DIY Cables and Interconnects

DIY Cables and Interconnects.

Cables are an important component of a hi fi system, and yet often ignored. But when you think about it, what's the point of having expensive high performing equipment if the signal from one component is not transferred properly to the next.

The most obvious example of this is the speaker cables. Powerful amplifiers are capable of immense current for short periods, and the speaker cables have to be able to pass that signal to the speakers without restriction. It's like connecting a car battery to a starter motor - if you don't have a heavy duty cable you won't get enough current through to turn over a sluggish engine effectively.

With speakers cables, however, it's not just a matter of being able to pass a high current, there's also the effect on the signal at various frequencies. If any particular frequency is emphasised or constrained that will colour the sound.

So there's been a great deal of attention given to the materials used and construction of speaker cables, and there are a number of links here to enable you to get some background information.

http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/cables.htm
http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/ubyte2e.html

We have selected a few designs that are reasonably easy to make up, and have the appropriate components in the SPEAKER CABLE category.

The connections between signal sources and switching units and amplifiers are no less important. Current carrying capacity is not the issue because the signal levels are low, but any even slight colouration to the signal will be amplified many times by the time it reaches the speakers.

So there's been plenty of discussion and ideas for interconnects also. The Jon Risch pages link above has good information on interconnects as well as speaker cables. Here's a direct link http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/i1.htm

We offer a selection of the components you'll need to make up your own in the INTERCONNECTS category.

If you are not sure exactly what you need send us an email enquiry@decibelhifi.com.au

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