Author Topic: Pauper's DIY interconnect  (Read 11130 times)

Offline audiophool

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Pauper's DIY interconnect
« on: February 27, 2011, 11:28:50 PM »
Made up a pair of these based on some half-baked Eichmann theory (Keith - not Adolf).
Used 50c Jaycar RCAs - not for cost cutting but on the minimal metal theory (real Eichmann plugs would probably be better)
For the rest, 1 metre of solid core Cat 6 cable, separated the strands and somewhat de-kinked them.
Then braided using 2 strands for earth and one for signal, kept it simple, solid colour wire for signal and 2 x striped ones for earth.  Soldered connections both ends.
Doesn't sound too awful either, very clean, perhaps a little lightweight in the mids.
Total cost < $3
Pic is a bit fuzzy - sound isn't :P


Offline kajak12

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2011, 12:59:27 AM »
that was my first interconnect that i made exactly the same
still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time

Offline treblid

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2011, 10:49:50 AM »
Other than ethernet wires, what other types of wires are good for interconnects?

Offline audiophool

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2011, 01:36:14 PM »
that was my first interconnect that i made exactly the same

Obviously I have a bit to learn  :-[

I did add to these afterwards - I unsoldered one active wire and slipped a ferrite bead over it and marked the plug to show which end the ferrite was.  Don't know that it made any noticeable difference but thought it might reduce RF pickup.

Treblid, many things have been tried, you can find all sorts of recipes around on the net, Ozmillsy has another idea here.

Offline omodo

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2011, 03:46:08 PM »
try thinner wire, 31ga to 35ga enamelled copper (but not the sh!t jaycar sells)

also try leaving one of the ground wires floating at the load end


Offline data

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #5 on: January 19, 2012, 11:06:06 PM »
I did a three wire IC with two for earth plated like a ponytail with one earth connected only at the source end, seems OK.

Used wire stripped from a $400 Monster HDMI cable, the Monster sounded no better than a good $20 HDMI cable so I'm not sure if the wire is even very good  :(

Offline vitavoxdude

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #6 on: January 20, 2012, 01:19:03 AM »
Most of us started out making interconnects to discover differences can be found for beer budgets.  It's the start on a long journey into DIY audio that has a way of bringing its own rewards.  There's little out there that can satisfy for such low budgets, that's until you get into the Duelands and silver transformers, then it's big bucks.  Enjoy and ask others here what has worked for them, it could save you wasted energy, time and money in the longer run.
V ;)
We all like different things so lets all agree to disagree and if any common ground is found then worship it.  Mine is the KD hence being present on this forum.

Offline data

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #7 on: January 20, 2012, 02:06:17 AM »
I just fitted the new Duelunds in my amp, and they are very nice :)

Offline Jehuty

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #8 on: January 20, 2012, 02:18:24 AM »
Full Duelunds is the standard here data  :D Just kidding.... Enjoy your purchase, they are well worth the price!  :)
Not all that matters can be measured, not all that can be measured matters.

Offline data

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #9 on: January 20, 2012, 02:21:52 AM »
So a pair of Alexandra's don't get me in the door  :(

 ;)

They are burning in nicely, had to drag the DAC out to make the process faster and easier  :D

Oh, I posted the Chinese to you today.
« Last Edit: January 20, 2012, 02:24:04 AM by data »

Offline Jehuty

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #10 on: January 20, 2012, 02:24:00 AM »
Thanks date, I look forward to listening to the Chinese  :)
Not all that matters can be measured, not all that can be measured matters.

Offline data

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #11 on: January 20, 2012, 02:26:07 AM »
Meh...they are OK, but after replacing them with these... I'm not sure how I listened to them for a few months  ::)

Edit: I guess I'm being hard on them, they do have a romantic quality about them.
« Last Edit: January 20, 2012, 03:26:54 AM by data »

Offline Jehuty

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #12 on: January 20, 2012, 03:46:45 AM »
Sounds like ex girlfriends in my case....and yes they do have a romantic quality!  ;D
Not all that matters can be measured, not all that can be measured matters.

Offline data

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #13 on: January 20, 2012, 04:02:51 AM »
The scary thing is, your right.. when I reread my post it could be describing a GF situation  :o

Have I swapped girls for caps?


Offline vitavoxdude

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #14 on: January 20, 2012, 10:37:22 AM »
The scary thing is, your right.. when I reread my post it could be describing a GF situation  :o

Have I swapped girls for caps?


Well at least you don't have to go shopping for hours with them and tell them their arse looks lovely in that! :P  And you can drink beer / wine and your favorite munchies without having to use a plate, knife and serviette!
Until you've had bread c/w butter, jam and cream cake is wasted on you.  Why can't there be more women out there who are as passionate about audio as us blokes.  Damn damn and bloody damn. :( :( :(
We all like different things so lets all agree to disagree and if any common ground is found then worship it.  Mine is the KD hence being present on this forum.

Offline data

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #15 on: January 20, 2012, 04:39:09 PM »
Yeah, the ones that have a passion for the same as us are few and far between , but if you snag one, never let them go!

Offline kajak12

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #16 on: January 20, 2012, 07:16:41 PM »
Yeah, the ones that have a passion for the same as us are few and far between , but if you snag one, never let them go!
You got better chances of never let him go :P
still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time

Offline data

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #17 on: January 20, 2012, 08:02:11 PM »
 :o

 ???

 :-\


Offline kajak12

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #18 on: January 20, 2012, 08:20:54 PM »
:o

 ???

 :-\


What i meant data being married to female your chances are none but for some who are on the other side (not meaning you) its much easier 8)
still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time

Offline data

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Re: Pauper's DIY interconnect
« Reply #19 on: January 20, 2012, 09:18:45 PM »
Yeah, I got what you were saying, i was just messing about  :P

The girls that are partial to this stuff are few, and It's a strange thing, likeI was saying to you... It's said that they have better hearing than us guys in general.

But most of them seem to focus on the aesthetics more than anything.

Damn! bought a double LP today and I don't like it, bad mastering SQ  :'(