DIY balanced HD650 cable

[deepak]

I will have a stock HD650 cable in a week which I was going to use for the connectors.

I was going to make a 2.5 meter cable terminated in 2 female XLR plugs. And I was thinking of using silver plated copper, which is pretty easy to find on ebay for cheap in long runs. What I'm concerned about is what gauge should I get? I don't mind a stiff cable as I'm sitting in one spot when I listen, but a bit of flexibility is good too.

I was thinking 26 or 28 AWG? In a litz braid up to the Y split

[n_maher]

If you're going to bother braiding your own I would get some non-flea bay wire - who knows what the heck that stuff is? I've used 22ga Belden SPC from Handmade Electronics for signal wire and it's quite nice.

Otherwise, as a start, you might try just reterminating the stock HD650 cable with whatever XLR's you're going to use and see how it sounds. Mikhail uses that exact cable to demo his amps at meets so it can't be total crap.

[Iron_Dreamer]

I've used 26awg wire in the cables I've done for my W5000 and DT831. It is nicely flexible and does not get in the way. I'd also recommend re-terminating the stock HD650 cable, as it takes only a minute or two and can give you a nice improvement for very little time/money/work.

[deepak]

If you're going to bother braiding your own I would get some non-flea bay wire - who knows what the heck that stuff is? I've used 22ga Belden SPC from Handmade Electronics for signal wire and it's quite nice.

Otherwise, as a start, you might try just reterminating the stock HD650 cable with whatever XLR's you're going to use and see how it sounds. Mikhail uses that exact cable to demo his amps at meets so it can't be total crap.

Reterminating a stock cable might be a better idea so I can compare stock single ended vs stock balanced.

Were you saying Mikhail uses the Belden SPC, or a stock reterminated HD650 cable?

Thanks for the feedback guys.

[Grand Enigma]

I use a retermed stock cable when I want greatest flexibility and blah blah blah and my Oracle cable which is 23awg wire when I just want the best

[PFKMan23]

Mikhail uses a retermed stock cable...

[deepak]

Thats what I'll do, can't wait to hear these balanced. Nice $15 upgrade

[DigiPete]

They sound very nice balanced on my rig.

I have a Mogami Quad cable I'm going to try on them next.

[deepak]

I'll have the cable in about 10 days

[deepak]

Surprisingly I received the cable today

I should have ordered my plugs earlier, oh well \