Cables and interconnects
Copyright 2011 © Troels Gravesen

By request, a few notes on my cables and interconnects.
Cables and interconnects are highly controversial subjects and easily end up in a stew of religion and science. I recall someone mailing me about his speaker cables first reaching full potential after 300 hours of burn-in. This is way after I have left the party! Trying out new cables I always go back after a couple of weeks to my former cables to hear if I miss something. 
What I've had to realise over time is that I have discarded cables and interconnects due to my system not being good enough for revealing its qualities and trying the same thing at a later stage all of a sudden became an improvement in level of transparency, because level of transparency is usually what we're after.

The cables and interconnects seen below is what I use for the time being. This is in no way a recommendation and you may find alternatives that suit your taste better, but I have found these to be a good compromise between cost and performance. In fact cables made from these components will cost you a fraction of some ready-made super cables.

I do believe there are differences between cables and interconnects, but we need good gear to hear the difference between two interconnects going from e.g. your preamp to the power amp. Maybe we have severe bottlenecks somewhere else in our system that just doesn't allow us hearing so. There's always the risk that a smooth and easy-on-the-ear cable in fact covers deficiencies in the overall chain of components. If the cable is edgy and aggressive, maybe it's because your system is so and the cable is only a bit more "hifi".

For speaker cable and speaker internal cabling I use PTFE insulated silver plated copper. I'm know you can find people stating these are rubbish and you need this or that, but there's no other way than trying out for yourself.
Long ago someone brought in an interconnect made from pure silver (cotton sleeve) and we hooking this up between CD-player and preamp and it convinced me this was the way to go. So, I bought 0.4 mm pure silver wire and teflon tubes and changed all interconnects in my system to these. I strongly believe this was for the better.

Some supplier links are shown, but please do not ask for links to suppliers of all the components used below because I haven't kept them. Use google, eBay and the usual suppliers of hifi paraphernalia, e.g. http://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/wire.html. Many of the things you can buy at e.g. hificollective you can find cheaper on eBay, but it takes time to find the dealers and I have to say I'm amazed from what hificollective has managed to put together over the years; quite a range of products.

Generally I believe we should use a cable having a square section area enough to carry the current, no more. The less metal the better and this goes for binding posts as well. Huge chunks of metal may look cool and expensive but I don't think it's for the better.

I use these for connecting the Jenzen speakers and with the 7 mm spades held firmly in place by the terminal block screw I don't think it gets better - and it costs nothing. I would like to use these for my amps and speakers in general, but I don't due to convenience. I swap gear a lot and banana plugs are faster.

Speaker Cables


Silver plated copper with teflon insulation used for main speaker cables and internal wiring.
They are stranded.
I buy the wires here:
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Johns-Silver-Teflon-Wire-Shop

Dzmitry (Cyclop builder) brought my attention to this dealer in the US:
http://www.apexjr.com/wire.html
Here you can also get solid core PTFE cable. Dzmitry, thanks!


Stranded silver plated copper in teflon used for main drivers. 2 x 16 AWG (2 x 2.6 mm2).
I twist the wires with a cordless drill with one end fixed to a table with a clamp.

 


Supra Ply 3.4 cable used for bass drivers when using bi-wiring.
This is multistrand tin-plated copper.


Banana plugs used for speaker cables. I buy these on eBay.
These can now be found for ~2 USD/ea on eBay.
The minimum cable plugs can be found here.

Interconnects


0.4 mm silver wire and 24 AWG teflon tubing. The silver wire here is oxidised and needs polishing before use.


Finalised interconnects shielded with alu foil and protected by expandable polyester sleeving. Others would use cotton sleeves.

Next time I make a pair of interconnects I'll record how I do, because it's not that easy.

 


I would like to use these plugs for my interconnects because I think they are right,
but the price is ridiculously high and it's a mystery the Chinese haven't cloned them long ago.
Maybe I'll buy a pair for the phono stage anyway.

I suggest you take care if you claim hearing differences between phono plugs! I honestly don't think we can.