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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 26, 2016 12:52:06 GMT -6
I was buying some new xlr cables for my warm audio 412 and decided to buy a bunch of gold plated trs stereo( balanced) plugs to make my own patch cables. I had bought cheap hosa ones a while back with my dbox (brown ones below). I have a large amount of 12 awg treated copper, double strand for the actual cable. I inserted the first one I made, patching a bass track out to my wa 2a and soloed it. What a surprise, its like the resolution went up 20% more tone, presence and top end. I know thicker gauge means reduced resistance but I wasn't expecting a big difference for a short run 1.5 feet, I guess teh gold plated pus may be a factor too ? How do you post pics here anyway ?  s345.photobucket.com/user/kcatthedog/library/?view=recent&page=1
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Post by M57 on Dec 26, 2016 13:14:38 GMT -6
You need to host your pics elsewhere. There are a number of free services out there - I use PhotoBucket.
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 29, 2016 11:06:41 GMT -6
I was buying some new xlr cables for my warm audio 412 and decided to buy a bunch of gold plated trs stereo( balanced) plugs to make my own patch cables. I had bought cheap hosa ones a while back with my dbox (brown ones below). I have a large amount of 12 awg treated copper, double strand for the actual cable. I inserted the first one I made, patching a bass track out to my wa 2a and soloed it. What a surprise, its like the resolution went up 20% more tone, presence and top end. I know thicker gauge means reduced resistance but I wasn't expecting a big difference for a short run 1.5 feet, I guess teh gold plated pus may be a factor too ? How do you post pics here anyway ? s345.photobucket.com/user/kcatthedog/library/?view=recent&page=1
Man, I don't know, dude. Going down that cable rabbit hole again. I think this was all covered in the other Cheap Cables thread. I think Svarts post about it was brilliant, science over subjectivity. I do gotta say I don't think gold plated connectors are going to improve your sound 20%. I think gold plating is mainly to prevent oxidization. |
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Post by ragan on Dec 29, 2016 11:42:09 GMT -6
I was buying some new xlr cables for my warm audio 412 and decided to buy a bunch of gold plated trs stereo( balanced) plugs to make my own patch cables. I had bought cheap hosa ones a while back with my dbox (brown ones below). I have a large amount of 12 awg treated copper, double strand for the actual cable. I inserted the first one I made, patching a bass track out to my wa 2a and soloed it. What a surprise, its like the resolution went up 20% more tone, presence and top end. I know thicker gauge means reduced resistance but I wasn't expecting a big difference for a short run 1.5 feet, I guess teh gold plated pus may be a factor too ? How do you post pics here anyway ? s345.photobucket.com/user/kcatthedog/library/?view=recent&page=1
Heheh. Might wanna run a quick null test |
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Post by EmRR on Dec 29, 2016 11:48:09 GMT -6
The problem with null tests is it's extremely difficult with the monitoring/metering most people have to detect differences below -60 or -70.
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 29, 2016 12:16:17 GMT -6
You guys are misunderstanding me, the gold plate is just for oxidation , the big difference is the thickness of the cables and that directly affect resistance which directly affects the electrical and signal flow. I don't know what goes on at the electron level and how that affects sound but I certainly heard a noticeable difference between the thiner and thicker cables . I figured I was doing something wrong so re-patched a couple of times, but it ( the difference) was there like 740 and 1080p , you now it when you see it. When you are sitting within 3 feet of $3K monitors, you are kind of very aware of the direct sound coming out of them; ya know ? |
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Post by ragan on Dec 29, 2016 12:48:08 GMT -6
The problem with null tests is it's extremely difficult with the monitoring/metering most people have to detect differences below -60 or -70. Yeah I guess that would be true given DAW monitoring. But say there is some residual there at -80 or -100 or whatever. Given that dB's operate exponentially, aren't we talking like trying to hear a mouse crawl across the runway while a jet is taking off? |
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Post by svart on Dec 29, 2016 14:37:43 GMT -6
You guys are misunderstanding me, the gold plate is just for oxidation , the big difference is the thickness of the cables and that directly affect resistance which directly affects the electrical and signal flow. I don't know what goes on at the electron level and how that affects sound but I certainly heard a noticeable difference between the thiner and thicker cables . I figured I was doing something wrong so re-patched a couple of times, but it ( the difference) was there like 740 and 1080p , you now it when you see it. When you are sitting within 3 feet of $3K monitors, you are kind of very aware of the direct sound coming out of them; ya know ? At the power levels existing in pro-audio devices, even 30ga wires would be plenty to not limit low end. Remember I mentioned in the other thread about the sliding scale? The low end would be limited by conductor diameter(also construction and material) but only at extreme low frequencies and high power levels. I'm not really understanding what I'm seeing in the picture though, is that speaker cable between the plugs? |
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 29, 2016 14:44:06 GMT -6
yes 12 gauge on balanced plugs. I just used it as I had it here and wasn't expecting to hear a significance difference. I noticed that the store that sold the cable and plugs also sells made cable and I have some but they are 16 gauge so it was just an experiment to see what the 12 gauge sounded like or I could buy made cables. I was just pleasantly surprised,as I wasn't expecting a noticeable difference: not that big a deal really |
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Post by EmRR on Dec 29, 2016 15:24:01 GMT -6
Possible, maybe, that 12AWG cable has enough parasitic losses with low signal levels to make it sound different, but again, doubtful with such a short piece.
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Post by ragan on Dec 29, 2016 15:47:46 GMT -6
If possible, Matt, do a blind test.
I've fooled myself so so so many times. Expectation bias is enormously powerful (which I know you know). Or maybe there truly is some issue with one of the cables and they are very different sonically. A blind AB would bear that out too.
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Post by EmRR on Dec 29, 2016 16:35:52 GMT -6
The problem with null tests is it's extremely difficult with the monitoring/metering most people have to detect differences below -60 or -70. Yeah I guess that would be true given DAW monitoring. But say there is some residual there at -80 or -100 or whatever. Given that dB's operate exponentially, aren't we talking like trying to hear a mouse crawl across the runway while a jet is taking off? Only if there's a jet present. If it's a quiet passage or fade it may be very audible, even at -100. Audible isn't really the question though with a null test, it's 'is there any difference we can start to parse'. DAW metering isn't generally up to the task. |
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,936 
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Post by ericn on Dec 30, 2016 22:41:06 GMT -6
The problems with gold are simple, you don't know the quality of gold, some will be tricky and say gold metal plated, if you plug unplug a lot the soft gold wears quickly!
I try to stick to good old Neutrik nickel plated, a proven compromise.
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