@kurt12k
The required gauge is determined by your Amp power rating and impedance of your speakers; my current system is a 4.5 Watts 2A3 SET DHT and 15" Full Range drivers.
I’m running 2 single runs of Vh 18 Ga OCC solid copper with Airlok which has a combine aggregate of 16 AWG which is quite efficient for my setup and one could double that for an aggregate of 12 AWG, which would suit most amplifiers.
Even with 4 runs of 18 Ga OCC and factoring in price performance ratios, you would have to spend over $1.8K and still not beat this DIY Helix Cable.
Wig
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Myself and others have tried many variations of cabling and Vh Audio and Neotech will give you very good sounding cabling at a fraction of the cost of a mediocre commercial cable.
Have fun with the build and remember you can always tweak it to suit your system needs.
Wig |
@ williewonka
Your Helix design and VH Audio OCC Airlok Cabling is a splendid combination!!
Wig 🙂 |
@ aniwolfe
That's awesome! It gets even better with additional Helix Cables...
Wig👍 |
Helix Power Cords Update! Got all of my Helix PC built, burned in and have been settling in my system for over 10 days and they are sounding phenomenal! My commercially bought Helix PC was my standard as they beat everything and like my previous experiences with Helix interconnects, the Helix PC exercises the same attributes… The first thing you will notice is how focused they are with razor sharp and locked in images within the soundstage and of course the clarity, transparency, width/depth/height and a realness that’s quite astonishing. Music and detail are not pushed out at you in a forward way but behind the speakers in a palpable and very organic way and it is almost like your amp signal-to-noise ratio has increased 20 db. If you do not have a cable cooker, I recommend you place these on a component that you can run 24 hours a day for 7-10 days as I cooked mines for 4 days and it took another 6-7 days of settling before they reached their sweet-spot. You will hear their sonic signature immediately but depth and low-level detail will become more apparent and effortless after burn-in. The reason I mentioned focus is that when I compare this DIY Helix PC to my commercially bought Helix PC and as good as the commercially available product is, glare is a standout feature in relation to the DIY Helix. I intentionally added one PC at a time to discern any notable improvements and can tell you that each one made a noticeable difference but the PC on my 2A3 DHT Pre was Dramatic as if my Class A Amp doubled its 18 Watts rating! The choice of connectors is a personal decision but I compared Parts Connexion CF Rhodium Plugs to Furutech FI-11 and 28 and couldn’t discern any sonic benefits to spend over their $49 asking price for a set! I used VH Audio 18 Ga Solid OCC Copper with Airlok as my live conductors and the number of strands was determined by the component. It's hard to describe the differences but those familiar with analog will get this; DIY Helix sounds very natural or real verses sounding digital... Build one low wattage Helix PC and move amongst your source components to hear for yourself the beauty this cord can make in your system. Wig
https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/2061#&gid=1&pid=14
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@ lak
No problem and thanks again.
Ron |
@ williewonka
Thanks for the update and may have to do a shoot out between my single silver PC and one of my copper PC to see if I can discern any differences.
My silver PC is on my tube DAC.
Wig
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@ williewonka
Thanks and it has been a very satisfying project! 👍
I also built my SC with a black neutral and red live. 😁
Wig |
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DIY Helix Shoot-Out/OCC Silver Vs OCC Copper Power Cord Finally had the opportunity to conduct side-by-side evaluation on two power cords that has added immensely to my listening sessions. Both cables are stellar in their performance and I thought there would be razor thin differences but boy was I wrong, the OCC Solid Silver carves out the soundscape with precision, allowing the listener to effortlessly follow the musicians that are developing within and beyond the boundaries of your Loudspeakers. The OCC Silver just excels in ambient retrieval, subtle nuances, decay, air… The OCC Solid Copper is still spectacular and has the same attributes but lacks the overall resolution of the Silver. DIY Helix Shoot-Out/Mundorf Silver/Gold Vs 2X OCC Copper Interconnect
I thought the differences between these two conductors would be day and night and was quite surprised on what I heard. I will say that the Mundorf/Gold combination is more resolving and if your components are not up to the task, you may not even hear the differences… The Mundorf was again slightly more transparent with more bite and the sound stage had more depth. It will really come down to personal preferences based upon the equipment’s ability to extract the very best out of these cables. Two OCC Solid Copper runs on the signal conductor is no slouch and does everything the Mundorf does with just a tad less resolution.
I could definitely live with 2 runs of OCC Solid Copper on the signal conductor of my interconnects but if your source components are in the low wattage range, I would highly recommend going with the OCC Solid Silver conductor/s on your power cords; it’s just marvelous and easily discernable…
Wig |
@ grannyring
Thanks and looking forward to your observations with the Schroeder Method.
