Hook-up Wire: Duelund DCA16GA vs Neotech STDCT-16 vs Cardas 15.5 AWG

Please tell us the speakers you are using and what you hope to gain sonically from the change. These wires each have a sonic personality.  Really need to know what type of finished sound you want from the upgrade. Thanks. 

Thanks. Nice looking amp! The speakers appear to be a very nice 2.5 way design. The Revelator tweeter is fantastic. I owned the Living Voice OBX RW speakers which had the very same tweeter and similar 2.5 way design.

If looking for a more natural or real sound the decision is quite easy really. The Cardas is nice, but not as open and resolving as the Duelund. The Duelund wire has the Cardas midrange bloom, but goes beyond that with a more open and “real” sound. The Neotech is not the wire for this speaker and your goals.

I am not sure of the crossover design as the link did not provide any info. I am pretty certain the Revelator tweeter has no resistor in series, but a cap and inductor only. The wire and cap used on this is very important. I would use the Duelund 20 or 16 gauge stranded, tinned copper wire here. The 20 gauge will be a tad more airy and detailed. The 16 gauge will be a tad smoother and full sounding. Both would sound great here. I would most likely opt for the 20 gauge in this position. 

If one mid-woofer is handling most of the bass, say below 700 hertz, then I would use the Duelund 12 gauge tinned and stranded copper wire there. I assume the bottom woofer may be handling mostly the bass notes around 700 hertz and below? Do you know the gauge of the air core inductor used on the woofer? I would at least match that gauge thickness.

On the top mid-woofer I would use the Duelund 16 gauge stranded and tinned copper wire.

Dont forget to twist the positive and negative conductor runs going to each individual driver.  I like Kester 60/40 solder with this wire. Be advised the 4% Silver solder types do not flow well on this wire. Also, you will need a place a heat sinking mini plier on the tweeter tabs as you solder so as to not damage the tweeter. 

As an aside, the Jupiter copper foil cap would sound tremendous in series with that Revelator tweeter. The Jantzen Alumen Z would be an affordable and good cap on the mid-woofers. Any series resistors on the mid-woofers should use Path Audio if you can afford. If not, the Mills MRA Line is also good.

Yes, twist each driver set separately. Twist the two 16’s together etc....

It is for power cords. I built some power cords and they are breaking in. I will report back. This wire can be used speaker cable, however compared to the cotton 12ga it will not sound as open, real, and lively due to the synthetic covering.

I agree that the 16 gauge is more full bodied than the 20 gauge and I only use the 16 gauge in my ICs.  Not sure I would call the 20 gauge in cotton thin sounding however? I simply find synthetic coverings and shielding do darken or dull the sound of the tinned wire, not make it more balanced. 

I was only speaking of the 12 gauge and my experience. Sorry I was not clearer. I assume the same differences will apply to the 20 gauge, but I did not test. 

ICs made with the Duelund 16ga sound better to my ears than the Duelund 20 gauge. Better mids, bass and stage size. 

If the run is not over say 8 feet you are fine. 

Much prefer the 12 gauge if you have speakers less than 94db effecient and more than say 25 Tube or SS watts. More dynamic, better bloom, bass, and midrange saturation.  Highs are still all there. 

Now if you have highly efficient speakers and 2-15 tube watts, then the 16 gauge is very good indeed.