Duelund conversion to DIY Helix Geometry Cabling

Exactly. Expandable nylon is very durable compared to cheap PET sleeving and will give a very professionnal look to your PC, IC and speaker cables. As it is not as expandable as PET, it better installed as a loose fit

Cheers

Daniel

I posted a WY ad looking for Acoustic BBQ Helix XLR cables:

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisb7176-wtb-acoustic-bbq-helix-xlr-interconnects

While I prefer Acoustic BBQ branded products because Bill's workmanship and quality control are top notch, but I have no idea if he even made these cables with XLR connections. I therefore am open to other builds of this geometry if I can't get Acoustic BBQ versions.  If you have some that you would like to sell, please contact me.

That was supposed to be a WTB ad, not WY.  Damned autocorrection!

I haven't had cause to buy and bare OCC copper wire in a while and I'm now finding that it appears to be scarce.

Does anyone know a supplier for 12/14/16 gauge bare OCC solid copper wire?

Parts Connexion, my goto store,  only has 18 gauge oe smaller

Thanks in advance - Steve

I see 14, 16, and 12 Neotech at Parts Connexion.

@ketchup - I was looking for bare OCC wire

I can find Neotech insulated wires on Parts Connexion, but they used to have their own PC brand of bare wire in thicker gauges - They onlt have the thinner gauges right now

Cheers

Oops, sorry.  I totally missed that you were looking for bare.

@williewonka

ive been down the OCC hunt rabbit hole for months now.
I’ve come to the conclusion that unless the wire came from the Wan Lung factory in Taiwan, it is not OCC. Sure every Alibaba Chinese company will tell you that theirs is OCC but when asked to see any certification or if you ask them why they are not listed on the patent licensing, they balk.
Wan Lung has never supplied OCC bare.

I’ve been making every type of Air Helix cables now for my system as well as for friends with great success. My entire system is now Air Helix (besides speaker cables due to balanced topology of Yamaha AS2200) Recipes are dialed in. All with NeoTech ,AECO low mass connectors, and some stunning PC connectors. Very Happy.

@camrector very glad to hear you are liking the Helix AIR cables 😀

Sorry to hear that you are encounting issues with sourcing the OCC wire.

Personally I use any f the folowing companies

• parts connecxion bare OCC copper and OCC siver wire
• neotech OCC copper wire from a couple of different sources - but it must state that it is OCC 
  • Sonic Craft
  • HiFi Collective
• VH Audio OCC copper and silver aire with Airlok insulation

I have compared the wire from all of the companies above to the more affordable OFC wire and can confirm that the wire exhibits the faster dynamic perofrmance that OCC wire provides.

Here is a link to the Parts connexion wires threy currently have

• Parts Connexion Bare wire

Unfortunately, they do not curently stock 12, 14, 16 gague sizes, but that can change

Other sources, e.g. ebay, alibaba etc.. I do not trust.

When investing in OCC wire I would rather pay a premium from a "trusted source" rather than gamble on pay a little less from an ebay merchant that may less scrupulous .

The Helix AIR geometry will perform extremely well using OFC copper in terms of noise floor and clarity, but it wil lack in terms of details and dyanmic performance compared to the same cables that employs OCC wire.

For your speaker cables you might want to try the following

• for the signal wire: 2 x 14 gauge bare OCC wire inside teflon tubes
  • each wire is inside its own teflon tube
  • basically the AIR geometry
  • use a tighter twist - one twist every inch
• for the neutral wire: use the same wire gauge/geometry
  • but twist the wires in the opposite direction
• insert each assembled conductor in its own cotton sleeve
• insert the two conductors in an expandable sleeve to keep things tidy

This will ensure the conductors will perform welll in a balanced scenario

Regards - Steve

@williewonka

I’m not having any issues sourcing OCC. Neotech is found like you said at a few places.

