spent where it shouldn't be spent at all.
What can I say? Viva DIY, perhaps?
Oh, yes...I know Habia for ages.
To my mind they make some of the finest wires you can buy in Europe.
Luckily Belgium still uses alot of Congolese copper which so happens to be very pure by nature and sound good too.
The Japanese audio guys like it a lot.
Anyway, feel free to e-mail me if you like to exchange experiences.
Cheers,;) |
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You got mail :)
Magura |
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