MOGAMI/CANARE
INTERCONNECTS
DIY


  • I've been using a set of ancient Monster Cable Reference 2 cables on my amp/preamp for years. You know how it is...they were shabby but I had so many good memories of them I couldn't bring myself to spend $$$ on a new set. And there were too many new cables on the market making comparisons tricky. So after thinking things through...I decided the only way I could be confident that any new cables were "correct" was to fabricate them myself.

    To start...I needed some bulk cable, so I looked at coaxial cable. But per Wiki: "Coaxial cable is used as a transmission line for radio frequency signals. Its applications include feedlines connecting radio transmitters and receivers with their antennas, computer network (Internet) connections, digital audio (S/PDIF), and distributing cable television signals". So despite it being common, using the center wire for positive and braid for negative doesn't feel correct to me. I wanted both conductors to have identical characteristics.

    Next I looked at twisted-wire cables made for the music industry. Notable are the manufacturers Canare, Gepco, Gotham, Lake Cable, Mogami, Redco, and West Penn.

    I DECIDED ON THESE REQUIREMENTS:
    - OFC, 2-conductor, spiral wound, with outer shield
    - low impedance and low capacitance
    - available in colors other than black.

    I chose two to test: Canare L-2T2S and Mogami W2549. They met my requirements, are inexpensive and can be easily bought in bulk online. Their specs are below. I combined two graphs: Canare on top and Mogami on bottom.

     


    		 

    The Specs between both are close. Interesting how each company uses different measurement parameters making comparisons tricky. I think Mogami has the best website, feature/benefit statements, and detailed specs. I bought identical lengths of both to test. The Canare in blue and the Mogami in red.

       

    For connectors I decided not to go overboard. I went with an inexpensive set of Rean Neutrik NYS373 RCA connectors. Respected in the AV industry and well built, the gold connectors are heavy and the black shell is metal.

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  • Silver and exotic solders can impart their own sound so I use fresh Kester 60/40 rosin core on my electronics. The gold connectors solder easily. I soldered the shield braid to the ground lug on the preamp end of the connector and left it unconnected on the amp end. This is an old-school practice for low noise.



  • Mogami Neglex W2549 (above)...what great looking cables. A 4ft pair cost me $10 total and a 1/2 hour of my time to fabricate.

     

    Canare L-2T2S ...identical diameter and feel to the Mogami with a more tightly wound braided shield. The rubber jacket is thicker as well.     		 

    THE TESTS

    My minimalist listening room uses a Denon DP-2900 & Sony DVP-9000ES CD player, Musical Concepts Hafler 110 preamp, and a restored 1963 Dynaco ST-70 with 7199s. Speakers on 24" stands are either Tannoy 603s or Klipsch KG1s depending on my mood. My Sony player has two outputs which lets me run both set of cables to my preamp...and flip the input between them quickly for comparison. Like most of us I have several favorite CDs that I use for demoing.

    Alison Kraus and Union Station- So Long, So Wrong
    Terry Garland - Trouble in Mind
    Pat Metheny Group - Quartet
    Solas - The Words that Remain
    America - Homecoming (the acoustic tracks)

    MOGAMI
    Compared to the Mogamis my old Monster 2s had a slightly brighter, thinner sound. Maybe this was due to age, maybe they were originally wound to provide a brighter sound, maybe there was a difference in resistance/capacitance, or maybe it was my imagination. Dynamics on the Monsters were good but seemed slightly flatter, the soundstage denser.

    The Mogamis had a more vivid quality. Imaging and instrumental dynamics had a more musical 'pop'. Acoustic guitar was liquid and detailed in the midrange instead of just focusing on the transients. Sounds seemed to settle down more quickly into a quiet soundstage. Accurate and open.

    CANARE
    In a perfect case of Murphys Law I used the last shred of my fresh solder on the Mogami pair. And rather than wait a few days for a new batch I used some old solder I had lying around. I knew it wouldn't make for a fair test but I was impatient and decided I could always redo them later.

    The sound was very similar to the Mogami but there was a sense of grunge on some transients. The soundstage seemed muddled at some frequencies. Not better or worse but I could sense it was different. I use Canare cable on a large diaphragm condenser microphone of mine and love it. So I blame any perceived difference on the old solder I used. When I receive some new solder I plan on redoing the test.

    CONCLUSION
    Fabricating my own interconnects was the most fun I have had in a while. Easy to do, cheap, and provides a great sense of satisfaction. You can even select a color to complete the feng shui of the room if that's your thing.

    Some say that differences between cables are inaudible and ridicule those who claim to hear it. Yet its common sense is that cables with different capacitance/impedances produce audible results when dealing with microvolt audio signals. I guess the argument is that its not the cable itself that sounds different but the cable specs altering the response. Same difference in my mind.




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