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
@williewonka, Hi Steve I have a pair of Sonarquest IEC connectors silver plated in a clear plastic/poycarbonate housing and thinking I might try their silver schuko plug unless you recommend a different plating. As I have mentioned my system is a little on the lean side of neutral so perhaps I should avoid rhodium. The first PC build will be for source components using 2x18awg solid silver with either 1x14awg Neotech in ptfe solid occ copper or 1x14awg stranded from TFA. Your thoughts please. |
@lemonhaze, 2 x 18 gauge occ silver is great for source components. I would use 1x14 gauge solid OCC copper for the neutral. The silver plated copper from TFA is not quite as good but very good if you are on a budget The sonarqusest are my first choice for connectors because they tend to use heavier gauge copper and thinker plating.
Hope that helps |
@lemonhaze There is a lot of info to be found on the Web about RCA's with a design that is not just Low Mass but Low Eddy as well. The descriptions mainly relate to RCA's as I am believing XLR's are a inherently Low Eddy design, I might be incorrect on the XLR description. For the record, my experience of this change of Connector, has been exclusive to a Tonearm > Phonostage > Power Amp, with SAEC SL 5000 Cable. I was demo'd the WBT Low Eddy connectors in place against the standard supplied connectors on the Cable. The System owner also the designer/builder of the Tonearm, had prior to my demo's given, used their long-time owned Copper KLE Harmony and come to the place where the Low Eddy type from WBT was to Supersede them in use. This became very apparent when the Chassis RCA was also to become a Low Eddy connection. I can say the system used is one I am very familiar with and is very revealing, due to it detail resolving capabilities. This system has on occasion introduced me to the perception of Envelope, not many systems are capable of creating this perception. The use of Low Eddy connectors as suggested, reinforced in a discernible manner, that the perception of Envelope being manifested was seemingly tangible. Unfortunately for the type that really does like to think their system dedicated to replaying recorded has substantial capabilities at resolving information embedded by the recording engineer, such a indelible impression made by the perception of Envelope become another plateau to be ascended to. For myself today, when considering my next steps, Low Eddy, is the top of the list when it comes to creating an interface between Umbilical Cable and Device.
|
@williewonka, That's great, I have the Neotech neutral here and waiting on the silver. I'll report my findings when complete. Would using a gold plated Sonarquest schuko plug instead of the silver plated dull dynamics and transients? Only considering gold because I'm concerned that silver will be taking me the wrong side of neutral but from one of your posts on interconnects you mentioned that you found the silver to be 'rich' sounding. I value your opinion. |