I’m also going to add another silver conductor to one of my IC to determine if the additional conductor is discernable and from my previous SM cables, the differences can be dramatic...
Wig 👍 |
@ williewonka, @ lak
Thanks again 👍
Wig |
@ dbass
Congrats on the build!
They will Improve and sound even better once you get over 200 hours; low level detail, sound stage width and depth will be more noticeable...
Wig 👍
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@ williewonka
They will come off the cooker tonight and on to my secondary system for about 4 days before placing in primary system.
I did listen briefly to them after the build and can report that they are more resolving and vibrant sounding 😁
Wig 😎 |
@ williewonka
Yes, the teflon insulation was left intact and do plan on stripping the insulation and adding a cotton sleeve.
Wig |
@rx8man
It will get much better after 200+ hours and you will begin to hear what they are capable of in the 72+ hour range. Run them 24/7 for a few weeks...
Wig : ) |
Quick Update on PC:
I converted my 4 runs of VH Audio 18 Ga Solid OCC to the Neotech 12 Ga Solid OCC 5 days ago and removed them from the cooker last night to discern any notable differences. Typically, I burn-in my PC on the cable cooker for 7 days and then run them another 4-5 days on a refrigerator to get them in their sweet-spot... The coating on my Neotech was left intact.
My early observations before complete burn-in is exactly what Steve has mentioned, better focus, improved dynamics/low level details, wider sound stage and just more composed in rendering shadings, depth and my system seems to flow easier...
I also noticed while cooking the Neotech 12ga Cabling that my cooker is significantly cooler than any cable I have ever cooked. My Neotech was purchased from Sonic Craft. Should have both conditioner and amp PC cabling integrated into my system by next weekend : )
Wig
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They will go up a few more notches after burn-in =D
Wig |
@facten
When you hit the 75-100 hour mark, you will notice the sound stage opening up with more depth and layering.
After 125-200 hours, your staging is beyond the boundaries of your loudspeakers, layering and depth much more tangible with details rendered clean, extended and very natural sounding.
Your system will continue to improve with the addition of more Helix cables...
Wig😁
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@grannyring
That's awesome and exactly what I noticed, everything has a sense of fluidity and effortless flow...
Wig : ) |
@ williewonka @ grannyring
Outstanding information and evaluations!
Wig |
@ grannyring
I used the VH OCC 18 Ga in my IC for over 2 months but it became too forward sounding and noticed that images are more solid with copper when compared directly but it’s a balance for sure because I was initially using all OCC silver.
Currently using OCC silver in Dac and CD Transport PC with great results...
Zenwave Audio is a cable seller and does sell cabling for DIY purposes and sells very good built cabling as well.
Wig : ) |
Quick DIY Helix Interconnects Update!
Guys,
I have been experimenting with different wiring for over 4
months now and can report the cabling I am using and offer you 2 options:
Option 1: If you are looking for a tad more resolution over your
copper cabling, I recommend removing the copper and adding 2 runs of Zenwave
Audio 26 Ga (Neotech Teflon solid OCC silver/gold).
Option 2: If you are wanting even more resolution without
sacrificing a thinning of sound with all silver and love the beauty of copper (I
do), I recommend 1 run of Zenwave Audio 26 Ga silver/gold and 1 run of Zenwave
Audio 26 Ga solid OCC pure silver wire.
I also tried up to 4 runs of wires per interconnect and
couldn’t really discern any differences and after corresponding with several
wire distributors and cable builders and the theme is that 2 runs of wiring is
all that is really needed and 24 gauge was the type with minimal skin effect; 26
gauge got me close to that…
Wig
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Digital Coax Helix Air Update:
I finally made some time last week in upgrading my already outstanding Digital Coax Cable to the "Air" version utilizing 2 separate teflon tubes slightly twisted; placed on my Audiodharma Cable cooker for a few days and another 4 days of constant signal/settling.
As Steve has noted, more clarity, transparency, wider/deeper soundstage, sharper image focus and music just flows much easier allowing the listener to take in more of the artist intent.
I have owed and evaluated around 10 Coax and None are even close to my double or "Air" Helix Digital Coax; they all sounded clinical and digital but the Helix is full body, musical and Real sounding...
Wig |
Quick DIY Helix PC Neutral Wire Update:
Guys,
I finally made the decision to order some Neotech 12 Ga OCC
Copper Wire to replace the Neutral Mil-Spec Wire in my PC and I wasn’t prepared
to hear this unbelievable change… The first thing I noticed was complete
blackness/lowering of floor noise, much better channel separation, depth, more
body/texture with images being more vibrant and articulate.
