View Full Version : Hybrid interconnect cables?
All this recent talk about the different metals in cables affecting the sound has made me wonder why nobody does a hybrid interconnect contains UP-OCC copper and silver wires?
Would they sound any good?
Have any of the AoS “cable makers” tried this approach?
As it happens I am about to construct an interconnect that uses three wires of different geometry and metallurgy.
Bigman80
13-01-2019, 09:22
I believe the Karma cables Jamie made are a mix of copper cable and silver cable.
He's done well with them but there's a definite issue with cohesion as far as I am concerned. Don't know if it's possible to mix the metals and avoid that cohesion issue.
I'll be very interested if you manage it because there could be gold at the end of that rainbow.
I believe the Karma cables Jamie made are a mix of copper cable and silver cable.
thats incorrect.
Well not for me as I have no intention of going into the interconnect building business (too much of a PITA).
——
Jamie is playing his cards close to his chest but my money is on silver plated copper in the Karma cables. I didn’t think ‘cohesion’ was the problem with the Karma’s, though we could be talking semantics.
Bigman80
13-01-2019, 09:35
thats incorrect.Oh, ok. Things moved on a bit then?
Bigman80
13-01-2019, 09:36
Well not for me as I have no intention of going into the interconnect building business (too much of a PITA).
——
Jamie is playing his cards close to his chest but my money is on silver plated copper in the Karma cables. I didn’t think ‘cohesion’ was the problem with the Karma’s, though we could be talking semantics.He is, and rightly so. I think we are both saying the same thing but not using the same phrases so semantics, yes.
Well not for me as I have no intention of going into the interconnect building business (too much of a PITA).
me neither,your right,the thought of getting up on the weekend and making 20 pairs of these puts me right off.
In terms of blending conductor types, I think it’s important to remember we are talking conducting electricity through metal and not cake backing. An electrical engineer would say that all of this is an utter waste of time, for example.
Ammonite Audio
13-01-2019, 10:13
Kimber Silver Streak has been around for decades, using silver for signal and copper for ground and drain wires. It’s actually a thoroughly decent cable.
agreed but look at the price of it,and thats 'used'. https://www.google.com/search?q=Kimber+Silver+Streak&client=firefox-b&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj22LnPxurfAhXuSBUIHaS8DFsQ_AUIDigB&biw=1152&bih=511
if your a diy kinda guy you can get that performance for a fraction,thats what got me into making mine.
but i also get its a lot bloody easier to just buy them ready made.:cool:
brian2957
13-01-2019, 11:03
Yup , RA has been doing it for years with cables such as his Kimber Silverstreak . His cables also use Varistrand technology with conductors of different thicknesses .
I think it should be noted that if a genuine OCC Silver wire, is to be used on a 1 metre IC as a Signal and Ground, with a natural material dielectric and High Quality ( KLE ) RCA or the like, a DIY Cable can easily cost £140ish.
I am using a Mapleshade Copper foil RCA cable at present, and this has been very impressive as well as taking a place above a variety of IC's, one which was a very expensive Silver COAX, loaned at the time of receiving the DAC.
After finding a few very positive DIY cable build articles, where foil is used as the conductor
and sourcing resonably priced foil in both Copper and Silver, and having buried the info in my Bookmarks.
I am intending on producing a DIY version, and using more of this type of design throughout the system, before trialling other choices.
Curiosity has bitten once more.
Bigman80
13-01-2019, 12:12
me neither,your right,the thought of getting up on the weekend and making 20 pairs of these puts me right off.It not just then mate. It's after work too.
People pay and they want them ASAP. Right too. I've been down the garage in my thermals making cables But I love it lol
Bigman80
13-01-2019, 12:15
This is the future
http://interlinkhouse.com/products/carbon/nanofiber.htm
I'd love to make a DIY version but that's highly unlikely.
Foil cables are odd high capacitance things aren’t they?
When it comes to interconnects there is nothing much new under the sun as there are so many companies competing and it’s just not that complex a construction - there are only so many ways you can connect up a + and a return....
Lots of manufacturers (not just Kimber by any means) have varying geometry and/or metallurgical makeup to their interconnects - every manufacturer feels they need their own USP.
This is the future
http://interlinkhouse.com/products/carbon/nanofiber.htm
I'd love to make a DIY version but that's highly unlikely.
If they were Graphene perhaps, but not just CF. VdH has made carbon interconnects for years and very high resistance they are too!
Bigman80
13-01-2019, 12:23
If they were Graphene perhaps, but not just CF. VdH has made carbon interconnects for years and very high resistance they are too!Graphene!
That's the stuff I was thinking of. Quite right Mark.
Pieoftheday
25-01-2019, 21:17
Yup , RA has been doing it for years with cables such as his Kimber Silverstreak . His cables also use Varistrand technology with conductors of different thicknesses .
Didn't I get some silver hybrid ones from you Brian? Or have I got my wires crossed? Ahem:)
Bigman80
25-01-2019, 22:25
Didn't I get some silver hybrid ones from you Brian? Or have I got my wires crossed? Ahem:)They were either silver plated copper or silver and copper. I can't remember which.
I had a pair.
They weren't UP-OCC Copper mind you, just OFC.
Mine is copper, silver and silver/gold - so all bases covered.....
brian2957
25-01-2019, 22:40
Yes James , silver and gold hybrid interconnects .
Bigman80
26-01-2019, 00:49
Yes James , silver and gold hybrid interconnects .That's it!
Mine is copper, silver and silver/gold - so all bases covered.....
oh thats so last year, im using palladium, palladium/silver and rhodium :lol:
Pieoftheday
26-01-2019, 07:49
Yes James , silver and gold hybrid interconnects .
