DIY interconnects

[Mat-with-one-t]

Hi all.  Yes - I’ve read a lot of stuff on making own cables.  Most threads deteriorate into an “xlr vs single ended RCA” shitefiite.  I don’t wish to start that here, nor will I engage in it.

 

I am in Melbourne.  I have a good soldering station, moderate skill, tools for electronics and cabling, have shrunk my fair share of shrink wrap, have sworn and cussed as I’ve built a home Cat6 based network, and so on.  I have no commercialisation interests.

 

I have also also tried my share of interconnects, from RCA and XLR, pure twisted pair unshieled silver to slabs of insulated copper to various mixes.

 

What I need:  various xlr and rca interconnects, from maybe 0.25m to 1.5m.  Once I am happy having serviced myself (heh), I’ll help out mates (heh heh).

 

What my system and I seem to like:  higher end copper/silver shielded mixes and highest quality connectors

 

What I’m after:

 

- sources to purchase high end cable

 

- sources to purchase high end connectors

 

- sources for extra shielding for said cabling 

 

- recommendations for neat ways to terminate cables once connectors are soldered (shrink wrap, tape, or other ideas)

 

- experiences with types of solder?  Suppliers of said solder?

 

- peoples’ recommendations and experiences with DIY interconnects once built.

 

The aim is to be able to make cabling for myself and mates, using the best available stock, whilst keeping costs well under buying comparable pre-assembled cables.  

 

I will still be purchasing pre-built cabling (especially if Aussie), but want to play, try, compare!

 

Thanks in advance!

Mat

 

Edited May 17, 2018 by Mat-with-one-t

[RoHo]

Try any of the "usual suspects" of online DIY suppliers.  I have bought form Parts Connexion in Canada and vt4c.com in Hong Kong many times.  They will have more connectors and cables than you could shake a stick at.  Ebay is a good source for the less important bits n bobs.

[Mat-with-one-t]

Thanks mate - a good starting place....

[pete_mac]

These are the best affordable high-quality RCAs IMHO:

 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Star-Line-Silver-Plated-Tellurium-Copper-RCA-Plugs-connectors-2-Pair/263575125233?hash=item3d5e4d3cf1:g:RhMAAOSwzpFa5oVv

 

Aurealis Audio sell these locally, but are currently out of stock.

 

I posted a thread with details and pics of some DIY interconnects a few years back, but the pics were nuked thanks to photobucket:

 

 

 

[andyr]

4 hours ago, pete_mac said:

These are the best affordable high-quality RCAs IMHO:

 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Star-Line-Silver-Plated-Tellurium-Copper-RCA-Plugs-connectors-2-Pair/263575125233?hash=item3d5e4d3cf1:g:RhMAAOSwzpFa5oVv

 

IOW, Chinese Bullet Plug ripoffs?

 

I personally use Vampire 557 or 1877 ZSP plugs

 

Andy

 

 

[pete_mac]

18 minutes ago, andyr said:

 

IOW, Chinese Bullet Plug ripoffs?

 

I personally use Vampire 557 or 1877 ZSP plugs

 

Andy

 

 

 

Yes indeedery - very similar to the ETI bullet plugs, but with subtle variations. They are a great product and seem less fragile than the original ETIs.

 

I'm pretty sure that the Vampire and 1877 plugs are ripoffs of the original RCA plug design too (said with tongue firmly planted inside cheek) 

 

I do like the low mass style RCAs (whether ETI, KLE or the Star RCAs) over the heavier RCAs, but each to their own. 

[andyr]

On 17/05/2018 at 10:43 PM, Mat-with-one-t said:

What I need:  various xlr and rca interconnects, from maybe 0.25m to 1.5m.  Once I am happy having serviced myself (heh), I’ll help out mates (heh heh).

 

What my system and I seem to like:  higher end copper/silver shielded mixes and highest quality connectors

 

What I’m after:

 

- sources to purchase high end cable

Because I like solid-core wiring, the cable I use is Belden 3079a - which is 2x 22 awg solid-core copper conductors (for signal and ground), with foam polyethylene (FPE) insulation, under a shield.  The shield is earthed at one end only - so it doesn't form part of the signal path.  I strip off the PVC jacket and use a woven polyethylene braid instead, to finish it off.

