Cable Building

Discussion in 'DIY' started by Skyline, Sep 30, 2015.

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  1. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    The seller I got the 650 connectors from also sells some pretty nice HD800 connectors at about the same price as plus audio. These 650 connector were really was to work with, and I highly recommend them for HD600/650 cables.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/HD800-Dream-Connectors-Sennheiser-Headphones-HD-800S/113176113647
    This seller on ebay, av-connection, is out of Fort Collins, CO. I wonder if any of the Co crowd here might know who this seller is. These are the HD8xx connectors:
    [​IMG]
     
  2. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    I was going to list him, but he apparently has only one set left.

    I am 99% sure all the variants of this new style are made by AEC in Taiwan.
     
  3. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    Amphenol vs Neutrik? The good, machined amphenol
     
  4. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    Sadly that's the case.
     
  5. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    I like the Grateful Dead. Years ago (sheesh, decades ago), at a concert in Oakland, I heard a guy say: They aren't the best at what they do, they are the only ones that do what they do

    :)
     
  6. TomB

    TomB MOT: Beezar

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    I've used both of his connectors. To be honest, the HD800 connectors were the easiest and really straightforward. They're actually pretty hard to mess up if you strip the wire correctly. The HD650 connectors are really easy, too - especially because the plastic is Teflon and doesn't melt into a blob while you're trying to solder the connectors. I'm still suspicious of the two tiny screws, though. We'll see if they work OK over time.

    About the seller - I'm not so impressed with him as I am with his Sennheiser connectors. His packaging sucks. I think he wraps these things in toilet paper, then covers everything completely with tape on a cut-out piece of used cardboard.

    Despite that, I still highly recommend that you try these Senn connectors. I just wish they could be found somewhere else, too. I think I'll research this AEC in Taiwan that fraggler mentioned. For that matter, I'd love to start re-selling them myself at Beezar.
     
  7. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    Are you aware of anyone doing something similar but with banana plugs, preferably locking/expanding?

    I think I'm going to end up with these:
    https://douglasconnection.com/product/furez-tstsb40np-bare-copper-banana-plug-connectors-pair/

    The fact they actually state how much copper is in it from an IACS standard is relieving. Copper with gold plating, basic and has two set-screws. I like it.

    I was going to tin my ends with some high-content silver solder I have but banana plugs make my life easier. Still not sure which way (tinned vs. banana) is better, but I think the set-screw route is fine.
     
    Last edited: May 2, 2019
  8. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    While I haven't used these particular non-expanding bananas, this vendor (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Beryllium-...119308?hash=item41ff7ae8cc:g:oIUAAOSw9IpX0eVU) has been around for a long time and supplied XLR's and RCA's to Doublehelixcables for a couple years. Tellurium and beryllium for most of the connectors with various platings. They have these if you want locking/expanding: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rhodium-Pl...543571?hash=item46941b8a53:g:QDQAAOSwKIpWEaNa

    If locking isn't a must, AEC (OEM for a number of companies) has their own branded connectors (AECO) that look pretty high quality, but are priced accordingly: https://www.amazon.com/Banana-ABP-1111S-Silver-Plating-Vacuum/dp/B01KUX8NFK

    I also just found these that might be in a sweet spot for price/materials: https://www.audioquest.com/accessor...p-100-connectors/suregrip-100-bfa-banana-gold Can get them from ebay or Amazon.
     
  9. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    Went through the thread and my question is probably so basic that is why the answer isn't here...

    I'm looking at making some RCA interconnects. My question is pertaining to the variety of cable configurations and how to properly connect what to what.

    I get the red/positive is the center pin connected at both ends. However if the cable also has a black/neg, this goes to the barrel? If the cable has a shield/drain wire, this would go to the barrel. If it has a black + shield, these get twisted together and connected to the barrel?

    Also regarding stuff about direction, should the shield/drain be connected at the source-end to the barrel only, and the device-end only has the positive connected? If the cable also has a neg/black, does this get connected at both ends to the barrel?
     
  10. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    I did some cables on Valab plugs and was happy with them. But now I roll with Furutech, Viablue, WBT etc.
     
  11. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    You have the basics right. Tip is positive, body or ground contact is ground. In a coax design, the shield is the ground. Otherwise, you typically attach shield to ground at the source end and leave it floating. You can also have shield on both end with separate wire/attachment points to chassis.
     
  12. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    Ok, so essentially at the downstream end, only the red/positive is connected to the plug?
     
  13. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    You still need a negative connection which I referred to as ground. Shield can be left floating.
    [​IMG]
     
  14. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    That diagram is perfect, thanks for finding it for me!
     
  15. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    Anyone have experience with Gothic Audio or Elec Audio connectors?
     
  16. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    One thing to keep in mind with directionality: draining the shield to ground relies on the ability of the component(s) to deal with RFI/EMI thru a good grounding scheme. I.e., a crappy CDP might not deal with noise from the shield as well as a well designed integrated amp that's bound to have noisy gear connected to it.
     
  17. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    It never fails ;)
     
  18. bobboxbody

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    Still going strong
     
  19. Poleepkwa

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    What is the source for that?
     
  20. bixby

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