Topic: advice on interconects...

[Krispy D]

so I am still working on the playback end.  Now I'd like to build some nice interconnects.  anybody have any advice on decent *affordable* bulk wire and plugs for interconnects.  I'll need wire and rca's for all the components and wire and banana plugs for all the speakers.  any advice?

[cheshirecat]

'Affordable' can mean a lot of things, what did you have in mind?

For interconnects I've been enjoying the eichmann bullets lately.  You can pick them up from www.vhaudio.com for about the least that I have seen.  They also have some other nice stuff.  As for Bananas I use monster bananas that I picked up from J&R (I was in the other day, looks like they no longer make them or J&R doesn't carry them, the ones I have were maybe $20 for a set of 8 and were pretty nice quality, how they only have the twist lock kind that I don't really dig) and canare star quad [4s11 i think]from www.markertek.com right now.

I've picked up a couple sets of interconnects from better cables www.bettercables.com they are SPC with eichmann bullets and are of nice build quality if you're looking for something pre-made, I think they were in the ballpark of $70 for 1m, considering the bullets are $40 its not a bad deal.

[cshepherd]

What does your stereo system consist of? 

What are you currently using for interconnects and speaker cables?

Chris

[Krispy D]

receiver,
tape deck
cd player
dvd player
phono
aux (computer line out)
satelite reciever

5.1 speaker playback.

currently using cheap generic interconnects (the shit that comes free with components) and generic rat shac 14g speaker cables.

I am thinking about picking up a good sized roll of some mil spec silver clad and techflex and some decent rca/banana plugs and just going to town.  I'm looking for good suggestions on plugs, wire resources... etc.

really want to hear some opinions about weather to get smaller diameter higher quality cable or larger diameter lower quality cable.  which is better?  should I build home depot style extension cord speaker cables or smaller diameter silver clad?

[bgalizio]

I made my speaker cables with Canare Star Quad 4s8 & Dayton Audio banana plugs. It was super easy and they sound great!

For interconnects, I had fozzy make me some RCA cables using the Belden 1804a cable. They are top notch as well.

[cshepherd]

Speaker cables require significantly larger conductors than what an interconnect uses. I'd recommend 14 AWG or larger for speaker cable.  The Home Depot Extension Cord story is a farce and wouldn't be any better than the Radio Shack cables you already own.

It looks like you have a lot of interconnects to build for your system.  I'd recommend looking at some the better-rated Canare or Belden for bulk interconnect wire.

Chris

[Krispy D]

It looks like you have a lot of interconnects to build for your system.  I'd recommend looking at some the better-rated Canare or Belden for bulk interconnect wire.

Chris

got any input on what better rated would be?  should interconnects use the same type of wire I would use to build xlr's?

[cshepherd]

I'm not familiar with Canare and Belden catalog numbers, but I'm sure some others around here are.  Look for things like better metal purity and heavier / multiple screens. 

Our starter cable package consists of Atlas 3.0 OFC speaker cable (12 awg / terminated) and a set of Atlas Questor ICs for $325.  The speaker cable is available unterminated for $13.50 per meter, but it's a little large for bare wire connections.

Chris

[BJ]

i got some twisted pairs of silver teflon sitting around (24 AWG, and some 22 AWG) if you would like to expirement with those.  I cna take pics if you want too...