 

You probably won't be able to find a retailer who will sell you under a reel (305m) but if you want to try it out, I can sell some to you for A$8 a metre.

 

On 17/05/2018 at 10:43 PM, Mat-with-one-t said:

- sources to purchase high end connectors

 

My suggestions have been provided.

 

On 17/05/2018 at 10:43 PM, Mat-with-one-t said:

- sources for extra shielding for said cabling 

 

Not needed - its already double shielded.

 

On 17/05/2018 at 10:43 PM, Mat-with-one-t said:

- experiences with types of solder?  Suppliers of said solder?

 

Cardas or Wonder Solder.  Supplied by Parts Connexion or Michael Percy.

 

Andy

 

 

[betocool]

My experience, with excellent results with up to 7 metres and no issues, running beside a power extender cable for most of the length.

 

2 lengths of RG59 or RG58.

4 Amphenol RCA connectors: http://www.altronics.com.au/amphenol/audio-video-connectors/?type_1=rca

 

Choose colour. Put the case through the wire. Solder the centre into the centre, crimp the outside to the outer braid. Swear if you must (but I find it takes very little swearing). Repeat on the other end. Use.

 

Transparent sound and it doesn't break the bank.

 

YMMV.

 

Cheers,

 

Alberto

[Misternavi]

@Mat-with-one-t

Connectors as Peter Mac has mentioned the MS audio plugs are good.

 

These are good too:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/20x-Rhodium-Plated-RCA-Plug-Connector-HIFI-AC-PF120-Audio-12mm-cable-for-yunsun/292550433541?hash=item441d5d5b05:g:61IAAOSwUxNXh41A

 

Cables- check out the Van Damme Lo cap 55 

I purchased it off eBay it ended up being around $11 per metre. Pretty good cable better than Canare LT2S, Mogami 2893 & 2543, Cardas 1x21AWG coaxial

 

 

Cliff electronics in QLD are good to deal with for plugs and cables

 

Finishing off cables: I used to buy my clean cut  techflex from Wirecare from the US but the shipping cost these days make it not worth while. just heatshrink the ends.

 

Solder: I use mundorf solder that I bought off parts connection in Canada. I've tried Cardas and WBT. all the same to me.

 

 

 

 

 

[Mat-with-one-t]

Great info guys.  And what about an xlr connector supplier?

[Misternavi]

1 minute ago, Mat-with-one-t said:

Great info guys.  And what about an xlr connector supplier?

Neutrik  Silver plated XLRs, Cheap and really good.

Check with Bayview technology - if they are still around, factory sound in Port Melbourne, Cliff electronics.

[Mat-with-one-t]

44 minutes ago, misternavi said:

Neutrik  Silver plated XLRs, Cheap and really good.

Check with Bayview technology - if they are still around, factory sound in Port Melbourne, Cliff electronics.

Come to think of it there may be some suppliers near me on High st in Thornbury.  I’ll suss it out

[Mat-with-one-t]

Hi all.  Found a very helpful article for those interested!  Mat

 

https://www.psaudio.com/article/how-to-make-a-50-high-end-xlr-interconnect/

[audiofeline]

On 21/05/2018 at 1:59 AM, misternavi said:

Neutrik  Silver plated XLRs, Cheap and really good.

Check with Bayview technology - if they are still around, factory sound in Port Melbourne, Cliff electronics. 

I bought some Neutrik RCA's from Factory Sound in Sth.Melb.  They come with a coloured "collar" to identify the plug (eg. red, black, blue, yellow).  Nice sockets with a good audio quality reputation, without being excessively priced. 

 

When I got home I noticed that Factory Sound have a variety of stock - the red collar plugs (supplied in a sealed plastic bag) are a slightly different design to those supplied unpackaged in other colours (which I presume are older stock, as some of the collars were quite brittle).  The difference appeared to be in the casings, all the gold metalwork looks the same. 

 

Having different designed RCA bothered me, as I like to have matching plug designs (even if electrically they are the same).  I did find that it's easy to create replacement collars by cutting and applying an appropriate slice of coloured heat shrink (and turning it inside-out so any printing is on the inside of the shrink).  So I was able to get the plugs to match (in terms of design) on the cable sets I made, with the correct colour coding. 

 

Datasheets are downloadable from Neutrik and their supplier's webistes which shows cutting and stripping measurements to correctly prepare the cable wire prior to soldering.