Solid vs stranded conductor interconnects?

[CageyH]

The majority of IC cables are all based on stranded wires to make up the conductors.
Is there any advantage to this, or would a solid core be as good, or better for sound quality?

[Shovel_Knight]

Solid core cables would be too stiff and fragile, in my opinion.

[Sherwood]

I used to use DNM solid core between A Croft preamp and Art Audio Quintet power amp. It was very good in that system.

Geoff

[Gazjam]

Best I've heard in my own system is multiple strands of thin solid core individually insulated.
Tried most if not all types over the years.

[Yomanze]

Wire made up of multiple strands has more flexibility than solid core wire of the same overall conductor cross-sectional area. It also has a lower impedance at very high frequencies (we're talking radio frequencies) than solid core wire due to the "skin effect". Look that up if you want more details. However, the skin effect doesn't apply at audio frequencies, so the advantage of stranded wire is mainly its flexibility.

Interestingly I do think that stranded is a touch better at the top end.

[CageyH]

Thanks gents.
Flexibility does not worry me, as once it is installed it won't be touched often.
I am looking at Teflon insulated OFC cores, so it should be good enough for Audio.

I just fancy a change from the MC5000.

[Bigman80]

I have a OCC copper cable about to do the rounds if you want to try it.

[CageyH]

No thanks Oliver.

[CageyH]

I have ordered some solid core cable to make some new ICs.
I am hoping they will make a nice difference. If not, I will put it down to experience.

[Primalsea]

I think that generally solid core coax can have lower capacitance, or rather that it is easier to design for lower capacitance. Also as you only have a single large strand you do not have to worry about controlling the regularity of the positions of the separate strands and the air gaps that can exist between them - the properties of the cable can be more regular section to section. Whether any of that makes a difference in an IC at the end of the day, who knows.

[Cycleallday]

I have used Chord Solid cables for years and always liked them.

They were used throughout my systems to connect all units but now I have moved over to single box systems based on Naim Uniti streamers so only one system has need of a (valve) phono and that is still connected by the solid interconnect.

Pity you are already sorted else I would have let you have a pair of my surplus ones for £20 plus postage.

Mel

[Sherwood]

The DNM cable I referred to wasn't coaxial. It was a flat ribbon cable with very thin solid core single wiring. No problems with RF interference for the short run I had.

Geoff

[CageyH]

I have used Chord Solid cables for years and always liked them.

They were used throughout my systems to connect all units but now I have moved over to single box systems based on Naim Uniti streamers so only one system has need of a (valve) phono and that is still connected by the solid interconnect.

Pity you are already sorted else I would have let you have a pair of my surplus ones for £20 plus postage.

Mel

A kind offer, thanks.

[maxrob200]

I prefer solid core (thin diameter) for IC. Copper is good, but I am now using pure silver solid core wire and have found them to be excellent. Stranded wire interconnects tend to sound a bit "forced" in the treble for me, especially some that use silver plated copper stranded wire. In my opinion,Teflon insulation as die electric works wonders in opening up the sound while plastic sheaths and insulation congest the sound

[bumpy]

I prefer solid core (thin diameter) for IC. Copper is good, but I am now using pure silver solid core wire and have found them to be excellent. Stranded wire interconnects tend to sound a bit "forced" in the treble for me, especially some that use silver plated copper stranded wire. In my opinion,Teflon insulation as die electric works wonders in opening up the sound while plastic sheaths and insulation congest the sound

Perhaps straying off topic a bit, but here is an article you may find interesting

http://sw1xad.co.uk/sound-of-copper-vs-silver-conductors/

[maxrob200]

Good link... one or the other (copper or silver) preferred over plating by those guys.

[paulf-2007]

I have a OCC copper cable about to do the rounds if you want to try it.
Do you mean ofc as in oxygen free copper Oliver?
I bought some speaker cable supposedly oxygen free copper and noticed when stripping it, it was magnetic, I contacted the seller to tell him it wasn't solid copper but plated. Didn't matter to me and was cheap so not bothered but not as described for other buyers.

[Bigman80]

Do you mean ofc as in oxygen free copper Oliver?
I bought some speaker cable supposedly oxygen free copper and noticed when stripping it, it was magnetic, I contacted the seller to tell him it wasn't solid copper but plated. Didn't matter to me and was cheap so not bothered but not as described for other buyers.Nope,



Used throughout the high end audio industry in most flagship cable products, occ provides the superior quality copper and silver possible today.

OCC (Ohno Continuous Cast) is the name given to the casting process developed to help defeat annealing issues and virtually eliminate all grain boundaries in copper or silver with a unique patented process. The OCC casting method uses specialized heated moulds in order to draw a single crystal up to 125 meters in length. With only a single crystal in very long lengths, there is an unimpeded free path for the best possible signal transfer. Along with this superior single long crystal structure, OCC provides copper and silver with the least possible oxides and other impurities.*

In high contrast to OCC, there are other lower grade coppers such as OFC with a multitude of grain boundaries and other impurities. OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) has around 400 crystals per foot and despite its name has an oxygen content of about 10ppm. Having less oxygen content and less overall impurities compared OFC. OFC has a plethora of grain boundaries per foot that the signal must route around and pass.

The question ultimately comes down to the following: Would you rather have your signal flow in a path with many cracks, bumps and obstacles in the way (OFC) or flow along a completely unimpeded free path with the lowest possible impurities (OCC). From our view the choice is simple, and the bottom line is most top cable designs utilize OCC as it gives the absolute purest base platform to get that much closer to true absolute transparency.

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