On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 17:10:44 GMT, Lawrence Leung
wrote:

StrideR wrote in
:

On 8 Dec 2003 11:00:10 -0800, (Colin Bigam) wrote:

Now I'm thinking here that I've got a twisted pair for induced-noise
cancellation plus a 100% coverage foil shield, and a fairly low
capacitance value (something like 25pF/m). Should be pretty good,
right?

Yes, should be pretty good.

However, am I in any danger of causing problems by having both
centre conductor and shield tied to ground?

No, although a three-conductor balanced system such as XLR connectors
will allow, is even better.

I _think_ that having all
of the shield-attached ends on the same component should avoid ground
loops, but I can't quite puzzle it out in my head.

That's essentially correct, and the shields should usually be
connected at the preamp end, for minimum system noise.

One question that
comes to mind is why do almost all except the most extreme (weird)
high-end commercial interconnects use either coax or at least
single-conductor-with-shield geometries?

Largely because this usually provides good results! :-)

Another one is am I mucking
up the low impedance factor by wiring it up this way?

Um, what 'low impedance factor' might this be?

First of all, are you making RCA or XLR interconnect, looks like RCA but
you say you're going to connect the centre conductor and shield to ground?

Because in RCA, one is called signal, one is called return. Anyway, the
best way is you solder one of the twisted pair to the signal, and the
shield and the other twisted pair conductor to the return (this end should
be connected to the "source"). However, on the other end, you don't need to
connect the shield to the return.

It is usually best to connect the shield-connected end of the cable to
the preamp, *not* the source, for lowest system noise. This applies to
all cables, including the one from preamp to power amp, if not using
an integrated amp.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 17:10:44 GMT, Lawrence Leung
wrote:

StrideR wrote in
:

On 8 Dec 2003 11:00:10 -0800, (Colin Bigam) wrote:

Now I'm thinking here that I've got a twisted pair for induced-noise
cancellation plus a 100% coverage foil shield, and a fairly low
capacitance value (something like 25pF/m). Should be pretty good,
right?

Yes, should be pretty good.

However, am I in any danger of causing problems by having both
centre conductor and shield tied to ground?

No, although a three-conductor balanced system such as XLR connectors
will allow, is even better.

I _think_ that having all
of the shield-attached ends on the same component should avoid ground
loops, but I can't quite puzzle it out in my head.

That's essentially correct, and the shields should usually be
connected at the preamp end, for minimum system noise.

One question that
comes to mind is why do almost all except the most extreme (weird)
high-end commercial interconnects use either coax or at least
single-conductor-with-shield geometries?

Largely because this usually provides good results! :-)

Another one is am I mucking
up the low impedance factor by wiring it up this way?

Um, what 'low impedance factor' might this be?

First of all, are you making RCA or XLR interconnect, looks like RCA but
you say you're going to connect the centre conductor and shield to ground?

Because in RCA, one is called signal, one is called return. Anyway, the
best way is you solder one of the twisted pair to the signal, and the
shield and the other twisted pair conductor to the return (this end should
be connected to the "source"). However, on the other end, you don't need to
connect the shield to the return.

It is usually best to connect the shield-connected end of the cable to
the preamp, *not* the source, for lowest system noise. This applies to
all cables, including the one from preamp to power amp, if not using
an integrated amp.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

StrideR wrote:

check out http://www.tnt-audio.com, an italien audio site. Got a few
interesting DIY-designs to set you on the way.

Heh. "Interesting" is certainly one way of describing them. Here's a
quote:

"Let me state this very clearly: these cables need at least 2
weeks minimum of heavy use to sound their best."

They talk about a CD treatment liquid:

"The overall dynamics increase as well as the detail, especially in
the mid-to-high range."

I think I'll stick to posting my questions to rec.audio.tech, and
avoid the rec.audio.fantasy.that.defeats.the.laws.of.physics .

Colin

StrideR wrote:

check out http://www.tnt-audio.com, an italien audio site. Got a few
interesting DIY-designs to set you on the way.

Heh. "Interesting" is certainly one way of describing them. Here's a
quote:

"Let me state this very clearly: these cables need at least 2
weeks minimum of heavy use to sound their best."

They talk about a CD treatment liquid:

"The overall dynamics increase as well as the detail, especially in
the mid-to-high range."

I think I'll stick to posting my questions to rec.audio.tech, and
avoid the rec.audio.fantasy.that.defeats.the.laws.of.physics .

Colin

StrideR wrote:

check out http://www.tnt-audio.com, an italien audio site. Got a few
interesting DIY-designs to set you on the way.

Heh. "Interesting" is certainly one way of describing them. Here's a
quote:

"Let me state this very clearly: these cables need at least 2
weeks minimum of heavy use to sound their best."

They talk about a CD treatment liquid:

"The overall dynamics increase as well as the detail, especially in
the mid-to-high range."

I think I'll stick to posting my questions to rec.audio.tech, and
avoid the rec.audio.fantasy.that.defeats.the.laws.of.physics .

Colin

StrideR wrote:

check out http://www.tnt-audio.com, an italien audio site. Got a few
interesting DIY-designs to set you on the way.

Heh. "Interesting" is certainly one way of describing them. Here's a
quote:

"Let me state this very clearly: these cables need at least 2
weeks minimum of heavy use to sound their best."

They talk about a CD treatment liquid:

"The overall dynamics increase as well as the detail, especially in
the mid-to-high range."

I think I'll stick to posting my questions to rec.audio.tech, and
avoid the rec.audio.fantasy.that.defeats.the.laws.of.physics .

Colin