A really easy way to make top quality audio/video cables. (1 Viewer)

[Mike Voigt]

Chris,
VERY nice!
Makes me want to go and build my own cables...!
Mike

 

[BrianMc]

Chris,
Zack Electronics won't sell the V3-5CFB by the foot. I believe they said the minimum quantity was 300 meters for something like $1,300. I bought mine from Have, Inc. for $2.09 + $7.50 cut charge. (Contrary to the rumor you mentioned in a recent e-mail, as of 5/25 they were still selling it by the foot and I was told they have no plans to stop.)

 

[Jim Korns]

Great info! I'm off on my way to build a bunch of cables and have ordered many of the parts recommended. This info comes at a great time since I am in the middle of relocating my component rack and need all new cabling to reach my TV, sub, and speakers.
I was wondering on alternate sources for the Techflex braided sleeving. HaveInc sells it in a minimum 100 foot roll which is way more that I need.

 

[Hunter]

Chris -
As others have replied above, your site and work deserve the thanks from the HTF.
I would respectfully disagree, however, with your statement, "any cable appropriate for video is also acceptable for audio provided it uses a solid copper core coax."
Just as video signals want to see - and need for optimum performance - cables and connectors of 75 ohm impedance, audio signals want to see cables and connectors of 50 ohm impedance. Virtually all single-ended auddio equipment is designed around this parameter.
Without getting into the technical details here, the best possible audio performance can easily be impaired by the wrong impedance used at the equipment interface. Just as video performance is altered by the use of 50 ohm cables, audio performance is affected by the use of 75 ohm cables.
As an alternative - for audio cables my recommendation would be a good thinnet cable from a company called Alphawire. It is rated at 50 ohms, has a polyethylene dielectric, coaxial construction, a very good foil + braid shielding, and is wrapped by a decent PVC jacket.
See http://www.alphawire.com/index_3.html The product you would be interested in is 9871C at $.60/ft. A better version at $4.00/ft. is 9851F.

 

[Adam]

I would have to agree with Hunter. Video signal and digital audio signal interconnects are designed to be 75 Ohms. Audio interconnects are designed to be 50 Ohms.
I did make a Subwoofer cable using belden RG-6 because of the ease of construction, no soldering. However, the 75 Ohm cable would build up a capacitance, which was enough to (wake-up) or trigger my subwoofers auto-on feature and cause it to hum at 60Hz. Changing the cable to a twisted pair belden wire with a 50 Ohm resistance, fixed this problem. I also noticed significant improvement in the bass from the sub with the new wire.
Adam

 

[Chris White]

Mike: Thanks!
Brian: So far, I haven't found anyone but HaveInc selling the V3-5CFB so I hope they don't stop.
Jim: Much the the component cable, I haven't found anyone but HaveInc selling it. Did you try Zack's?
Hunter: While the audio connection may be 50 ohm, there is no performance loss using 75 ohm coax. The signal loss is less (much less) than 1 decibel even with over 100 feet of RG6. More importantly, a good 75 ohm coax provides rf shielding that you don't get with most twisted pair interconnects. I'd also point out that many of the "high end" interconnects on the market use RG6. For example, BetterCables sure seems to have a lot of satisfied and loyal customers and they use RG6.
Adam: If you encountered hum, I'll almost guarantee you it was due to a faulty connector. And of course, if that was the case, I'm certain you would have heard an improvement in the bass when you used a cable without a faulty connector.
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http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/theater.htm http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/Glossary.htm http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/AudioGlossary.htm DIY A/V Cables

 

[Hunter]

Chris -
While the use of 75 ohm cable will result in a barely perceptible loss, it will be a loss. And 50 ohm coaxial cable is readily available, as are the connectors (much more common than 75 ohm RCA's). So why not use it? There is absolutely no reason to use a 75 ohm wire for audio.
As to the use of 75 ohm wire in high performance interconnects - not in my book, or that of the dozens of manufacturers of cables or equipment that I have had experience with over many, many years. The company that you mention is not known to me, but is the only incidence of such use that I have run across in 30 years.
Each to his own, of course, but when the correct method is easier, better, and possibly cheaper, why not use it?
In any case - coaxial construction with the attendant shielding benefits is indeed the way to go.

 

[Chris White]

Jim: I've just been told that Link Removed http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/Glossary.htm http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/AudioGlossary.htm DIY A/V Cables

 

[Jim Korns]

I called HdB Electronics and was told that they do not carry the Techflex. They do have some other type of braided sleeving that they will sell by the foot. They have a 0.5 inch and a 0.75 inch sleeve.
I found some Techflex products at Jameco Electronics (I did a global search for techflex). They list three part numbers for 25 foot rolls of the Clean Cut Techflex at :
1) Diameter: 0.093" Actual to 0.250 expanded - $9.95
2) Diameter: 0.125" Actual to 0.440 expanded - $11.95
3) Diameter: 0.250" Actual to 0.750 expanded - $14.95
Question: Will the 0.25 actual fit over the Canare V3-5CFB for use in building a set of component cables?
Thanks

 

[Chris White]

I'm sorry to hear HDB doesn't sell the Techflex.
I have added the following information to the DIY Cable page:
For single cables, use .25" Techflex. The HaveInc part number is 161080BLA. For component cable, use .50" Techflex. The HaveInc part number is 161081BLA.
Since V3-5CFB has an O.D. of .673 and the .25" Techflex will expand to .75", it might fit. But, it would be stretched very tight and would be a HUGE pain to install. I think you would be much happier with the .5" Techflex.
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http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/theater.htm http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/Glossary.htm http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/AudioGlossary.htm DIY A/V Cables

 

[GordonL]

FYI, Markertek sells what appears to be techflex or something very similar in 100 ft rolls. No photo though. http://www.markertek.com/MTStore/pro...tem=XS100%2D25
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My Home Page:
welcome.to/HomeTheaterResources

 

[PomingF]

Jim:
Since you are only ~400 miles away from where I am how about splitting one roll (100') each (for single & triple cables) of those Techflex sleeves? Let me know so I can e-mail you info for the purchase.
PF

 

[Hunter]

For the sake of discussion, Chris -
One man's imperceptibility is another man's meat, to coin a phrase.

