DIY DC power cables

[charlesphoto]

I recently added a Ghentaudio USB cable to my system (from the mR to a Naim DAC V1). Both the sound quality and build were excellent for all of $20, and I was able to easily pull back the heat shrink and snip just the 'live' wire as my DAC doesn't need it. Considering a pair of speaker cables from him for the office. Good stuff and will most likely order one of these DC cables. Definitely interested in a custom Y job as when I tried a cheap Y in my main set up the sound did take a dip.

[charlesphoto]

Great idea on the Y cable. One could then swap out lengths as needed. Of course the sound quality vs a direct connection may still be slightly inferior. Who knows?

 

Might like to see Ghent audio offer a GX-16 connection as well for the popular linear power supplies that use them..

 

I was also wondering what kind of sonic benefits might be gained by rewiring an iFi iPower switch with a decent shorter cable like these rather than the piece of string they're built with? 

[charlesphoto]

Thank you. I agree $15 isn’t much but I was putting together an order of a few cables for him so it all adds up. 

[charlesphoto]

40 minutes ago, Cornan said:

 

I do not think that the plugs matter that much in terms of SQ on either USB or Ethernet. I do like the Metz plugs on my Ghent ET02 since they locks nicely into place, but that's all.

 

Think I might actually go for the right angle Metz after all, as long as I can determine if it will plug into the microRendu in the orientation I need. Do you know what the A/B options are on the JSSG etehernet cables? I’ll email Ghent as well.

[charlesphoto]

I will actually be coming from a TP Link MC100 FMC. Same thinking on length?

[charlesphoto]

Wondering about these. The TP-Links are 9V but I think can pretty much take anything from 5-12. And this is for the last FMC before the rendu? These are from that Alexey guy? And if I ask he’ll solder the connectors? The rest I can do. Thanks!

[charlesphoto]

20 hours ago, Cornan said:

 

Yes, Alexey will solder everything for you if you ask him nicely. He solder those things like a pro. I can imagine that they will make a awesome contribution to the FMCs. Been there but left it behind since it did'nt compare to wireless adapter/Aqvox switch/copper ethernet. I can imagine that that those voltage regulators makes all the difference since they will reduce leakage into the down-hill FMCs.

If I am wrong I would not hesitate to buy the LT3045s from you!

 

Do you think I could go with a single 1A LT3045 set to 9V vs a series? Trying to save a few $ here and there (still have the rendu 1.4 board upgrade at the top of the list) and would like to put in couple of these in different places (office FMC as well). Thanks, CP

[charlesphoto]

Ok, I think I’m starting to get this. If I want to do only one 1A board for my 9V .6A FMC, then set the PSU to 10V (HDPLEX adjustable), and the LT3045 10V in. With a 9V iFI for the office FMC, set to 9V in and don’t worry about the drop out. 

 

Thanks for all of the great info!

[charlesphoto]

Cornay,

 

Are you saying that the JSGT on our SMPS’s could be improved using a silver ground wire? Have you tried? And why would that be? 
 

Got my JSSG Ethernet cable on order with right hand plugs (and starquad DC cable for rendu to LPS-1 with right hand plugs as well - if nothing else going to look trick) but sticking to my Uptone USCPB. 

 

Best,

 

CP

[charlesphoto]

12 minutes ago, Cornan said:

 

Hi CP!

 

Yes, I use silver wires on my DC- output groundings. Even thin gauge silver sounds better than thick gauge copper. This is something well known by Entreq. They use it for their ground boxes and they use silver negative wires and gold positive wires on their best ICs. 

 

I use USPCB as well between ISO Regen and the Luckit BluWave USB to Spdif board, but I am using the starquad USB JSSG between Aries Mini and IR.

 

Micael

 

What do you think the minimum gauge is that would work with the JSGT? Looking at silver wire prices they get up there, and I’d need a number of feet. 

[charlesphoto]

So far this is about the best price I've found on bulk silver wires. Scroll to almost the bottom of the page for bulk pricing with or without a teflon sleeve. 

 

http://www.tempoelectric.com/cables.htm

[charlesphoto]

Okay, the craziness ensues. 3 meters of Vanguard .6mm ordered. If nothing else it’s going to look better, all cut to exact length (I will parcel carefully unlike the lamp cord I used). My Amazon ferrites order is late. May need to get refund and start again with that one.