I’m still shaking my head as my speakers before were “chameleon”
but with the Neotech upgrade, my speakers are not there and the sound is more “vinyl-like”
and this is with zero hours on the cables. I converted my dual 12 Ga Mil-Spec wire
to a single Neotech 12Ga OCC Copper and this wire is robust.
If you convert your current DIY Helix Cables to Neotech, I
recommend removing the neutral from your current cables first and coiling the remainder
of the cabling around the Neotech OCC Wire that’s on a rod and sufficiently spaced;
the longer the rod, the better but 6+ feet would be good depending on the
length of you PC.
Again, the change was so amazing that I
converted ALL 5 of my DIY Helix PC to a single Neotech 12Ga OCC Copper Neutral
Wire totaling $325!
They are now on my Audiodharma Cable Cooker for some dielectric exercising for about 4 days and then on to the refrigerator for some settling before placing back in my system.... Wig : ) |
@ t_ramey
I used OCC Solid copper as the stranded version is even more expensive...
Wig |
Only my power conditioner and amplifier are outfitted with OCC 12 Ga and my other components are outfitted with 2 - 16 Ga OCC Solid Copper on the Live side.
Hope that helps,
Wig |
Guys,
The cost of the Neotech wire has been all over the map and when I saw that Parts Connexion was almost half of the cost at Sonic Craft, where I typically buy my Neotech, I jumped on it!
For a new build it adds only $25 to the build and for a conversion of an already built cable, $69 and if you can swing the additional cost, you will be rewarded with a much higher performing cable.
I'm going to convert my DIY Helix Digital Coax "Air" version cable soon and Imagine these benefits will yield greater results there.
Wig |
@maxima95
All of my cables are utilizing the SM or doubling of conductors and configured like this:
2 - 12 Ga OCC Solid (Live)
2 - 12 Ga Mil-Spec but now 1 - 12 Ga OCC Solid (Neutral)
2 - 12 Ga Mil-Spec on (Ground) since it was already there : )
Wig |
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Updated Helix Air Speaker Cable version contains 2-12 ga Milspec on negative and 2 runs of 16 ga Neotech OCC solid copper on positive and outfitted with Techflex...
Wig 😁 |
@ williewonka
Yes, bare wire inside teflon tube but new build with wires and connectors.
My secondary system allows me to accumulate many hours 24/7 as my primary system is all tube based and only listen 3-4 a day.
Wig 👍 |
@ williewonka
I finally made the decision to order some Neotech 12 Ga OCC Copper Wire to replace the Neutral Mil-Spec Wire in my PC and I wasn’t prepared to hear this unbelievable change… The first thing I noticed was complete blackness/lowering of floor noise, much better channel separation, depth, more body/texture with images being more vibrant and articulate. I’m still shaking my head as my speakers before were “chameleon” but with the Neotech upgrade, my speakers are not there and the sound is more “vinyl-like” and this is with zero hours on the cables. I converted my dual 12 Ga Mil-Spec wire to a single Neotech 12Ga OCC Copper and this wire is robust. If you convert your current DIY Helix Cables to Neotech, I recommend removing the neutral from your current cables first and coiling the remainder of the cabling around the Neotech OCC Wire that’s on a rod and sufficiently spaced; the longer the rod, the better but 6+ feet would be good depending on the length of you PC. Again, the change was so amazing that I converted ALL 5 of my DIY Helix PC to a single Neotech 12Ga OCC Copper Neutral Wire totaling $325!
Wig : ) |
@ grannyring
I used solid core and once placed in their spot, I don’t move them but if my components were in a cabinet or very difficult accessing the rear of the equipment or if I move equipment often, I would definitely recommend the stranded wire.
Wig |
@ williewonka
That's awesome and knew the RCA would have a positive effect as it was very noticeable on my PC.
Wig : ) |
@ williewonka
That's great to hear that your observations mirrors the same attributes I heard and quite amazing that OCC is more resolving than Mil-Spec Copper!
Wig |
@ divertiti
Mines are right around 1.5M and are outfitted with KLE Silver Harmony based upon Williewonka extensive testing of the KLE plugs with SPDIF.
Wig |
@ divertiti,
I have only used what Williewonka has recommended; 16 Ga as the Neutral. Let us know what you think after complete burn-in.
Wig |
@ divertiti
I have made over 4 versions of the Helix SPDIF and with milspec cabling it still beats most cables but when you use OCC on both signal and ground; you have a world class cable...
Wig |
@ williewonka
Know of any good quality 3 pin female mini xlr's?
Thanks,
Wig |
Guys,
Thanks for the mini xlr recommendations, currently using the Furutech and will look into the others mentioned.
Wig 👍 |
