Duelund conversion to DIY Helix Geometry Cabling

@mbolek - you have touched on a subject that I am yet to observe, despite having tried it many times with a variety of cables - e.g. power, interconnect and speaker cables.

I do not doubt the observations of others - i.e. a cable sounds better in a specific direction.

• is it due to the metal of the wire?
• is it due to the insulation?
• is it due to the geometry of the cable?
• is it due to the connectors of the cable?
• is it due to the socket in the component?
  • sockets/plugs is an area that can cause lots of issues
  • I would not be surprised if this is the cause of this phenom

Since I have never observed this phenom I no longer account for it in my builds and so far I have not been disappointed.

But you do make a valid point - should the wire be reversed for the neutral?

• With the exception of fully balanced symmetrical designed amps and balanced power distribution systems
  • Helix cables are not suited to these
  • and I lack the experience in this design approach
• In Single ended systems, electrical energy flows in one direction, from the power station to ground/neutral - it just happens to pass through our components along the way
• granted the polarity changes in an audio signal, but the energy will always flow from source to "ground"
• so if I had to GUESS - both wires should be aligned in the direction of the energy transfer
• but it is not something that I would account for in my cable builds

Sorry I could not be of more assistance

Regards - Steve

@williewonka -Thanks for your feedback. Lots of different parameters that can affect the sound. For me, I rely on good conductors, low mass connectors (or no connectors), and secure connections. Rather be listening to music than pondering all the variables....

I like building cables, not as extensively as you, but it’s a nice hobby.

Helix build with the bare UP-OCC is in my near future. Although, after listening to some Zavfino stuff, I’m really impressed. At their price points, I’ll be hard pressed to build anything that looks and performs as well.

Appreciate all your attention to the details and real world feedback.

Marty

@mbolek - Whilst I have not had the opportunity to try Zavfino cables for myelf I have read their product literature in depth regarding their application of:

• UP-OCC wire
• advaned insulations
• advanced cable geometry techniques

However, the latest Helix bare wire in Teflon Tubes adaption has proven exceptional

• this adaption took the Helix to another level of performance
• and I now use 5N solid UP-OCC Silver in Telfon tube for the signal wires in Interconnects

I think you will be surprised (in a good way) by the Helix, even when compared to very good cables like Zavfino.

As for.....

I’ll be hard pressed to build anything that looks......

Agreed! - Zavfino do build a very nice looking cable!

• but you can use one of the many expanding sleeves out there to "pretty-up" the Helix cables
• It iwll not impact performance
• I don’t use it because it is a complexity I do not need to unravel each time when trying out new things on a cable

For me, this journey has not been a "competition" between the Helix and other brands

My goal was to:

• develop a cable that delivered great sounding music
• for a modest price
• that ordinary people with modest resources could build for themselves

it all stared with a an idea for a different approach to cable design and some old LAN cables

• along the way many other DIYers contributed significantly to getting the Helix Cables to where they are today
• My thanks to you all 😊

So if you do try the Helix cables - post your "cable recipe" and findings here

• it’s always good to hear observations from others 👍

Regards - Steve

I have quite a stock of PC Triple C Wire to produce my Helix Cables.

I am behind with this as a task in hand as with many other tasks to be completed.

The Dual Mono Balanced Pre is still to start, as well as the conversion of the Power Amp's to Balanced, so it is not too much of a pressure at present to achieve the Cable Build. 

I have been talking about my impressions with PC Triple C and loaning my assembled Interconnect Cables produced with this wire to other HiFi enthusiast friends, many of whom are sure that the OCC wire already in use, is not going to be improved upon.

There are, as a result of my interventions and passed on word of mouth reports,  new reports becoming regularly seen on the usage of the wire, which is slowly bringing to fruition a host of individuals starting to replace their OCC wire with the PC Triple C wire Interconnects. 

It would be great if a respected authority on the Helix Design could adopt the PC Triple C wire and produce a build with this different wire design.

Not too long ago, I would have claimed to have had a gut feeling that something that could impress was achievable, as that was my own singular experience, with the recent activity, I am feeling very confident there will be something on offer that has not been experienced, and will create a positive response.     

@williewonka 

Hey Steve, I'm curious why you switched to smaller wires in the silver cable build? Was it just the associated cost or other, more technical, factors?

Thanks,

Ron