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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
williewonka
3,082 posts
 
Power Cable Update.

So today I just completed the last Power Cable upgrade - to the Neotech OCC 12 gauge solid copper.

So basically from the outlet I have...
- 1 x 11ft extension cables with 12 gauge Neotech wire in cotton insulation, that has a dual outlet in a box on the end of it
- 1 x 12 gauge Neotech OCC 12 gauge with cotton insulation into my amp
- 1 x 12 gauge Neotech  OCC 12 gauge with PVC insulation into my Power Distribution box

From the distribution box I have
- 1 x 18 gauge solid silver VH Audio to my Phono stage
- 1 x 18 gauge solid silver VH Audio to my Bluesound Node 2i

The neutral and ground wires are all 12 gauge Silver plated Mil-soec

The change from the last report is - I now use bare Neotech wire with a PVC insulation...
- I purchased the Neotech with Teflon insulation and stripped the insulation
- The PVC insulation is simply clear plastic pipe from the hardware store - cost me $1.35 CDN for 5 ft - much cheeper than Teflon tube

The tube is about 5 mm thick with an internal diameter of 3mm

I did try setting it alight to ensure it was not a fire hazard - it resisted the test nicely.

Bottom line - the system again instantly responded with an even better and more spacious image - pretty much 3D, including the perception of height.

I would assume teflon would have the same effect - but at around 30 times the price - ouch!

I think the advantage here is the amount of Air around the bare wire.

The biggest advantage of using the PVC pipe - the live wire is now better  protected from accidental spills

I think I'll change the other PC's that have cotton insulation - just to be safe :-)

Regards - Steve


williewonka
3,082 posts
 
@grannyring - congrats on the upgrade to VH Audio Solid silver. Sounds like it was worth the effort and expense.

I've used a single strand of the VH Audio 18 gauge for the live conductor in the Power Cables to the source components - today I heard their benefit when I upgraded my last power cable - what an improvement!

 @rx8man - glad to hear you too are having a very positive Helix experience.

The Helix excitement just keeps building - thanks to everyone for your efforts and courage for making the Leap to "The Helix"

And a special thanks to those members that are building the cables for other people - much appreciated.

Regards - Steve.
chetatkins
81 posts
 
https://www.partsconnexion.com/TRADEIN-87550.html    parts connextion has a dual 16g  duelund  interconnect
williewonka
3,082 posts
 
@grannyring - re:...
Speaker cables would be far too expensive for me with this wire.
Since my experience replacing the VH Audio with the Neotech copper in my power cables has been so positive, I’m wondering if the same improvements could be achieved with the speaker cables.

i.e. the latest power able upgrade replaced 4 x 18 gauge VH Audio with Air Lok insulation with 1 x 12 gauge Neotech OCC Copper bare inside a PVC tube - the results are stunning

Would you have any thoughts as to which of the following options might be the most beneficial?

#1 - Two strands of 18 gauge Neotech £6.92+vat+p&p per meter
- basically replacing the same gauge Vh Audio wire

#2 - One strand of 14 gauge Neotech £13.86+vat+p&p per meter
- basically increasing the gauge in a single wire to double that of the 2 x 18 gauge.

#3 - One strand of 12 gauge Neotech £21.76+vat+p&p - I think this is overkill for speaker cables, but the improved performance of my power cable was quite compelling

Note: - I included prices prices just as a comparison

@rx8man - re:...
Helix Power Cable made by member Aniwolfe, that I use for the main line coming into my Inakustik conditioner that works wonders eliminating AC noise issues,

What power cables do you currently have from the power conditioner to source components?

Have you tried the switching them with the Helix cable?

Just curious ?

UPDATE FOR OTHER READERS...

Here is a link to the PVC tube I used to insulate the Live wire on the latest power cable upgrade...
https://www.homedepot.com/p/UDP-1-8-in-I-D-x-3-16-in-O-D-x-100-ft-Clear-Vinyl-Tubing-with-Dispenser-...

Whilst the temperature range (i.e. up to 160 vs. 200 Celsius) may not be up to Teflon standards, at those temperatures the tube just becomes very pliable and unsuitable for use as a pressure/water hose.

As a test - I applied considerably more heat using one of those hand gas lighters that have the "blue flame" - the tube did ignite briefly after quite a long period of time withstanding the intense heat and then went out as soon as I took the flame away.

So for me, this pipe makes a very good insulator for Power and speaker cables i.e. if you want to use bare wire for the signal/live wires. At least it WILL NOT present any issues if someone spills coffee on the cable as it would if cotton sleeve is the insulator :-)

Also - here's the link for the Neotech PVC insulated wire that is cheaper than the Teflon
http://www.acoustic-dimension.com/neotech/neotech-up-occ-hook-up-chassis-wire-page.htm

Regards - Steve










rx8man's avatar
rx8man
1,484 posts
 
Main Helix PC into: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/the-full-review-inakustik-s-ac-3500p-power-station-and-ls-400... 

All other PC's: http://madscientist-audio.com/presta/power-cords/71-power-cord-with-power-purifier.html
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