I think you missed my point entirely. I’ll rephrase.
If the wire didn’t come from the Wan Lung and Wan Lung factory only, then it is not OCC. No other factories in the world have the license to manufacture the OCC patent. One can buy whatever it is that Parts Connection and VH audio from a few different factories in China. But it is not produced by Wan Lung and therefore not official OCC. Wan Lung produces Neotech

I would not trust your “trusted sources” products that are not Neotech.  I’m not saying that they are being deceptive on purpose. But what I’m saying is that only one factory in the world (Wan Lung) currently produces true licensed OCC. They do not supply bare wire, they do not supply anything with “Airlock insulation”. Other factories do and call it OCC but it isn’t.

@camrector - I’m not disputing your claims, I was just pointing out that the wire that is sold as OCC copper by my "Trusted sources" performs significantly better than OFC copper and even Mundorf solid silver wire and therefore would provide the performance I was observing

I think going forward and for the purpose of this thread that the wire that is being marketed as OCC wire by companies like Neotech, whilst they may not be actual OCC wire in the true sence, the term OCC is understood in the audio community as identifying a wire of a higher quality (i.e. superior to OFC copper)

FWIW - the bare OCC wire I purchased from Parts Connecxion actually performed a little better than the Neotech wire when used in an identical Helix AIR cable, where the Neotech cables had been stripped of it’s insulation.

Perhaps the improved perofrmance was due to it’s 6N rating as opposed to the Neotech 5N rating. No idea where they get it from, but it is a very good wire indeed

Just from a pure interest perspective

• where did you happen to find this information - I would like to read more
• Who does Wan Lung sell their wire too?
• Do they make wire for the audio market?

Many Thanks - Steve

@williewonka 

Research and phone calls. 
OCC stands for Ohno Continuous Cast. It’s a patented manufacturing process. 
Any manufacturer can (buy) license the patent, buy the appropriate equipment, and produce copper wire and call it OCC. One can look online at the patent and see who has licensed it and when they have licensed it. 
Wan Lung is the only factory that has a current license. They produce the wire for Neotech and Harmony. They will make wire for anyone if you purchase enough of it 
Then print your name on it. 
 

https://www.wanlung.com.tw/email.htm

 

@williewonka 

here is a list of Dr. Ohnos patents. The most often quoted patent is
4605056 issued in 1986, where he describes in detail the actual casting apparatus.

Continuous metal casting – Atsumi Ohno
Patent number: 4515204
Filing date: Dec 14, 1982
Issue date: May 7, 1985

Process and apparatus for the horizontal continuous casting of a metal molding – Atsumi Ohno
Patent number: 4605056
Filing date: Jun 13, 1984
Issue date: Aug 12, 1986

Method of producing a metallic member having a unidirectionally solidified structure- Atsumi Ohno
Patent number: 4665970
Filing date: Nov 20, 1985
Issue date: May 19, 1987

Process for continuous casting of metal ribbon – Atsumi Ohno
Patent number: 4789022
Filing date: Mar 18, 1988
Issue date: Dec 6, 1988

Method for horizontal continuous casting of metal strip and apparatus therefor- Atsumi Ohno
Patent number: 5074353
Filing date: Nov 23, 1990
Issue date: Dec 24, 1991

@williewonka 

The Wan Lung factory in Taiwan is licensed to produces UP-OCC Copper and UP-OCC Silver for Audio Sensibility, Acoustic Zen, Atlas Cables, DoubleHelix, Harmonic Technology, Neotech, XLO, Analysis Plus, MIT, Purist Audio Design, and WireWorld
Furukawa of Japan was licensed to produce PCOCC Copper for Audio Sensibility, Audience, Audioquest, Furutech, Oyaide, and PS Audio.
But they discontinued production in 2013
Sumitomo of Japan was also licensed to produce OCC cables but stopped manufacturing as well.

@camrector - thanks for all the info, very much appreciated and very useful going forward

cheers, Steve

Steve,

Would you please recommend an alternative to 10 AWG Mil Spec Silver Plated Copper Wire from take faive audio used as neutral conductor In Helix Speaker Cable or Power Cable

What makes so special that particular Mil Spec Silver Plated Copper Wire

@sasho - you can use whatever wire you like.

