Duelund conversion to DIY Helix Geometry Cabling


I have been an avid user of the Duelund cabling for over two years now and have used them exclusively in my system with great results. I have built many for friends and have used a full loom of interconnects, speaker cables, power cords and an extensive wiring modification for a previously owned balanced power conditioner utilizing Duelund 600V PolyCast wiring which was transformative. My cabling desires can be a little addictive as I have owned and evaluated 40+ brands of cabling costing more than an entire stereo system!

Over the past six months I stumbled upon a thread here on Audiogon in regards to a Helix designed cabling and as you probably already know, I just had to look a little deeper into this cable design…After a month of studying and sourcing parts, I decided to reach out to the designer/architect, Williewonka who gave more insights and philosophy on how the cable came into existence.

That conversation got the ball rolling in converting one of my KLE Duelund interconnects to Steve’s Helix designed which only entailed replacing the neutral with a Mil-Spec 16 AWG silver-plated copper wire with the neural wire being 3 times longer than the signal wire and of course the “Coiling” of the neutral wire : )

After the modification was complete, I was not sure what to expect from the Helix cabling but I was quite shocked with the results with “ZERO” burn-in time…The sound stage became much wider/deeper with a much tighter/focused image and clarity/transparency is like nothing I have ever heard in any cabling regardless of cost. In fact, I just sold a full loom of a commercially designed Helix Cable that’s renowned around the world and has more direct sale than any cable manufacturer; these $200 DIY Helix Cables walked all over them…

I believe you will hear the same results as I have and have heard back from friends who have already modified their Duelunds with the same results; WOW! Remember the cables will need 200+ hours to burn-in and settle into your system. My system is now 90% DIY Helix to include IC, SC, PC and Coax with each cabling adding its beauty of an organic and natural presentation that draws you into the fabric of the music.

You can tailor the sound of your cables using Duelund, Mundorf silver/1% gold, the outstanding Vh Audio OCC Solid Copper or Silver with Airlok Insulation or your favorite wiring and you can change it at any time…

 

http://www.image99.net/blog/files/category-diy-cables.html

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/difference-in-sound-between-copper-and-silver-digital-cables

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/adding-shielding-to-existing-cables

 

Enjoy,

Wig


128x128wig

Very good topic. I'll put in my five pence.
Even though I use diy wires a lot, I am still sure that they will not replace good factory brands.

I played around with neotech, and although it was interesting, it wasn't my sound.

I switched to duelund silver, and this is what is closer to my spirit.
I can confidently recommend Duelund Silver Foil & silk in oil wire as a signal wire. For the ground, I used Jantzen Silver Plated Copper Wire Speaker Cable. For those who want to save money, there is an excellent offer in the form of Duelund Flat Pure Silver Foil bare wire. For it, buy a 2.0mm pfte sleeve (I haven’t found a thicker one, but that’s not a problem. Just take this sleeve and run a ruler along the entire length, making it flat. The tape will fit in).

Also, don’t skimp on connectors. Otherwise, everything is a waste.

I also want to say that I successfully used it as a digital IC, but for this I just bought a budget digital IC with good connectors to use them for my purposes.
Remember, good brands of connectors also have their own sound, so this is another place where you can get good connectors inexpensively.

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As of today, where are the better places to buy high quality solid silver wire?  I”m familiar with Parts Connexion and Tempo Electric.  Any others?
Anybody buy the silver wire from Tempo?  They advertise a 99.99% pure silver wire.

 

Thanks, 

Tim

Thanks Mitch.  Did you use the 5N Silver wire with the cotton insulation?  That was the only silver wire they offer in 18awg and 20awg.
I have always bought bare, solid wire for the signal wires in all of my projects. I’m not sure what is the best way to deal with the attached insulation.
If you (or anybody else) used these in a Helix Geometry type of cable, how did you incorporate the cotton insulation?  Did you remove the cotton?  Just use the cotton insulation without utilizing PTFE tubes?  Put the wire with the insulation attached into the PTFE tubes?
 I remember Steve was cutting the insulation off the solid wires, early on in the Double Helix threads.  Is that still the way to use insulated wire?

 

Thanks,

Tim