Duelund conversion to DIY Helix Geometry Cabling

Hey Steve,

Thanks for the clarifications. Before I move to the next stage of modifications, I will try to understand the cost differences between the OCC5N and the Neotech UPOCC silver wires. Looks like all the silver are created equal.

Cheers

Daniel

Steve,

Received the partsconnexion order and put together the following Helix XLR.

18awg bare OCC with teflon tubes for the positive and negative

16awg Neotech for the ground (spiral)

AECO XLRs:   I really like these....

Looking back, the Neotech is really high priced and don't know if it is justified for this build.   

Hooked them up and will provide my thoughts.   Swapped my proto silver build as I described earlier.

Threw a couple pics up on my system page.   Maybe I'll put some tech flex around it and we can tell people that it's a $5K interconnect.....:)

@williewonka - earlier in this thread or maybe on your website I do believe you made some thoughts on using silver as conductor for the helix power cables?

Based on these new findings on interconnects is this an area of interest, you will consider going back to for further investigations?

@provst - I had used Mundorf Solid Silver with 1% gold wire for one of my power cables

• but the UP-OCC solid copper in the power cables outperformed it.

What I am observing at this point in time...

• the Solid SIlver in the Interconnects provided quite the improvement
• BUT - I was able to hear those improvements using...
  • Speaker cables that used UP-OCC copper.
  • Power cables that used UP-OCC copper
• so how much of an improvement would using solid silver provide if used on either of those two cables?
• Would the speaker cables benefit from having UP-OCC Solid Silver Signal Wires?
  • Whilst it is obvious that UP-OCC Silver is a superior conductor I am not certain that using it for the live conductor on Helix Speaker cables would provide a similar level of improvement as observed when UP-OCC solid silver was applied to the Interconnect cables.
• Would the Source power cables show some improvement ?
  • based on past observations - I think they would show some degree of improvement,
  • but any improvement would not be as noticeble as the the improvements achieved by using solid silver on the Interconnect cables
• Would the Amp power cables show some improvement ?
  • based on past observations - I do not believe the Power Amp would show as much of an improvement as the source power cables may have provided

.For me, developing these cables has always been about

1. achieving a noticeable improvement in performance
2. at a reasonable cost

Or what I call Bang for the Buck

For me - I DO NOT believe upgrading my Power cables or Speaker cables with UP-OCC Solid SIlver would provide sufficient Bang for the Buck

I think it depends on whether a person is personally seeking...

• "Audio Nirvana"
• or just cost effective cables.

And - you also have to factor in the type of system they are being used on

• my system is modestly priced and therefore has some limitations
• A system having higher resolution capabilities may show a more appreciable benefit, in which case the cost could be worth it

Hope that helps clarify things

Regards - Steve

@provst - some additional thoughts I have regarding cables

Interconnects - convey the most "delicate" signals of an audio system

• This is especially true of Phono Interconnects
• they require the very best materials in order to transfer the incredibly fine micro details to the amplification stage.
• UP-OCC solid siiver is the best metal we currently have that can achieve this

Speaker cables - are dealing with a significantly larger signal,

• Where all of those micro details have now been amplified to levels that are not degraded (as much) by conductors such as UP-OCC copper, having a little less conductivity than UP-OCC Solid Siver
• So I believe any improvements will not be as noticeable, as with the interconnects
• But on highly resolving systems this may not be the case

Power Cables - I have read posts that state that power only operates at one voltage, at one frequncy, and as such, high priced cables are pointless

• But with power cables, you have to consider the BIG PICTURE
  • they accomodate the transfer of Electrical Enegy
  • i.e. as demanded by the circuitry
• In particular - the circuitry demands energy to handle tramnsient spikes
  • That energy comes from the power supply of the component
  • if the components power supply is designed to have sufficient energy reserves, the power supply satisfies those demands without a problem
  • HOWEVER, if the power supply is not capable of satifying those demands then additional demands are placed on the mains supply
    • and for very brief moments in time there is a slight drop in voltage of the component power supply, which impacts circuit performance
    • this is generally the situation with more "budget oriented" components
  • so as the demand for power is then passed back to the mains supply, so having a great cable will replenish the energy in the power supply in a more timely manner
    • however, those demands tend to be smaller than the actual transient peeks.
    • but for absolute best performance using UP-OCC Solid Silver is the best material we have available today
  • Whilst those "energy demands" may be small they are at the same frequncies as the audio signal transient peaks
    • so - the energy transfer within power cables are subject to the same frequncies as the Audio Signal (almost)
    • and as such they should be designed with the same precision/materials/geometry as Interconnects and speaker cables for absolute best performance.
  • In addition to all of the above, the energy in the power supply is continually being replenished via the power cable at close to the speed of light
    • if it is not replennished in a timely manner the output voltage of the power supply fluctuates, which imacts component performance

Please note - my statements regarding UP-OCC solic Silver and Copper as being the best materials we currently have applies ONLY to the DIY world.

• Carbon is being used in some commercial cables,
  • but it is much more difficult to terminate and therefore not really applicable to this discussion
• there may also be other materials that I am not aware of

Apologies for the long posts,

Regards - Steve