My preference is for the 10 gague silver plated milspec because I like the sound.

I have tried a few wires for the neutral and no other wire to date has provided the warmth and details.dynamics except - I did try UP-OCC copper, but it sounded far too analytical for my liking and it was very expensive

I also prefer having a larger gauge on the neutral, so,,,

• if you are using an 8 ohm speaker then use 2 x 16 awg for the signal and a 1 x 12 awg wire for the neutral or a 2 x 14 awg wire
• if you are using a 2-4 ohm speaker then use 2 x 14 awg for the signal and  a 1 x 10 gague wire for the neutral - or a 2 x 12 awg wire

You can use a stranded wire or a solid wire, but the stranded wire is ore flexible

Hope that helps - Steve

Where from we can purchase teflon tube 

I plan to use Neotech OCC copper 14 AWG hook up wire  with pvc Insulation which will be stripped

Which Is proper teflon tube gauge to use with 14 AWG Neotech wire - 12 AWG ?

@camrector Have you considered PC Triple C Wire.

I have wore on my sleeve, my being an advocate of the Wire Type within this Thread and on this forum on quite a few occasions.

I own it as Purchased  Cable and as the Wire only. It is owned as both Solid and Stranded, and I also own a length of PC Triple C / EX, that is quite expensive.

There is a Helix Build using Triple C within this thread, a report on the impression mase is available from the end user.

In my own HiFi community in the UK, my loaning of the the wire has made a big impression, where a growing in number are superseding the use of OCC Copper and Silver for the Triple C.

Some who have experienced it in comparison to OCC, and are in possession of systems claimed to be very resolving, are classing the impression made as Night/Day as a betterment. 

As a result of my loan of Triple C, and growing in number converts, the wire has caused a stimulus and curiosity to those that are introduced to it.

The Wire is now found in use as PC, Hook Up Wire, Interconnects, Cart' Tags, Speaker Internal and Speaker Cables and it is also now used as a Continuous Wand Wire within a Tonearm as a upgrade by a renowned UK based Tonearm designer / builder. 

The same TA builder has intimated, they may send a Cart' to a rebuild service to have the Coils wound in Triple C, when the suitable wire is discovered. 

I hope you become curious and make inroads to try out this alternative wire option. 

@pindac 

its on my list to try!  Specifically  the Acoustic Revive SPC-AV TripleC. I’ve recently completed a massive overhaul of my system. Just letting everything settle a bit. 
I’ve been experimenting lately with different low mass connectors. All my favorites (AECO, KLE, ETI) are getting beat by Neutrik Speakons!! Ive been pretty shocked by the results. 

@camrector My ears are pricked up, my attention is on you 🤓

Firstly the Cable you have referred to has sort of vanished, it is periodically showing for sale.

It is this Rtiple C cable remaining in the form purchased, that superseded my use of Mapleshade Clearview Double Helix Speaker Cable used between 845 Monoblock Amp’s and ESL Speakers. Note: This Triple C did take about two hours of usage before it become the Cable that shamed the M’shade.

A few weeks of revert back to M’shade and return to Triple C, left the M’shades seemingly inferior and very veiled and muddy as a description.

Here’s the crazier side of it, approx’ three years previous, a Speaker Cable Bake Off was arranged at a home with another Valve Power Amp’ > ESL. There was from recollection approx’ £7K New Cables in the line up, of which the most expensive was a £1.5K pair.

The final selection and ones that all in attendance were unanimous as being the better Cable on the day was a True Silver @ £700 per pair.

The Wild Card M’shades were then used as the comparison, and the whole room fell apart on which was the better. The individual buying Cables would have bought the M’shades if they were a UK Cable and not a Import.

I learnt later that True Silvers have a origin from the US.

The wonder is what will the Triple C have done on this day if available at the time.

