High-end interconnects for pennies.

[Henry Pasternack]

Years ago, I bought a PS-4a phono preamp. PS Audio had a blurb
sheet describing home-brew high-end interconnects that could be built
very, very inexpensively. Perhaps someone would like to try this
technique and see how it works before sinking $1000 into a pair of
linear crystal OHFC super-poobah interconnects.

Materials:

1 pair RCA plugs per cable.
1 roll 1" masking tape.
1 roll #22 insulated wire.

Description:

The cables are basically twin-lead made out of masking tape. To
build them, you lay down a strip of masking tape, sticky side up.
Apply two lengths of wire, separated by 3/4", running the length of
the tape strip. Lay a second strip of tape on top, sticky side down,
to hold the wire in place. Trim the ends, solder on the plugs, and
you're done.

PS Audio claimed that these cables were the equal of any high-price
audiophile cable. I tried them, but couldn't hear the difference with
my modest system. I suggest that someone give the cables a try and see
what happens. Maybe it would be interesting to try some Radio Shack
twin-lead and see how that sounds.

By the way, I didn't experience any hum problems with cables made
in this manner.

-Henry

[Kurt Strain]

> Perhaps someone would like to try this
>technique and see how it works before sinking $1000 into a pair of
>linear crystal OHFC super-poobah interconnects.
>
> Materials:
>
> 1 pair RCA plugs per cable.
> 1 roll 1" masking tape.
> 1 roll #22 insulated wire.
>

I've been told that using good wire for wire-wound tools is better.
And it works most notably on tube preamps because what you're avoiding
is capacitive losses. And tubes don't have the low output impedances.
At least that's my theory. Just don't get them near metal casings or
power cords, etc.