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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


128x128wig

Showing 3 responses by sns

sns
3,003 posts
 
Haven't visited this thread in a while so unaware of IC recipe. I will have to build some double barrel IC's with the vh audio airlock.
I built my first Helix pc perhaps a year ago, easily heard upgrade over Shunyata Python and Vh audio Airsines I was using. At this point I'm using Helix pc on every major component in system, everyone added only further upgrades sound quality. Originally, I was using Duelund AC rated on hot, started noticing a bit of darkening, rounded bass, highs rolled. Replaced Duelund with Vh audio airlock, lightened up on bass, opened up top end a bit, sound a bit more refined, greater resolution.

Whether built with Duelund or Airlock, the most noticeable improvement heard over many other pc's I've tried over the years is the amazing transparency, never heard pc's sound so open. A couple of differences in my recipe are cryo versions of Parts connexion connex ac plugs and bare wire attachment at ac plug. I use two runs of airlock in source components, four runs for tube amps.

Thanks to Steve for a really great diy recipe, easily best diy recipe for anything audio related I've experienced in many a year in audio. Having auditioned many high end pcs over the years, I can't really recall any I wanted to use on entire system. These are so natural in timbre, tonality, really very little coloration.
sns
3,003 posts
 

@williewonka  Well, your conversation in regard to using balanced power conditioners with the Helix PC caught my attention. I'm presently using Helix non-symmetrical with both my dac and active pre on BPT 3.5 Sig. balanced power conditioner. These using VH Audio Airlock  on live and Take 5 Milspec for neutral. I've never given a thought to using asymmetrical Helix PC, what now seems so obvious totally eluded me till now. So, now I get to build symmetrical Helix PC to compare with present Helix.

 

What is your favorite recipe for a balanced Helix PC? My present Helix run 3 strands of Airlock with relaxed twist for hot, two runs of Take Five with tight twist around the Airlock for neutral. Assuming I want to keep three Airlock with relaxed twist for hot, how do construct Airlock for neutral?

sns
3,003 posts
 
I'm not up on latest recipes, but I discovered Steve's original Helix page some time ago. I've auditioned  many cables over the years using lending library at Cable Company, $1k to $3-4k in all categories. The Helix has been my go to pc for some time, transparency second to none. My favored recipe is double runs of Take Five cryo'd 14awg for neutral, three runs of VH Audio Airlock 18awg for live, solid core copper 10 or 12awg ground. Only other recipe tried was Duelund DCA for live. I use cryo'd rhodium ac connectors that look exactly like the Partsconnexion Connex.

Need to try helix IC soon.
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