As for mass in a Connector, this is one very well flogged to death within my HiFi social circle.

Low Mass is now proven to be wanting when compared to Low Eddy.

Low Eddy RCA’s as a Cable Termination and Chassis Mount, will most likely knock you out of the Ball Park, well it did for myself anyway.

I thought I understood the envelope of a note or vocal, I do now as a result of being introduced to Low Eddy on a SS System, in a way that I have never experienced before.

I've had a search and discovered the two options, the Reference II is I believe 1.8mm and SPV 0.9mm Diameter.

Both are a rare discovery at this price, matching pricing around COVID times.

https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/japan/en/special/order/confirm/audio9:10004960/2_1/

https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/japan/en/special/order/confirm/audio9:10004950/2_1/

Here is my source for the Acoustic Revive @pindac 

I don’t use any RCA ICs. Balanced XLRs only. What are some examples of the low eddy ICs?
Source component cable is my own LAN cable using 20awg solid silver. 
It sounds crazy I know but these Speakons are beating everything i throw at them. 

@camrector I've added 2 Links to my previous post, I had a search for you.

From my knowledge XLR's are both Low Mass and Low Eddy.

Low Eddy RCA's will be found in WBT ranges.

I've done a lot over the years to produce a system that resolves the embedded info, in a way I believe the recording engineer intended it to be heard as sound and effect when replayed. 

PC Triple C was another material when introduced, that offered a new capability to reinforce the experience as having been increased in honesty.     

Ok wonderful. Thanks @pindac fof verifying. Good that I had the same PCCC on my radar. 
I currently am using all Aeco xlr connectors. They are beautiful with low mass and hollow tubes.

I’ll give the Accoustic Revive a go on my next copper XLR pair.
But I’m honestly going to use some Up-OCC silver first.

The Beauty of what is happening with the intentions within a Thread Like this, is that when it comes to base materials there is no holds barred, but plenty of experience suggesting a particular method and expected results.

If the PC Triple C is able to be sourced as a materials to meet a particular recommended method, this will add to the options already on the table for the Helix Design.

I really Look forward to all the build reports that are to steadily be reported back on.

My own requirements may be changing as my original plan to go Balanced was to have a Short Helix Cable external to the Amps Chassis, as the Pre Amp Out and Power Amp In.

A design has now been presented where the Pre and Power might work like an integrated with the Pre Amp Coupled to the Power Amps Chassis.

This method has lead me to thinking there is the potential to have a Hard Wire connection for the Pre's Out, with a Helix Design Cable concealed within the Power Amp. The individuals doing the work are yet to be presented with this as an idea.

This method has lead me to thinking there is the potential to have a Hard Wire connection for the Pre’s Out, with a Helix Design Cable concealed within the Power Amp.

One person I know of replaced vavious wiring within his components with Helix Geometry wires (i.e. signal, hard wired and power wires) and reported exceptional improvements over the factory installed wiring.

I cannot confirm this because it’s a little too extreme for me and I like my warranties.

Regards - Steve

@sasho  - re: Where from we can purchase teflon tube

I get mine from PArts Connecxion or Take Five Audio

The diameter of 12 AWG wire is 2.053 mm or 0.0808 inches

Add 25% and you are looking for an internal diameter of approxiately 2.5mm or 0.1 inches.

Unfortunately, I just checked and none of my original sources appear to sell this size any longer, so I would search the web for this size tubing

Regards - Steve

@williewonka You are absolutely correct to encourage protection of a Warranty.

These small sureties are valuable to have available.

I myself am long overdue on any security on offer.

All individuals involved in the planning and application  are EE's either from the  original build and willing to add to their design or the EE behind the new designs to be put in place.

Double ,Helix ,has a place in this, I thinks anyways

Hi williewonka, a belated return to thread, sometimes life gets in the way.

I’m now about to turn my attention to power cables and would like recommendations from you for a schuko plug, perhaps an all out best and next best.

