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Are DIY Cables Worth It?

I just read a listing in the classifieds titled "Vh audio CHeLA diy bulk speaker cable" that looked interesting. It claims to sell unterminated cable for $17.95/ft that would sound like $2000 cables when terminated.

Assuming I take the time and terminate the cables correctly, from what you see on their website is this cable worth my time? (Keep in mind that my time is not overly expensive, and I will never be able to spend more than $200 on speaker cables.)

Here is a site with more information about them: http://www.vhaudio.com/wire.html#vhspeaker
128x128heyitsmedusty
heyitsmedusty's avatar
heyitsmedusty OP
227 posts
 
I've never even heard of solid core speaker wire, let alone considered using it. Is there a good place I can go to get a primer on the basics and intermediate knowledge about this stuff? It seems like just when I feel like I'm getting the hang of things, new stuff pops up.
freemand
225 posts
 
Kacz, that sounds intersting. I outta put that up against the 6 gauge 25 dollar home depot specials.

I always wondered if that would sound good. Do you put the hot and neutral together and run two lines of romax?
gregm
3,409 posts
 
I've never even heard of solid core speaker wire, let alone considered using it.
It's what I use (&describe) above: one 22-20g wire for hot & one for return (IC). That makes it UNshielded, "solid core" -- as opposed to many thin wires twisted together for hot and similarly for return ("stranded").
oregon
828 posts
 
Fellas,
I am in the same boat, trying to find the answer to GOOD, QUALITY interconnects and speaker cables. Lately there is a "air" hiss from my Avalon Eclipses when I play LPs. It is not obvious while a track is playing, but between tracks and between LPs it is certainly there.
This concerns me more because I am considering a long interconnect run from BAT 3i preamp to Primaluna 7 mono amps (approx 30 ft) and short (1-2 meter) biwire speaker cables.
I have been using video cable i.e., 75 ohm shielded RG6, with Canare RCAs all DIY terminated. One poster said that "interconnects are supposed to be 50 ohms, not 75 ohms. I was not aware of such a difference, or that this may be a non desirable effect???
Should I replace my DIY interconnects?
IS my proposed 30 ft interconnect- pre tp amp, and short speaker cable- a good idea? Or is a long speaker cable, short interconnect, better?
BTW, Heyitsmedusty, I am not trying to hijack your thread, but this may influence your decision and shed some light on your decision especially if there is a particular ohm rating which must be considered with regards to interconnects.
freemand
225 posts
 
Gregm,

When you say return you obviously mean the ground or the part of the rca that connects to the outter part of the female?
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