A few posts ago I had mentioned I had tried Bare Wire inside a clear PVC tube on my speaker and power cables and the improvements were very positive.
I’ve also been monitoring the bare wire inside the PVC tube for signs of oxidation and as of today things are looking very promising. The bare wire is still very bright and by comparison the piece of bare wire on my audio stand is turning a much darker shade of copper.
I also warned in the post that I thought PVC was not the best tube to use because it gripped the wire when trying to insert it - I thought at that time that Teflon tube would be a better material.
Yesterday I received some Teflon tube I had ordered - approx 1/10" internal diameter.
So today I decided to try Bare Wire in one of my interconnects that used Neotech UP-OCC copper with Teflon insulation.
Removing the insulation was quite easy using a hobby knife and running it down the wire and pealing it back
I used
The improvements were far from subtle and heard immediately...
This time I used
I could not tell the difference between the Neotech and VH Audio wire - which was not that strange because they are both 18 gauge UP-OCC solid copper.
The twisted wires fit the tube nicely with adequate space such that the impacts of the Teflon tube is negligible - basically this approach has a Dielectric Constant very close to Air, which results in amazingly clear details and better image.
The improvements in dynamics was a surprise, because the conductivity of the copper had not changed - just the insulation
I’m hoping that sealing the ends of the teflon tube with the heat shrink that has the adhesive inside will halt the oxidation process as it appears to have done with the PVC tubing.
Now I am all out of ideas - this was the last change I had considered.
Should you rush out and change your cables?
That depends on your own person level of ANAL :-)
BTW - these cables have just started Burn-in, so I will post and update once they complete burn-in in a couple of weeks.
But right now they sound pretty amazing - on both digital and analogue music
Regards - Steve
I’ve also been monitoring the bare wire inside the PVC tube for signs of oxidation and as of today things are looking very promising. The bare wire is still very bright and by comparison the piece of bare wire on my audio stand is turning a much darker shade of copper.
I also warned in the post that I thought PVC was not the best tube to use because it gripped the wire when trying to insert it - I thought at that time that Teflon tube would be a better material.
Yesterday I received some Teflon tube I had ordered - approx 1/10" internal diameter.
So today I decided to try Bare Wire in one of my interconnects that used Neotech UP-OCC copper with Teflon insulation.
Removing the insulation was quite easy using a hobby knife and running it down the wire and pealing it back
I used
- two strands of bare 18 gauge Neotech wire, twisted together
- 3-4 twists per inch
- one piece of Teflon tube with Heat Shrink at each end
The improvements were far from subtle and heard immediately...
- more high end details - vocals now had a definite whispery quality and venue acoustics were better defined
- mid tones were fuller and more complete
- bass was deeper with better texture
- dynamics were noteicebly fast with more slam
- image was little wider and better focussed
- the whole presentation was more natural and full bodied
This time I used
- 2 strands of 18 gauge VH Audio solid UP-OCC copper wire - not the Neotech wire
- 3-4 twists per inch
- and the same Teflon Tube build
I could not tell the difference between the Neotech and VH Audio wire - which was not that strange because they are both 18 gauge UP-OCC solid copper.
The twisted wires fit the tube nicely with adequate space such that the impacts of the Teflon tube is negligible - basically this approach has a Dielectric Constant very close to Air, which results in amazingly clear details and better image.
The improvements in dynamics was a surprise, because the conductivity of the copper had not changed - just the insulation
I’m hoping that sealing the ends of the teflon tube with the heat shrink that has the adhesive inside will halt the oxidation process as it appears to have done with the PVC tubing.
Now I am all out of ideas - this was the last change I had considered.
Should you rush out and change your cables?
That depends on your own person level of ANAL :-)
BTW - these cables have just started Burn-in, so I will post and update once they complete burn-in in a couple of weeks.
But right now they sound pretty amazing - on both digital and analogue music
Regards - Steve