Sakura Systems OTA Cable Kit

Gray: I don't know if this is true, but once read that the OTA is a type of cable which is used for telecommunications in Japan, which has received some type of additional treatment. The only thing that I know is that I have been unable to locate a ready made cable that has the extremely thick Teflon insulation that the OTA uses and to purchase such insulation separately is not an inexpensive undertaking, plus I would have no way to properly run a six nines copper wire through this insulation without leaving a major air gap (which the OTA does not have). I have already tried "beefing up" the thin Teflon insulation on the XLO cable with a reverse wrap of Teflon plumbers tape without much success. My advice is that if you are not ready to spring $600 then try out the inexpensive Radio Shack solid core copper magnet wire in order to get a "taste" of what the OTA will sound like. The spool runs $3.99 and it contains three different gages (30,26 and I forget the lower gage). I prefer the 26 gage, but some also like the lower gage (so try both). Carefully remove the laquer from the ends of the wire with fine steel wool and then hook it up as speaker cable. It will take it 100 hours or so for the sound to stabilize. Since the laquer coating is questionable, IMO, I did make certain to separate the (+ & -) runs from each other when installing it to avoid the possibility of a short taking place. This is a single run cable and two runs will be required for each speaker (that is not bi-wired). If your cable runs are 10' of so there should be enough wire (of each gage) on a single spool. I used the RS cable in an inexpensive SS system with very good results (a bit of the OTA sound), but to be honest will not hesitate to rewire this setup with the OTA once I can afford another kit.

Dekay and Caterham, thank you for your reasoned replies to my rather provocative comment. As I rather enjoy experimenting with cables, I will try your suggestion Dekay.

Gray: You are welcome. Perhaps you can take take the magnet wire further than I have @ this point as I never got around to trying a reverse wrap (tacky side out) of Teflon plumbers tape on it. You could also follow up with a second wrap with the tacky side in. I will not have the bedroom system (where I like to play around with things like this) up and running for another month myself and will probably start by experimenting with a vintage tube amp that I just picked up instead of fooling with cables. In any regard, I look forward to your findings. What I did find about this wire is that it sounded better to me a single runs (instead of twisted pairs).

I just discovered that the "Teflon" tape that I tried on the XLO wire is not Teflon (per the local hardware store). I went there to get another roll and discovered this. The Teflon tape that I just purchased has no adhesive (which is better for our needs) and it was very inexpensive ($1.50 a roll). I will just fasten it @ the ends with a small piece of adhesive tape when I try wrapping the wire again.

Haven't looked at this thread in while and forgive me if Trelja in his usual thoroughness addressed this, but- be careful when you use these solvents. Most of them are easily absorbed thru the skin, and the vapors I believe are also dangerous (in terms of toxicity and flammability). Working outdoors for all of you California types may be an answer, but the really low boiling point products evaporate so quickly that you have to be careful. Probably not a big problem if you are dipping them into a gallon can, but be very careful about ventilation, open flames (including pilot lights for you basement experimenters) etc. I apologize if this has all been gone over before, or if my chemistry is too hazy (too much recreational chemistry along with my organic chem when I was in college, I'm ashamed to admit), but I do remember problems with paint stripper and other furniture refinishers which are mostly organic solvents like MEK and acetone, toluene, and the like. Your speakers won't sound to good if either they or your brain are (is?) fried. Have fun.