Are these Duelund wires good for interconnects-


Hi- Just  saw these on Parts connexion- anyone using these instead of the std. single runs-
Dual DCA16GA 2x16 awg, Tin-plated, Stranded Copper, Oiled Cotton Speaker/Interconnect
https://www.partsconnexion.com/DUELUND-86376.html
bopper

Hey Steve, I agree with you that solid core wire can sound quite good for ICs and SCs. I didn't say I liked the Connex silver IC wire, but some here do. My experience with it was just so-so.

I use solid core wires in my system including ICs that I make from multiple, individually insulated, solid core, high purity, 28 awg copper wires, and Harmonic Technology SCs that use multiple, small'ish gauge, solid core OCC wires, individually insulated with foamed PE.

Your Helix Image cables look interesting and if I needed new cables and/or had the time, I would certainly look at trying some.  It is great that you have shared such detailed construction instructions and pictures of the Helix Image cables for DIY'ers.

@mitch2 - here's another thread with comments from a couple members that have tried the Helix cables and really like them

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/duelund-conversion-to-diy-helix-geometry-cabling

Regards - Steve
@williewonka With your Helix Interconnects have you tried the VH Audio OCC Silver with Airlock insulation?  I know you like the results of the Mundorf Silver/Gold wire and curious how they compare.

Thanks.
@dbass - I have tried the VH Audio Silver wire only on the power cables for my streamer and the results were exceptional.

I would have to think it would compare favourably to the Mundorf wire in every respect.

The differences between the two are...
- the cotton sleeve has a Dielectric Constant (D.C.) of 1.3
- the AirLok insulation has a D.C. of just less than 1.45

However, there is a lot of air between the cotton sleeve and the silver wire with the Mundorf - which will lower the overall D.C of the mundorf cable further, so it might provide "a little" better clarity.

When it comes to silver wire, it is capable of delivering incredibly fine details. The higher the D.C. of the Insulation results in more distortions that can "smear" those details.

Now temper that with some reality -
- it’s not a "chalk" vs. "cheese" kind of difference
- it’s more an "Old Cheddar" vs. "Extra Old Cheddar"

When you get to this level of performance I would probably have to listen VERY intently to discern a difference between the two and any difference might only be noticeable on just a few tracks that have the details fine enough to be capable of highlighting any difference.

The benefit of the VH Audio wire is it does not require the cotton sleeve, so the build is a little easier.

Also, the bare Mundorf wire may tarnish inside the cotton sleeve and that incredibly fine layer of Silver Sulphide may have a very slight impact on skin effect perofrmance over time. But that’s conjecture, not experience.

The choice is yours - but you really cannot make a bad choice here, since I believe either wire will provide exceptional performance.

Regards - Steve