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Silver speaker cable question

We recently bought a pair of Klipschorn speakers. The speaker wire connection won't allow us to continue using our 4' Quicksilver pure silver speaker cables, which we really like.

So I made a pair of 6' pure silver speaker cables--2 strands of 20ga for each pos/neg connection in teflon sheathing--and they sound woefully thin. I've heard another system with these cables, and the music sounds quite full. Problem is, it's been so long since we got the Quicksilver that I can't remember if this is normal for new silver cables. Tonight, I hooked up one side with the Quicksilver (only one side is long enough, and just barely), and there is a big difference in the tonal roundness and fullness of the music coming from that speaker. When I swap the cables, the other speaker becomes the better one.

I'm dreading finding replacement cables for the Quicksilver, and I really can't spend $500 right now for a 6' pair from them. With them in the chain, the music is more lively and transparent than with any other cable I've tried. So the question is, do we save our pennies, or do we give my DIY's adequate time to burn-in?

*Also, I hate to have to say it, but if your position concerning cables/burn-in/etc. will not allow you to resolve this dilemma, please don't respond. I'd rather not be the author of yet another mucky cable thread on the fastrack for censorship. In other words, please just answer the question. Thank you.
Howard
128x128boa2

Showing 10 responses by s23chang

s23chang
617 posts
 
Howard,
In most cases from my DYI pure silver DYI speaker cables, it takes min 50 to 100 hours for it to settle in. 200+ hours to be fully burn in. This is no different from DYI interconnects as well.

The problem you have is not because the burn in. Rather, it is because of the damping factor for the speaker load.

You can calculate the right damping factor to match the sensitivity of your speaker.

www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/wirecalculator.xls

As long as your DF is greater than 200 then it became diminish return.

Just remember, the thicker you make, the longer break-in time required

Hope this helps
s23chang
617 posts
 
Oops I mean DIY....

In your case,
20 AWG X 2 = 17 total AWG
17 AWG would give you damping factor of 79 for 6 ft ( assuming your nominal R for your speakers is 6 Ohm )

To do it right, your'll need to make 13 total AWG cable to get 200 DF.

For 8 Ohm speakers, I ususally assume 4 Ohm nominal load.
If this is the case, you'll need to make 11 AWG speaker cables.

I've achieved excellent result based on the calculation.
I can't say about your setup, but in my and all my friend's setup, my version of cable sounded as good as some XYZ brand speaker cables that costs over $3000 a pair.

Keep in mind,

Size of strands, number of strands, and geometry of cable do make big difference.

Since then, we have yet to find something better then my version of cable.

It is time comsuming but it is well worth it at the end.

Good luck
s23chang
617 posts
 
Hi Howard,
That's correct. Plugin number of conductors ( or strands ) in the spreadsheet from tnt-audio.com website.
It could be 6 or 8 or whatever number of conductors you use. Take that total AWG number, length, speaker nominal resistance and amp output resistance and plugin them in to calculate the DF.
As long as the total AWG meets your requirement which gives you DF of 200 or greater.

Hope this helps
s23chang
617 posts
 
Jeffreybehr, audioquest price is too expensive for pure silver speaker cables. Assuming 12 total Awg weights 1 Troy Oz/ foot, your total length for 6 ft pair is 6ft X 4 = 24 ft = 24 Oz of silver.
You can figure out how much it will cost you.
s23chang
617 posts
 
Oops I did the math wrong. 12 total AWG weights 0.5 Oz/ft total would be 24 Ft X 0.5 Oz /ft = 12 Oz of silver.
The Market rate for raw silver is $7 / Oz.
The processed silver usually cost 3 to 5 times more.
You got to figure out where and how you can get the silver cheap.
It definitely better than the copper version. More transparent and clarity. The bass carries more punch than the copper version. Smoother and quieter overall.
s23chang
617 posts
 
Makes no difference to our setup seperate or twisted them togather. Keep in mind that they're fragile when twisted togather. You should find some way to reinforce it.
I also use Stealth Audio pure silver spades.
s23chang
617 posts
 
Hi Howard,

Cable length: Just 6 feet for each cable you making and not 6 + 6.

Speaker load: I don't think your speaker's nominal load is 8 Ohm. You should consider that impediance drop when the load increases. Some 8 Ohm speakers can go down below 3 Ohm. 6 Ohm would be a safe estimate and 4 Ohm would be a better assumption for more power hungry speakers ( which I would suggest since it will be more useful in the future.)
Also, you want to get extra 1/2 ft for each 6 ft length.
s23chang
617 posts
 
Hi Howard,
If you are using 11 total AWG for 6 ft lengh,
you'll get the following

Nominal Nominal
Speaker amp DF
8 8 424
6 8 318
4 8 212

How can the DF be less than 200?
What value did you put?
s23chang
617 posts
 
Jeffreybehr, since the topic is silver speaker cable question, I thought you were referring to audioquest silver cables.
s23chang
617 posts
 
Jeffreybehr, off the topic.
The real Spread Spectrum Technology I know is only for radio transmission in military , cordless phones and cell phones technologies.
I think AQ just made up this buzz word.
As far as using different size of conductors in one cable, this is nothing new. XLO has been using this since the 90s (you can buy the XLO raw cables from percy audio but I made my own.) I've been using it for my own design too for the interconnects. However, I do find it more effective in interconnects than speaker cables ( I've tried many different combo in the past 2 years.) I felt that it adds uneven sound in speaker cables. No so smooth transition as single size conductor. Not sure if it is due to much higher current and voltage passing through vs a fixed low current/voltage for the interconnects.

This is from my observation with mixed cord speaker cables:
i.e. The tremble sounded more extended but slightly distorted. The bass sounded more volume but less refined and snappy. The mids made no improvement.

Also found fewer conductors gives you lower distortion.
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