[charlesphoto]

Why don’t you just order one from Ghent Audio? Or Sonore if you really want to spend more? The Ghent you can order it with 45 degree connectors which I did for my microRendu and LPS-1. It’s Canare Starquad and sounds good. I think unless you are an ace solderer, you could make a real mess of an expensive cable and plugs, and even then might not work size wise.

[charlesphoto]

You mean like this: https://uptoneaudio.com/products/uspcb-a-b-adapter

 

sounds amazing. Can’t go wrong.

[charlesphoto]

24 minutes ago, Cornan said:

 

I guess you haven't got a USB Regen or ISO Regen, but isn't this rigid enough? https://www.amazon.com/HDE®-USB-Type-Male-Adapter/dp/B002B9AR8I

 

Yep but I figured he might want it to sound good. 

[charlesphoto]

1 hour ago, fayerichard said:

The nrg1.5 has the following 16awg thickness: 2 x 1,31mm².

 

would it fit?

 

how about the sleeve, which is definitely much wider and thicker. Can I just leave the ends "open" and apply shrinkwrap to both ends in order to circumvent the sleeve at the last 3cm of plug ends?

 

so I can use the Oyaide dc?

 

You just need to try it if that’s what your mind is set on. I guess if you screw it up then you can just put some ac plugs back on it. Unless you already have one I wouldn’t bother. Too much AQ marketing hype. Just get a good dc cable pre-made to the size you need, and choose depending on your budget. Also keep in mind the shorter the better. 

[charlesphoto]

Speaking of soldering dc cable connectors, I was wondering if anyone has just soldered a ground wire shunt directly to the negative post of a dc plug, and if that has any bearing on sound quality by then bypassing the screw adapters? 

 

I’ve got a soldering kit and holder coming as a stocking stuffer so curious to try my hand at soldering. Will practice on low level/throwaway items first of course, but got me to thinking - why not just solder that thin gauge ground wire directly?

[charlesphoto]

Bummed I just got a new dc cable from Ghent for between the rendu and LPS-1and didn’t know about the JSSG option. Got it on the ethernet cable and using the USPCB so all good there. Oh well.... 

 

Is there a post that has good instructions and/or pictures on building a dc cable with JSSG?

 

Best,

 

Charles

 

[charlesphoto]

Ok thanks. Will either have to figure out how to do it over or maybe send the one I just got back to Ghent. I wanted to order some other cables anyway so maybe that would make most sense vs messing up the beautiful cable he made with right hand plugs (Perfect for the rendu and LPS-1 I might add). 

[charlesphoto]

14 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

is something wrong with the Ghent cables?

 

No, absolutely nothing wrong and everything right! It’s only that I didn’t know about the JSSG for dc cables before ordering my last one. I do now and can add a sleeve myself but will probably be ugly compared top Ghent doing it. 

 

My question is, just how much difference on a 12 inch cable will a JSSG make? 

[charlesphoto]

6 hours ago, Cornan said:

 

Difficult to say on only one spot. What I can say is that the more JSSG I add the better it sounds. All my DC cables are 50cm.

 

And oh, the best size copper braid for a 4S11 Star Quad?

[charlesphoto]

I would just use or sell your AC cable and get some starquad or other cable by the foot and some DC plugs and make up your own. Inexpensive, changeable if you mess up, and no more questions none of us can really answer for you! 

[charlesphoto]

You do know Ghent make Canare speaker cable as well? if they're anything like his other cables then they're good, esp for the money. 

 

https://www.ghentaudio.com/part/s01.html

[charlesphoto]

You can use heat shrink and leave the barrels off. I did that with some very short pieces of solid 12g Neotech hook up wire, separated by air. Don't look like much but sound great. Don't forget to use a small piece of shrink over the live solder joint and any exposed live wire so if any bending it won't short the neutral. Then a big piece that snugs the screw part of the plug with the cable. 

[charlesphoto]

1 hour ago, zacho said:

Am looking to build a DIY DC cable for my Allo Digione Signature and was wondering what the maximum AWG the 2.5mm connector, and the USB C connector can take. I wanna know what my options are.

 

You might want to look here. May be difficult to equal their fine work though, so 20ga stranded Neotech might be a safer bet. 

 

http://www.ghentaudio.com/part/dc-7n18c.html