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  3. 155295-46

Adding shielding to existing cables

So I have some interconnects that are picking up all sorts of RFi. I know this for two reasons, one, as I move them around the noisy/buzz sound changes, and two, when I switch them out for shielded interconnects the noise goes away.

so, I bought some tinned copper shielding and some new RCA plugs. I’m going to cut the existing RCA plugs off the existing cable and install the new shielding and new plugs. The thing is the new plugs have a plastic body so there is nowhere to easily connect the shielding to ground.

I was thinking of running a pigtail from the shielding and attachIng an eyelet to ground it to my preamp since there is a grounding lug. Would this work or is there a better way given what I intend to use?


last_lemming
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,614 posts
 
@jhertzlee,

Take it easy...should have done your homework. My so called expensive cable is only $148 for a 3 foot pair. Maybe you should order one, audition in your system and then report your feedback.

Throughout my audio journey, I made quite a few cables...Belden, Monster, DH Labs, Duelund, Furutech and many more.
last_lemming OP
639 posts
 
So I tried tinned copper shielding with a ground wire but that did not accomplish much.

so I just went for it. I got some WTB connector, silk tubing, copper tape and reused the tinned copper braided shielding. I cut the RCA I liked up and made my own. 
Construction was pretty much as follows:

wire connected to interconnect, silk tubing, copper tape around silk grounded to WTB connector, tinned copper braiding, with another layer of copper tape around that, and finally a plastic mesh cover. 
As far as I can tell, the sound Is the same, but without all the noise. So I’m going to call it a success. 
erik_squires
16,383 posts
 
Kudos to your DIY spirit!!

Thanks for letting me know what happened.

How is the sound, do you feel like you lost any treble or mids??
last_lemming OP
639 posts
 
While we have to keep memory of sound and psychoacoustics into effect, from what I can tell there has been no loss of sound quality. 
scroydon's avatar
scroydon
25 posts
 

Not to muddy the water but I'm considering the following advice from DIY blogger, Steve Reese. Steve has compelling ideas for making one's own speaker wires, ICs and power cables.

http://www.image99.net/blog/files/4127b5fe2694586e383104364360373b-74.html

Any thoughts, anyone, on Steve's reasoning?

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