I have been thoroughly enjoying the interconnects I made and on a visit to an audio show in Dublin I took along a pair of cables on the off chance I could compare them to some expensive and well regarded big name stuff as a sanity check. The most impressive was the all Gryphon room, all Gryphon cabling. They do not entertain the idea of anything else. The system comes at about Euro 250000

The chap in attendance named Rune agreed to the comparison at end of day. Analogue was via XLR and so I used one of my pair for digital which accepted RCA. My wife, Rune and I sat front center in that order and listened for about 20 minutes to a variety of music. The Gryphon cable was XLR so we set it via remote 3dB lower and did swap overs on the fly. Well, hmmm, very little difference was heard. My wife said she watched his face and that he looked a bit shocked. I heard slightly more assertive chords on grand piano, bass and treble too close to call. When I asked Rune what he heard he said tonality, it’s in the tone. Well he had to say something, his boss was standing near! I asked the boss his impression who said it had been a long day and wasn’t really listening.

The Gryphon cable sells for Euro 5000 so this is a sterling effort from you considering his cables had been running all day and mine played with no settling time at all.

Well done @lemonhaze !

@norco74, thanks. The design works beautifully and I envisage not resting until I finally have replaced all cables in my system with the helix geometry.

I have recently added a Townshend Platform under my Oppo 103 which has provided an excellent upgrade to the sound, think along the improvement gained from the helix cable. A further lowering of the noise floor. Uses springs according to the component or speaker's weight.

Very different from the cones and spikes mistake of the 80's.  They are pricey though. Got mine second hand.

@williewonka, Hi Steve, with the KLE plugs becoming harder to find I'm interested to hear from you if you have tried the new and more expensive 'Perfect22' and what if any change in sound you have noticed.

I don't know if you missed my previous post, third post above this on 02-26-2024

Looking for advice please on what schuko plug to use.

@lemonhaze - I really liked your post above :-)

I am surprised you got the response you did. I have tried similar comparisons, with mixed results, rangnig from..

1. making up all sorts of obscure advantages of the cables they sell - or...
2. I had two guys frantically trying different amps and speakers, amazed at the improvements they were hearing with the Helix

RE: the RCA plugs...

• sonic craft still has the Absolute Harmony and there are a few others
• I notice on the KLE site the PURE 22 and the PERFECT 22 - either of these would be excellent

What would the improvements be? - I would imagine details and dynamics

I have not tried them because I amhappy with what I have and the additional expence of replacing my Absolute Harmonywould not be worth the improvement

I'll get back to you on the power connectors - right now I have to run, sorry

@lemonhaze -Apologies for the fragmented response.

I still like the following silver plated copper mains connector products - in order of preference...

1. SonarQuest
2. Viborg
3. Vanguard - on Ebay

I also like the Carbon fiber look and they clamp better, but they tend to be expensive, so I found more affordable approach is to...

1. buy the cheapest plug from one the three brands mentions
2. then I also buy the cheapest Cabon fiber connector from the more obscure and affordable brands
3. Swap the Carbon fiber shell to the more expensive brand plugs

Last time I tried this I saved $70 on a mains pair., but from what I have just seen, the price of the carbon fiber versions have come down a lot, so it might not be cheeper

I use the unused plug/housing for various extension cords around the house or on power cables for my guitar gear.

I generally purchase from the Ebay merchant Enjoy HiFi because they are reliable, fast and for some reason they manage to bypass Canadian Customs

I’ve never had a problem swapping the housing, but some "named" brands may not fit - But If you purchase them from Ebay, they all tend to use the same design

Hope that helps - Steve

I am not sure what’s going on but TFA and PCX have been out of some of our favorite sizes of MIL Spec Silver Coated and UPOCC wires. The offer and availabilty have been less and less for many months now. Is there a supp’y chain issue for these type of wires?

In relation to RCA connectors, I have been very familiar with the Low Mass models from the Brands commonly selected.

