Adding shielding to existing cables

@last_lemming - yes - I have a photo of an XLR cable that another DIYer had made. However - he used wooden beads to center the signal wires in the helix coil.

However - I think this may be a simpler method...
- make the helix coil for the neutral conductor as per my web site
- for each of the two signal conductors simply place each wire inside a piece of 1/8" cotton sleeve
- gently twist the two wires together (clockwise direction) - one complete twist every 3-4 inches
- place the signal conductor assembly inside helix coil
- Add the XLR connectors

My thoughts are - that using the cotton insulation will prove to be more effective, since the two signal wires will not be "pinched" together where they go through the wooden beads.

My latest RCA wires use the signal wire inside 1/8" cotton sleeve and they worked better than the version using small wooden beads I had tried previously.

While I have found the Duelund wire to be very good, I do prefer solid silver for the signal wires - they are more dynamic with better clarity, detailing and imaging

From that perspective I have recently become aware of this solid silver wire from VH Audio - I would use the 21 gauge version for IC's
https://www.vhaudio.com/unicrystal-occ-silver-wire.html

The AirLok insulation has Dielectric Constant around that of Cotton/oil.

I have tried the 18 guage wire on a power cable for my source components and it was stunning, so I am thinking of using it for a pair of IC's to see how it compares to Mumdorf Silver/gold wire I currently use

Keep us posted on how they turn out

Regards - Steve

@scroydon - Thanks for that update on the other "mad scientists". I don’t feel so isolated :-)

I was not actually aware of the contribution from PS Audio and all the other great minds in the companies you mention - but I am not surprised that it gets lost with the glut of information AND more importantly MIS-information available on the web today

Most of my "knowledge" came from tinkering, the tinkering of other DIYer’s around the globe and Keith Louie Eichman, who got me started on all of this with his cable topology.

Once I got into the geometry of cables I started looking at what was out there from companies like Kimber Kable, Cardas, AntiCables Gutwire and most recently Inakustik.

The latest revelation has been the impact of Dielectric Content of the insulation on wires and thanks to companies like VH Audio there is a broader selection of great wires (copper and silver both with AirLok insulation) to choose from. Chris, of VH Audio is also a well known DIYer that I have a lot of respect for and he makes some very good cables.

Bur sometimes it does seems those with the "loudest voice" wins the day.

However it is refreshing to see some pretty clever cable designs coming to market of late.- i.e. for those audiophiles that prefer NOT to dabble in DIY

Regards - Steve

@williewonka

Tell a lie long enough and loud enough and it will become "the truth."

"Mass opinion is the work of the Devil."

BTW. Cardas has a nice article on audio cables:
http://www.cardas.com/insights_history.php

Just stumbled across John Darko’s recent vlog on experts vs neophyte view points that has relevance to this thread. Maybe.

https://youtu.be/_oQFmhOImv8

Are you a "conspiracy theorist in an audio world?"

What's in your wallet?

Any time I've tried shielded and non shielded varieties of even the same cable....shielded always sounds "closed in" in comparison.