Duelund conversion to DIY Helix Geometry Cabling


I have been an avid user of the Duelund cabling for over two years now and have used them exclusively in my system with great results. I have built many for friends and have used a full loom of interconnects, speaker cables, power cords and an extensive wiring modification for a previously owned balanced power conditioner utilizing Duelund 600V PolyCast wiring which was transformative. My cabling desires can be a little addictive as I have owned and evaluated 40+ brands of cabling costing more than an entire stereo system!

Over the past six months I stumbled upon a thread here on Audiogon in regards to a Helix designed cabling and as you probably already know, I just had to look a little deeper into this cable design…After a month of studying and sourcing parts, I decided to reach out to the designer/architect, Williewonka who gave more insights and philosophy on how the cable came into existence.

That conversation got the ball rolling in converting one of my KLE Duelund interconnects to Steve’s Helix designed which only entailed replacing the neutral with a Mil-Spec 16 AWG silver-plated copper wire with the neural wire being 3 times longer than the signal wire and of course the “Coiling” of the neutral wire : )

After the modification was complete, I was not sure what to expect from the Helix cabling but I was quite shocked with the results with “ZERO” burn-in time…The sound stage became much wider/deeper with a much tighter/focused image and clarity/transparency is like nothing I have ever heard in any cabling regardless of cost. In fact, I just sold a full loom of a commercially designed Helix Cable that’s renowned around the world and has more direct sale than any cable manufacturer; these $200 DIY Helix Cables walked all over them…

I believe you will hear the same results as I have and have heard back from friends who have already modified their Duelunds with the same results; WOW! Remember the cables will need 200+ hours to burn-in and settle into your system. My system is now 90% DIY Helix to include IC, SC, PC and Coax with each cabling adding its beauty of an organic and natural presentation that draws you into the fabric of the music.

You can tailor the sound of your cables using Duelund, Mundorf silver/1% gold, the outstanding Vh Audio OCC Solid Copper or Silver with Airlok Insulation or your favorite wiring and you can change it at any time…

 

http://www.image99.net/blog/files/category-diy-cables.html

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/difference-in-sound-between-copper-and-silver-digital-cables

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/adding-shielding-to-existing-cables

 

Enjoy,

Wig


128x128wig

Showing 18 responses by aniwolfe

@celo 

From VH website
"Our unique AirLok™ insulation is a proprietary form of foamed/cellular Fluoropolymer that achieves a dielectric constant of less than 1.45! By comparison, the dielectric constant of solid fluoropolymers, such as DuPont™ PTFE, FEP, and PFA (referred to as Teflon®, when licensed from DuPont) is 2.1. A perfect vacuum is 1.0?
I recently installed a 8 ft set of the VH Solid Core Copper Helix Speaker Cables and I am very happy with what I am hearing from my system . The first thing I noticed was how open sounding my system has gotten. Vocals have this quality that sounds so lifelike. The decrease in noise and distortion has made low level listening even more enjoyable. Extension from top to bottom has increased without adding any sizzle or boom. Very smooth and natural sounding. I would say that average recordings now sound excellent, this is for sure a cable that allows your system to sound more cable-less. I believe this is a DIY recipe that will compare to much costlier cables over $2000. While I do not have the experience of listening hundreds of cable designs from big manufacturers, this is the best I have heard and would never go back to overpaying for cables again. I have used cables from Audience, Wireworld, Cerious Tech and Acoustic Zen. This DIY Helix design blows them all away. Very impressed!
@brownsfan

I have made a few pairs of the DIY Helix IC’s with VH Airlok Copper and its far superior to a Double run of Duelund IC’s I once owned. Its like comparing a Honda to a Ferrari. The DIY Helix also surpassed a pair of $2800 HFC IC’s that I proclaimed as the best cable I had heard under $3k. The people that don’t try these are missing out big time.
Not disagreeing with Grannyring, because cables, rooms and components have to agree with each other. We all might get different results, so absolutely go one at a time.
But in my system, one of the virtues of the Helix DIY was how relaxed and natural the high frequencies are. The ability to be so revealing and not bright was a first. Bad recordings are even more listenable.
So, if your looking for warmth coloration the DIY Helix is not the best choice. They are transparent and neutral all day long.
Not too long ago I had the pricey ($6500) Stealth Indra, Audience SX, HFC CT2 and Schroeder Duelund IC in for a showdown. To my surprise the Duelunds high frequencies were harsher in comparison to all the others and more forward. That might not be the popular results for some, but I know what I was hearing. The smoothest was the HFC CT2 and overall best sounding. Then came along the MIGHTY Helix DIY. Never in a millions years did I think these cables were going to do what they do. Just unbelievable. I can’t thank Steve and Wig enough.
The Duelunds weren't harsh sounding cables...just in comparison to more expensive cables, they were. :)
@mawe

I have all 3...Gold, Silver and Rhodium Sonar Quest. I prefer the Rhodium the most in my system. The right amount of detail and more dynamic sound. The Gold will give you a slightly warmer sound and detail will still be present, just not quite as much.
@whacky
I used a wood rod on a drill and no issues. I put all 3 12 gauge wires on the rod at the same time and coiled it up that way. I used duct tape to hold the 3 wires in place. So much easier and so much time saved. The coil looked much cleaner.

@whacky 

To free up some friction, try spreading the coil at one end...that worked for me.
@williewonka 

Have you tried a Naked Solid Silver cable yet? Do you think you would need to replace the wire down the road?
@williewonka 

Can you give examples of components that use Balanced Power Supplies? Any brand names that like to use this? Is it confirmed that Balanced power supplies do not sound good with Helix Powercords or is this just a thought?
Thanks!
@mawe 
@williewonka 

Other amps to add to the list ( Balanced/Symmetrical/Complimentary ) are all Pass Labs except XA25 and INT25.
@williewonka 

What about using Neotech Stranded instead of the Solid Core for the Neutral (Helix Coil)?
@willgolf

The Inaukstik powercord you have has a 20amp female plug. It is not compatible with your power amp. I believe plugin adapters are made to convert a 20amp female plug to a 15amp female plug? Otherwise VH audio makes some nice powercords if you are looking to buy new. VH Audio AirSine or cheaper option is Audio Envy powercord https://audioenvy.com/product/power-cord/5732/
@provst 
@williewonka 

For Powercables that have two TFA Mil Spec Helix. Wouldn't you just use the two TFA 12g wire for the Ground and get a single 12g strand of Neotech for the Neutral?
@provst
I am going to assume Steve prefers 1 Strand of 12g Neotech over 2 Strands of 12g Mil Spec for the Neutral cable on the powercord?

From Steve’s website for Power Cable build:
" The Neutral Conductor...

The Neutral Conductor is made from two lengths of the Mil Spec 12 AWG Silver Plated Copper Wire listed above.

Why two pieces? - this effectively make the neutral wire a 9 gauge conductor, which I have found performs much better than a single 12 gauge wire, resulting in faster dynamics, better bass performance and control and more natural imaging."