My First DIY Power Cable

OK , I think I am a bit overwhelmitized 🤔  with all the choices. 

Thanks for the responses

@jbuhl - The choise is actually pretty simple - ask yourself what is the main metal used in the plug...

1. for best results - it should be PURE copper
2. it should not be any other material, such as..
   • beryllium copper, teryllium copper Bronze or brass
     • they are NOT copper
     • they are copper alloys
3. it can be plated or just bare copper
   • Bare Copper will tarnish so some kind of plating is advised, otherwise they will require perodic cleaning
   • my preference is Silver plated copper
     • because it has higher rates of conductivity that other plating metals
   • gold plating is the next best metal commonly used
   • rhodium or Platinum are among the worst metals for plating based on conductivity
     • any other type of plating will degrade performance

This is all based on the Conductivity of the metal

• Silver is at the top - at up to 106%-107%
• PURE anealed copper is rated at 100%
  • THIS was the "benchmark" for all other ratings
  • OFC copper is around 101%
  • the more advanced copper like UP-OCC copper is 102% - 103%
• beryllium copper, teryllium copper is around 40% - 65%
• Bronze or brass are down around 30%

What does the metal impact?

• details and clarity
• dynamic performance

So when you are buying plugs think about them in relation to the attributes of the metals listed above.

Buying expensive brand names may not get you the best plug either

I have tried many plugs and the two I recommend and use are

1. Sonar Quest Silver plated Copper
   • these are very well made
   • their pins are very flat for the best connection
   • they have a heavier amount of silver plating that most others os the plating will not easily scratch off with use
2. Vanguard Silver plated Copper
   • A good amount of plating
   • but the pins are not quite as flat

Both are available from Ebay for a reasonable price

• Sonar Quest Silver Plated Pure Copper
  • I have purchased from this seller in the past and they were timely and reliable
• Vanguard Silver Plated Pure Copper
  • I have purchased from this seller in the past and they were timely and reliable

Hope that helps - Steve

@williewonka 

Do you have any experience with Viborg products?

Do you know what Furutech's alpha copper is?

@twoleftears 

Viborg seems to make some pretty good stuff that they sell at relatively low prices.  Here is an example of their pure copper blade ac plugs.  They also make other types of wire connectors and other stuff.

Furutech's Alpha is a two-step process that they apply to a variety of metals.  The process (described here) involves:

1. deep cryogenic freeze
2. Ring Demagnetization treatment

The various metals/conductors used by Furutech that may undergo Alpha treatment, include:

• PCOCC: α (Alpha)-OCC conductor
• PC-Triple C: α (Alpha)-triple C conductor
• Nano liquid infused OFC: α (Alpha) Nano-OFC conductor
• Silver and OCC copper alloy conductor: α (Alpha) silver OCC hybrid conductor
• μ-OFC: α (Alpha) μ-OFC conductor

@twoleftears - yes I used Viborg once - they are about the same quality and level of performance as the Vanguard products -

• there is not much difference between Viborg and Sonar Quest performance wise
• I prefer the Sonar Quest because
  • they have been inserted/removed many times into Hospital grade outlets (which grip lke a vice) and their silver coating is still intact, whreas the Voborg is looking a little worn
  • the screws do not strip as easily on the Sonar Quest plugs

Alpha wire - is is basically the same thiing as UP-OCC wire - it has a very long chrystaline srtucture.

• there appears to be a few ways of achieveing the same result
  • OCC (Ohno Continuous Cast) is the name given to the casting process developed to help defeat annealing issues and virtually eliminate all grain boundaries in copper or silver with a unique patented process.
    • The OCC casting method uses specialized heated moulds in order to draw a single crystal up to 125 meters in length.
  • another wire uses a process of repeated forging to acieve a similar result
  • α (Alpha) OCC is made with high-purity oxygen-free copper using a special casting process.
    • Unlike regular OFC, almost all of the impurities of this high-purity OCC have been removed at the micron level through a special casting process unique to Furutech

They would all have very similar abilities WRT signal conveyance.

I use the solid UP-OCC wire (Hookup wire) or the Neotech UP-OCC (Hookup wire) both from Parts Connexion

But some people pefer the Furutech

At this level of perofrmance I think there is very little between them

Hope that helps.- Steve