My being an advocate took on a profound shift in a alternate way of thinking when having experienced Low Eddy design RCA's as both Cable Termination and Chassis Mounted with PC Triple C Wire.

I have no doubts in my suggesting, strongly suggesting, these connector types used as experienced by myself, will enable any Cable in use, to offer its most optimised performance.  

@williewonka, Hi Steve I have a pair of Sonarquest IEC connectors silver plated in a clear plastic/poycarbonate housing and thinking I might try their silver schuko plug unless you recommend a different plating. As I have mentioned my system is a little on the lean side of neutral so perhaps I should avoid rhodium.

The first PC build will be for source components using 2x18awg solid silver with either 1x14awg Neotech in ptfe solid occ copper or 1x14awg stranded from TFA.

Your thoughts please.

@pindac, could you provide more info or a link to your suggestion of:

Low Eddy design RCA's

Thanks

@lemonhaze, 2 x 18 gauge occ silver is great for source components. I would use 1x14 gauge solid OCC copper for the neutral.

The silver plated copper from TFA is not quite as good but very good if you are on a budget

The sonarqusest are my first choice for connectors because they tend to use heavier gauge copper and thinker plating.

Hope that helps

@lemonhaze There is a lot of info to be found on the Web about RCA's with a design that is not just Low Mass but Low Eddy as well.

The descriptions mainly relate to RCA's as I am believing XLR's are a inherently Low Eddy design, I might be incorrect on the XLR description.

For the record, my experience of this change of Connector, has been exclusive to a Tonearm > Phonostage > Power Amp, with SAEC SL 5000 Cable.

I was demo'd the WBT Low Eddy connectors in place against the standard supplied connectors on the Cable.

The System owner also the designer/builder of the Tonearm, had prior to my demo's given, used their long-time owned Copper KLE Harmony and come to the place where the Low Eddy type from WBT was to Supersede them in use.                This became very apparent when the Chassis RCA was also to become a Low Eddy connection.

I can say the system used is one I am very familiar with and is very revealing, due to it detail resolving capabilities. 

This system has on occasion introduced me to the perception of Envelope, not many systems are capable of creating this perception.

The use of Low Eddy connectors as suggested, reinforced in a discernible manner, that the perception of Envelope being manifested was seemingly tangible.

Unfortunately for the type that really does like to think their system dedicated to replaying recorded has substantial capabilities at resolving information embedded by the recording engineer, such a indelible impression made by the perception of Envelope become another plateau to be ascended to.   

For myself today, when considering my next steps, Low Eddy, is the top of the list when it comes to creating an interface between Umbilical Cable and Device.       

@williewonka,

That's great, I have the Neotech neutral here and waiting on the silver.  I'll report my findings when complete. Would using a gold plated Sonarquest schuko plug instead of the silver plated dull dynamics and transients?

Only considering gold because I'm concerned that silver will be taking me the wrong side of neutral but from one of your posts on interconnects you mentioned that you found the silver to be 'rich' sounding. I value your opinion.

@grannyring, I was trying to search through some of your posts where I think you mentioned preferring VH Audio's silver wire with AirLok insulation as being a little 'more relaxed' than bare wire in tubes where I happened upon an old post of yours asking about supertweeters and I provide a link below that I consider essential reading.  If you could enlighten me regarding the VH Audio wire please.

This is off topic and titled the world beyond 20KHz. I met Max Townshend at an audio show in Veldhoven, Holland in 2019 where I had a long conversation and demo of his isolation pods, platforms and podiums and heard the supertweeters which brings much to everything including bass. This has created some fierce arguments that I now avoid. The tweets go out to about 90KHz and the common dismissal is "look if you can't hear you can't hear it" but it is heard as the harmonics necessary to complete the waveform.

paper pdf

If this does not open then google the bold part. From David E blackmere

@lemonhaze - at no point have I experienced brightness or any other sound changes in my system with the Helix geometry/wires - I did experience more details and improved clarity and improved venue acoustics (i.e. hall reverberations) using silver plated connectors.