Many people cannot tell the difference between 75 ohm and 50 ohm video cable. To me, the difference is quite apparent. And to me, the difference in impedance mismatching in audio matters is apparent, also.
The same positions regarding convenience and cost vis a vis the use of 75 ohm in audio can be turned on their head and applied to video. And that's my point - convenience and cost is one thing, proper application of theory is another.
Convenience and cost does not make something correct, merely efficient. If someone wants to set things up that way - that's fine. But it is not optimal.
Regarding the article by Mr. Risch, I remember nothing in it that advocates the use of 75 ohm cable to use in audio components. One thing that I remember, however, is that he makes no mention of the critical importance of shielding in audio cables.
As to Better Cables - while the growth you claim may be admirable (and is there some measure of this compared to that of other companies?), an internet-based company with less than a year under its belt is not necessarily a reference at this point. That is NOT a criticism, just a statement of why they are not known to many people, including me.
One of the articles Better Cables cites, however, is a pretty good paper by Belden (one of the company's sources). In the paper Belden exclusively refers to 50 ohm wire with regard to audio applications.

 

[Chris White]

Very well then. Let's just say we will agree to disagree. I definitely won't argue with what you hear. If you can hear a difference between a 75 ohm interconnect and a 50 ohm interconnect, then by all means you should buy whichever cable you prefer.
By the way, I'd still like to hear from some of the BetterCables buyers out there.
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http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/theater.htm http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/Glossary.htm http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/AudioGlossary.htm DIY A/V Cables

 

[BrianMc]

Chris,
Have you used the 1/2" Techflex for the V3 component cable? How much of a pain would it be on long (~20') cables? Any idea on how much lengthwise "shrinkage" there would be due to the stretching of the sleeve?

 

[JoshFink]

Does anyone have any links direcly to the products I would need on these sites. I cannot seem to find anything.. I can get to the sites, but searching through the product listings is a nightmare. The only site that is decent to search through is parts express
I want to make 3 - 12ft component cables that have a red,green and blue end on them with Techflex..
I need the :
Canare Die
Crimp Tool
Canare RCA Ends
Component Cable
TechFlex (does this come in different colors?)
Also, does anyone have any info on how to make S-Video cables and links to that?
Thanks,
Josh

 

[BrianMc]

Josh,
You're not going to be able to find web pages for all the parts you need at the distributors sites, except as you noted at Parts Express. If you are just looking for technical info everything is available at the Canare web site. Here's a link to the connector page, which includes a table with links to everything else -- tools, cable, dies, etc:
http://www.canare.com/connectormainframe.html
As you can see from Chris's page this is unfortunately NOT a one-stop shopping experience. You'll need to get the component cable (and Techflex if you don't mind buying 100') from Have, Inc., the connectors from either Zack or Markertek, tools from Zack or Markertek AND Parts Express. My recommendation is to use the toll free numbers listed on the various sites. Subject to my earlier caveats, I've found the best prices for cable, connectors and the expensive tools (stripper and crimp die) at Zack Electronics.
Techflex is manufactured in a veritable rainbow of colors as seen here: http://www.techflex.com/Colors.htm
Whether it is available in reasonable quantities may be another story.
Finally, consensus opinion is to not attempt making S-video cables since there is no "solderless" means of doing it. The following DTF post has more details:
http://www.digitaltheater.com/cfb/in.../TID/44328.cfm
Good luck!

 

[Ellen]

Hunter,
Do your comments regarding the use of 50 ohm cables apply only to analog audio or coaxial digital audio interconnects as well?
Ellen

 

[Chris White]

Brian: Yes, the .5" works perfectly for the component cable. By the way, I've added the actual part number to the DIY page. Don't cut the Techflex before you put it on. First, cut the cable to the length desired and strip back the outer jacket 6-8 inches (you'll need at some play in the cables and the more you allow the easier it is to install the connectors). Now, just slide on the Techflex until it's flush with the end of the jacket. You'll end up trimming off a few inches before you install the heat shrink.
Josh: I'm going to post the email I sent to you in case others have the same questions.
>1) Do you have to call up Have, Inc to order or can you do it over the computer?
Yes. You can't order from their website.
>2) Is all the techflex the same color? i.e. silver or are there different colors?
I've never ordered anything but black, but I do believe they have other colors.
>3) Is the colored sleeves over the ends of your connectors heat shrink or is that special sleeves?
It's heat shrink from Parts Express.
>Where can I get the red, green & blue shrink? I can only find red & black on the parts express site.
The heat shrink comes in red, black, white, black, yellow, blue, orange, green, and clear. Try this link:
http://www.partsexpress.com/sites/PartsEx/CyberVendor.dll?CartSize=0&HTMLFILENAME=heatshrinkindex.html)
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http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/theater.htm http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/Glossary.htm http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/AudioGlossary.htm DIY A/V Cables

 

[Hunter]

Chris -
"Let's just say we will agree to disagree." That sounds great to me. Better than WWIII.
Chris and Ellen -
Chris is correct about the requirement for digital coaxial cable - 75 ohms is the proper specification. Hey folks - please understand that I'm not trying to be "Cable Mom" here! Police actions just aren't my thing ...
Regards.