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A Big DIY Bang for Your Buck?

I believe in getting the biggest bang out of my audio buck that I can. I don't know about you but my audio budget is actually limited. I find it interesting when I hear about folks spending a zillion on the best magnetic cables and then someone comes along with some new cable technology like new liquid-infused cables that equal or best the magnetic cables at a fraction of the price. Some makers of magnetic and other cables may want you to believe that a patent pending means there must be something there that ordinary Joe Audio could never make himself. My experience leads me to say -- don't believe it.

I have been using neodymium magnets for years in my cables and around my system to improve SQ -- at a fraction of the cost that makers of magnet-containing products charge. OK, mine may not be at the very top of the performance chain when compared to those expensive products, but who cares? I have managed to get stunning returns for a pittance. It would have cost thousands, or tens of thousands, to obtain similar results from various makers.

The same applies to audio makers with a patent pending (or an actual patent) who market little aluminum audio resonators the size of pimples. I make my own resonator pimples for about a buck apiece -- with stunning results. I saved over $4,000 making 70 of my own. Maybe they are not at the very top of the performance chain compared to those expensive products, but who cares? I am very happy with results that are far beyond what I expected when I started out.

I am having a lot of fun doing DIY projects at home that reap wonderful results at a small fraction of the cost charged by audio makers for their similar products. Have others had similar experiences making their own audio products at home? Can you share your DIY experiences with us?
sabai
jeffrey75's avatar
jeffrey75
107 posts
 
geoffkait,

This is from Wikipedia;

A magnetic cartridge (phono cartridge) is a type of transducer used in the playback of analog sound recordings called records on a record player, now commonly called a turntable because of its most prominent component but formally known as a phonograph in the US and a gramophone in the UK.

This from Dynavector;

The The DV XX-2 MKII retains the benefit of the flux damper but features the Alinco-5 magnet and the similar rigid construction to the Te Kaitora Rua. Alnico magnets exhibit high magnetic flux density combining with a low coercive therefore magnetic resistance is lower than other magnetic types such as rare earth and ferrite, providing the exceptional stability of the XX-2 MKII output voltage.

My point being magnetism or it’s field wields beneficial use in phono cartridges and interconnects to stabilize signal.

Your sarcasm concerning colors of magnets really rubbed me the wrong way. Magnets and magnetism have a defining place in audio your thesis does not...
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 

jeffrey75

geooffkait,

This is from Wikipedia;

A magnetic cartridge (phono cartridge) is a type of transducer used in the playback of analog sound recordings called records on a record player, now commonly called a turntable because of its most prominent component but formally known as a phonograph in the US and a gramophone in the UK.

This from Dynavector;

The The DV XX-2 MKII retains the benefit of the flux damper but features the Alinco-5 magnet and the similar rigid construction to the Te Kaitora Rua. Alnico magnets exhibit high magnetic flux density combining with a low coercive therefore magnetic resistance is lower than other magnetic types such as rare earth and ferrite, providing the exceptional stability of the XX-2 MKII output voltage.

My point being magnetism or it’s field wields beneficial use in phono cartridges and interconnects to stabilize signal.

Your sarcasm concerning colors of magnets really rubbed me the wrong way. Magnets and magnetism have a defining place in audio your thesis does not...


..............................

You started out on the wrong foot by misspelling my name. You also probably need to read up a little bit on moving magnets and moving magnetic fields before rushing into this discussion. I never said ALL magnets were bad or that all magnetism is bad. You probably didn’t notice my saying I’ve been using magnets in my system for almost 20 years. (Yup, you guessed it, sarcasm)

Magnetism is High Fidelity magnetic conduction interconnects is apparently a good thing. However magnetism in conventional cables is not a good thing. Due to the induced magnetic field. Didn’t I already say that? (Sarcasm)

I wasn’t being sarcastic when I referred to colors and magnets. I suppose this is the star of the can of worms opening up. (Now I’m being sarcastic again)

jeffrey75's avatar
jeffrey75
107 posts
 
geoffkait,

No, it was a generalized statement combining moving magnets and magnetic fields, but I suppose only you can make a generalized statement and waffle either direction.

jeffrey75's avatar
jeffrey75
107 posts
 
geoffkait,

I have attempted to educate myself concerning magnets and colors,
are you referring to different alloys as color? That is the crux of my post
and what I misread into as being sarcasm.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Jeffery75
geoffkait,

I have attempted to educate myself concerning magnets and colors,
are you referring to different alloys as color? That is the crux of my post
and what I misread into as being sarcasm.

i already explained that too. They're painted magnets. Either neodymium or ceramic. I also already explained different colors for different materials. Going a bit further, blue for anything steel, red for anything aluminum, green for any glass including mirrors, TV screen, any and all colors for wood.

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