Along with the klotz mc5000 I doubt I'd bother with any others:)
brian2957
26-01-2019, 08:28
I still use the Klotz MC5000s and the silver hybrids in my system to this day James . I've tried many others , however , both still remain my interconnects of choice :)
Foil cables are odd high capacitance things aren’t they?
When it comes to interconnects there is nothing much new under the sun as there are so many companies competing and it’s just not that complex a construction - there are only so many ways you can connect up a + and a return....
Lots of manufacturers (not just Kimber by any means) have varying geometry and/or metallurgical makeup to their interconnects - every manufacturer feels they need their own USP.
Some interesting ideas coming out though?
These are mine, don't think I've seen any other cables use this construction.
http://www.wireworldcable.com/images/gei8cutaway-crop-u48190.png?crc=3855560315
http://www.wireworldcable.com/images/gei8_cross-crop-u48175.png?crc=456145883
Not a DIY job though methinks.
Bigman80
26-01-2019, 08:56
Some interesting ideas coming out though?
These are mine, don't think I've seen any other cables use this construction.
http://www.wireworldcable.com/images/gei8cutaway-crop-u48190.png?crc=3855560315
http://www.wireworldcable.com/images/gei8_cross-crop-u48175.png?crc=456145883
Not a DIY job though methinks.Neotech have a similar cable. Think it's copper. Are they silver?
Yeah, solid silver.
Neotech construction looks interesting, are they twisted?
Hard to tell from the image.
Bigman80
26-01-2019, 09:44
Yeah, solid silver.
Neotech construction looks interesting, are they twisted?
Hard to tell from the image.Not sure they are twisted. I think they kind of resemble the inside of a KitKat if that makes sense lol
All this recent talk about the different metals in cables affecting the sound has made me wonder why nobody does a hybrid interconnect contains UP-OCC copper and silver wires?
Would they sound any good?
Have any of the AoS “cable makers” tried this approach?
LFD feels that silver and copper have different qualities, so doesn’t combine the materials in their wires.
What they will combine are different cable gauges, solid core and multi strand, ribbon and multi-strand etc.
walpurgis
26-01-2019, 11:56
What about mixing cable types in sequence?
I often employ copper cables from arm to SUT and from SUT to phono stage and silver from phono stage to pre-amp and silver again to power amp. Seems to deliver.
There are of course, no rules!
Bigman80
26-01-2019, 12:13
What about mixing cable types in sequence?
I often employ copper cables from arm to SUT and from SUT to phono stage and silver from phono stage to pre-amp and silver again to power amp. Seems to deliver.
There are of course, no rules!A lot of folk do that.
Can work really well. I've heard it. It can also completely ruin the sound. I've heard that too.
There's no right or wrong way, just whatever works for the system of owner.
What about mixing cable types in sequence?
I often employ copper cables from arm to SUT and from SUT to phono stage and silver from phono stage to pre-amp and silver again to power amp. Seems to deliver.
There are of course, no rules!
Mixing cables in sequence is indeed something entirely different. :)
I am talking specifically about mixing metal types in one cable.
I find silver plated cables, for example, can have a noticeable edge at the top end, which could be taken for increased detail.
Bigman80
26-01-2019, 13:37
Mixing cables in sequence is indeed something entirely different. :)
I am talking specifically about mixing metal types in one cable.
I find silver plated cables, for example, can have a noticeable edge at the top end, which could be taken for increased detail.
I agree. I have however seen this approach used to good effect for systems that have a slightly darker presentation. In my system, Silver is too much. I use copper throughout because it sound the most natural and balanced. Guys with valve amps generally benefit with some silver or silver plated stuff in the chain. according to my ears anyway.
Pieoftheday
26-01-2019, 16:05
I still use the Klotz MC5000s and the silver hybrids in my system to this day James . I've tried many others , however , both still remain my interconnects of choice :)
Fit and forget cables,they're the best kind:) is using gold and silver an unusual approach then Brian?
brian2957
26-01-2019, 16:11
Mmm..not sure James . I did sell quite a few of these interconnects so there must be some still using them . I suppose the usual offerings are differing purities of copper , silver plated copper , and pure silver , and the silver / gold combination is rare in the big scheme of things . As previously stated here if it sounds good in your system then leave well alone :)
Pieoftheday
26-01-2019, 16:28
As previously stated here if it sounds good in your system then leave well alone :)[/QUOTE]
Yeah I think your right ,I've tried a few over the years trying to hear if one was better than the previous one,can be interesting but can drive you up the wall and spoil your enjoyment
brian2957
26-01-2019, 16:41
My problem is that I've built hundreds of combinations of interconnects over the years but eventually I always go back to the MC5000s :)
Pieoftheday
26-01-2019, 18:45
My problem is that I've built hundreds of combinations of interconnects over the years but eventually I always go back to the MC5000s :)
Well that's no problem ,you've found what you like, and made it your self, doesn't get better than that:cool:
Some interesting ideas coming out though?
These are mine, don't think I've seen any other cables use this construction.
http://www.wireworldcable.com/images/gei8cutaway-crop-u48190.png?crc=3855560315
http://www.wireworldcable.com/images/gei8_cross-crop-u48175.png?crc=456145883
Not a DIY job though methinks.
Oh, those are Wireworld I guess? If not, then they make very similar cables. It’s an interesting layup but what is the purpose other than creating a USP?
Bigman80
26-01-2019, 20:00
Oh, those are Wireworld I guess? If not, then they make very similar cables. It’s an interesting layup but what is the purpose other than creating a USP?They are WW. Good spot.
0.5m copper = £300
0.5m Silver = £900
They'd have to be something very special to justify that pricetag.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2026 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.