Not Chinese Fakes But Not big $$$ Either
Tired and bored after reading 11 pages of posts about Chinese Counterfeit Cables (guilty of a couple entries myself), and looking for a DYI project, I decided to split the difference between Cheap Fakes and outrageous prices for name brand American made cables. After doing lots of research and reading I selected bulk "CHELA" speaker cable from VHAudio https://www.vhaudio.com/speakercables.html and connectors, shrink tube etc, from AV Outlet https://www.avoutlet.com/av-cables-connectors/av-connectors/speaker/furez-sp8-wp38xlnp/
This has been a fun project and a first for me. The total cost was +/- $400 per 8 foot cable. Given the quality of materials, such as 48 strand OCC copper wires, which translates to 10 AWG, I think the cost is very reasonable. I try to build as much as I can but mostly it has been woodworking in the past. I encourge everyone to try their hand at projects. It's always more rewarding than shoveling cash at retailers. If you're interested, here's the project in detail.
Cheers
I didn't mean to imply I think you should use the BFAs. banana vs lug is always a matter of opinion. I do like your choice of lug. I agree with the solid copper lug. Solid copper is soft but that works with a lug. I do like that you extended the shrink wrap down onto the lug so that you can't twist one lug into the other while tightening. I've seen amps blown that way. Jerry |
I built the same cables. I used BFA style banana plugs since i like low mass. You didn't say how they sound but I'll say that I'm very happy with mine and recommend this sytle cable. I'm not patient enough to load my photos on another site to post them here but I can post a photo of my cables to my profile and I'll do that. Jerry PS I wouldn't have started out my post talking about chinese fakes. I scrolled past it several times until I finally decided to open it. |
@bigtwin Hope you didn’t find my note negative. Just mentioning why it took me so long to read your post. Very nice post. thanks. I have posted photo of my cables on my profile. Your small cable shrink wrap goes the entire way which looks nicer. -Jerry PS I just noticed you stripped this large number of individual cables with a knife. a squeeze type wire stripper would make your life easier if you are doing more wiring. |
@dekay I first used strippers like that at Fermilab when I worked there in the 70s. Didn't know they still made them. Yellow handle and all. Get them set up correctly and you can't beat them. Jerry |
@bigtwin If you like lugs, then solid copper is definitely the way to go. Many traditional bananas have problems. I've had them come apart on me. So I use silver plated BFA style "banana" plugs. Those have the added advantage of low mass which is the main thing I have against lugs. This is a bit of a sidetrack on this thread but I don't like a huge mass in the signal path like most binding posts are. I make my own binding posts out of the same high conductivity copper you mention but it is 3/16" tubing pressed into a nylon housing. Jerry |
