How to Make a Transparent Audio Reference XL Speaker Cable

[Julf]

Someone had a look at what a high-end audiophile speaker cable actually contains.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-Transparent-Audio-Reference-XL-Speak/

Yes, some cables do make a difference. But should a cable really be a filter?

 

[muzzer]

Nothing new here it's been shown many times before.

 

[YNWOAN]

Hmm... it is interesting though, thanks Julf. So the capacitor and resistor network (near the speaker end) is a Zobel network to mitigate against the effect of the voicecoils inductance - that much is clear. What's the point of the low value inductor though? As written in the piece linked to, a similar effect could be had by extending the cable by another 8 feet,

 

[YNWOAN]

I suppose the inductor moderately inhibits the flow of current, but why is that a useful thing?

 

[davidjt]

At the risk of usurping the 'resident pedant', you can mitigate something (the effect of the voicecoil's inductance) or militate against it. The two are increasingly confused/misused.

Here endeth the whinge.

 

[misterdog]

Reading the above link and it's comments seems to suggest that each system requires it's own unique cable, optimised for the amplifier/loudspeaker/cable length.

Glad I went the monoblock route with only 40 cm. of speaker cable, so one thing less to obsess over.

I still maintain that a competently engineered amplifier should be able to deal with any problems.

Mine for example incorporate a Zobel network to deal with any loudspeaker capacitance (ESL's)
and both EMI and RFI filters.

 

[graystoke4]

i thought you had to have 1 meter minimum speaker cable,

 

[Suffolk Tony]

Thanks for posting that Julf, I might well make some up, it'd be fun to compare with my NACA5. I'd need three pairs, & they'd have to be longer, but I can alter the inductor to suit.

 

[Michael J]

i thought you had to have 1 meter minimum speaker cable,

Why? Active speakers with built-in amplifiers can manage with under a foot from output to driver.

 

[Rockmeister]

But should a cable really be a filter?

Of course it should. Who want's nasty reality/transparency when you can bask in innacurate but soothing noises?
This PFM you know. Pffff.

 

[YNWOAN]

At the risk of usurping the 'resident pedant', you can mitigate something (the effect of the voicecoil's inductance) or militate against it. The two are increasingly confused/misused.

Here endeth the whinge.

A fair point except that, in this case, I did mean mitigate (rather than militate) - though 'against' could probably have been dropped. Presumably you have no input to give relative to the actual subject?

 

[martin clark]

Thanks for posting that Julf, I might well make some up, it'd be fun to compare with my NACA5. I'd need three pairs, & they'd have to be longer, but I can alter the inductor to suit.

Why bother? The recommended 3m min of NACA5 amounts to rather more than this anyway [NACA5 - 1.3 - 1.5microHenries per metre (loop, i.e. there and back)] IOW - adding-in 2.5uH of inductance is directly comparable to making a Naim system adherent's speaker cables roughly ~1.7m longer than min reqd.*

Yes, the MIT boxes (interconnect, or speaker cables) are full of BS...



*or possibly slightly more, if the MIT inductor is also quite resistive, i. e a small-gauge wire as shown.
-I'd not pay for such shite!

 

[sq225917]

Their bigger cables are even better. Multipole technology, ffs...

 

[Suffolk Tony]

Why bother? The recommended 3m min of NACA5 amounts to rather more than this anyway [NACA5 - 1.3 - 1.5microHenries per metre (loop, i.e. there and back)] IOW - adding-in 2.5uH of inductance is directly comparable to making a Naim system adherent's speaker cables roughly ~1.7m longer than min reqd.*

Yes, the MIT boxes (interconnect, or speaker cables) are full of BS...



*or possibly slightly more, if the MIT inductor is also quite resistive, i. e a small-gauge wire as shown.
-I'd not pay for such shite!

OK Martin, I shall heed your excellent advice.

 

[abbydog]

I wonder how long it will be before expensive cables come with a box at both ends, one containing an amplifier and the other a speaker, shouldn't add much to the cost.

 

[RossB]

Thanks for posting this Julf.

On the same site, I found these instructions for making some awesome speakers from tin cans ...

... that I have been told are identical* to Magico S1s, at a fraction of the price. Those stupid audiophools!

* Well, they do look a bit different. But when I have my eyes closed they sound just the same so ... science, huh?

 

[Whaleblue]

Ross, possibly worth noting that the Instructable article linked doesn't make any such claim.

Or are you being deliberately disingenuous? In which case you'd not want to do so.

 

[YNWOAN]

I think Ross is suggesting that the article over simplifies the design of the Transparent cables. However, it's difficult to deny the evidence of the pictures showing disassembled cables and X-rays.

 

[RossB]

I think Ross is suggesting that the article over simplifies the design of the Transparent cables. However, it's difficult to deny the evidence of the pictures showing disassembled cables and X-rays.

No, I have no idea what's in the Transparent Cables. I'm just making fun of Julf.

 

[suzywong]

No, I have no idea what's in the Transparent Cables. I'm just making fun of Julf.

Careful now, you do realise that Johan has his own Wikipedia page............