Perhaps the brightness that is frequently reported is due more to the actual cable geometry and insulations used rather than the actual connectors or wire/metals and plating.

Gold plating may impact the dyamics a little, but whether it would be noticeble depends on many other aspects of system confguration.

• quality of components
• other cables in use
• room dynamics
• speaker palcements
• etc...

I would stick with the silver plated copper connectors then you know going forward you are getting the best possible performance

Also don't be concerned with reported tarnishing, simply reseating a connector will reestablish perfect contact if any tarnishing does occur, but my SonarQuest plugs are now 4 years old and show no signs of tarnish as yet.

Hope that helps - Steve

@pindac, what brands confirm to low eddy design RCA plugs?

Many Thanks

@williewonka 

You mentioned carbon fiber mains connectors above. Are those carbon fiber bodies connected to the ground wire in those or is the carbon fiber absorbing RFI/EMI from just being there? If the latter, I guess I could try with carbon fiber "blanket" taped around the plastic connector and take a listen.

Or is this just for looks?

Thank you!

@lewinskih01 - looks!

Perhaps similar plugs from companies like Furutech use real carbon fiber, bur the plugs I have used simply use a small carbon fiber looking band.

The benefit of these plugs is the housing has a more secure cable clamping system, and provides more room to work while making connections.

Regards, Steve 

@williewonka As stated there is much info to be found on the Web where Low Eddy is the description about RCA Phono Connector Types.

The Brand I have experienced and the same Brand that has restructured my way forward in relation to RCA connectors, is WBT Low Eddy, used on both Cable and Chassis.

There are a few models from WBT, I will make an inquiry to get the Ref No'.

If you would like to try a PC Triple C Wire Cable, send me a PM, I have a Stock of this for my Cables yet to be produced. 

Hello all

I need both RCA and XLR interconnects and have got 2 questions 😊

XLR : has someone tried the double version, do you think it would have the same impact as the RCA?

RCA: to solder KLEI plugs, how do you use the V shape? Do you solder on the flat spot or insert the tip of the wire into the V? If the former, I don’t understand why they went with this V shape, which must be more expensive to produce than a simple rectangular tag

Thank you!

@abolive - I have use the 'V' shape, but I generally tend to solder onto the flat spot.

• for solid wire I place a small 90 degree turn at the end of the wire and insert that into the 'V'
  • I didn;t find it made any difference, from a sound persoective, but I suspect it is a weaker joint, as there is not as much solder in the joint
  • you can clip off any excess wire after soldering
• For stranded wire you can create a small :"V: shape" in the end of the wire and insert one :'V'  at 90 degrees into the other
  • it makes a better joint for stranded wire

Hope that helps - Steve

@pindac - I took a look at the QED low eddy plug and it is very similar, in priciple, to the KLEI RCA...

• The neutral contact design is very small
• the signal contact design is tubular

So I believe a low mass style of RCA, like the KLEI RCA, would also benefit from a reduction in eddy anomolies.

The one benefit I found with the KLEI RCA is that an interconnect using them can be used as a digital link without having to worry about impedance matching.

• I do not know whether this is due to the impedance of the KLEI RCA or
• whether all low mass/eddy RCA’s can be used in this manner.
• But with more conventional RCA, it is often mentioned that there are :reflections within the cables if the impedance is not matched

Also, I have used DIY Helix cables using the KLE RCA, in lengths from 18" to 6ft, as a digital link and they outperformed my Van Del Hul impedance matched cables specifically designed as a digital cable.

• there was no difference in sound quality between the different length of DIY Helix cables
  • so the thoughts often shared on the web that Digital cables should be of a specific length does not seem to apply when using the KLEI RCA with the Helix DIY Geometry
• Unfortunately, I have no experience with Low Eddy RCA’s, so I cannot provide input as to whether they would perform as well as KLEI RCA’s when used for this purpose.

Any Thoughts? Steve