Comments on: DH Labs Cables https://www.hifizine.com/2011/03/dh-labs-cables/ The enthusiast's audio webzine Wed, 06 Mar 2024 19:37:30 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.25 By: Bill R https://www.hifizine.com/2011/03/dh-labs-cables/comment-page-1/#comment-110104 Sat, 29 Jul 2017 05:26:47 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=1843#comment-110104 Amendum : If you can get a really good crimp, meaning all strands compressed to the connector, you can use meltable wall shrink tubing, sometimes called marine grade. This kind of shrink tubing is very tough when cooled. Beware though, the purists will say it’s extra signal robbing dielectric.

]]> By: Bill R https://www.hifizine.com/2011/03/dh-labs-cables/comment-page-1/#comment-110101 Sat, 29 Jul 2017 05:17:01 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=1843#comment-110101 Hi Darrell,
I am not answering for DH Labs, but in my experience I like to crimp then apply some solder. I have listened back and forth but cannot tell much of a difference, if any. The solder will make sure all strands are connected, as I have seen many crimp connections with a few loose strands. A special tool is needed for a thorough crimp across the whole connector. Simple wire stripping pliers are ok, but not like a special tool.
I don’t have the special tool, so I first apply Pro Gold to the stripped wire, slip on the shrink tubing, crimp on the connector, apply a small amount of flux, then solder using Mundorf or other solder with copper content. Clean off flux, apply a final treatment of Pro Gold, then the shrink tubing. For best strength run the insulation up to the connector before crimping. This prevents a weak bending point.

]]> By: Darrell Chappelle https://www.hifizine.com/2011/03/dh-labs-cables/comment-page-1/#comment-101580 Sun, 11 Dec 2016 13:00:09 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=1843#comment-101580 Dear Mr. Montzingo
Pursuant to your article dated March 2011 regarding your experience with DH Labs cables, I have a few questions specific to the Q-10 termination. I to plan to terminate a 5 ft. pair in a straight (not bi-wire) configuration.
1) Other than removing the outer knit jacket braiding, Teflon insulation PTFE Dielectric (red or black), was there any further prep or manipulation of the silver coated continuous crystal copper?
2) your article indicated that Darren himself sent solder for the job and you followed his instruction by soldering the spades. I received different instructions from Greg at DH Labs as follows:
“We do not solder our spades…crimp only. The less introduced into the signal path, the better”.
Q-10 is most often assembled using our SP-10 Spades.

Greg
DH Labs, inc.
Can you please comment on this conflicting information as I am on the fence about soldering the spades.
Thank You very much for your kind consideration of my questions.

Respectfully,
Darrell M. Chappelle

]]> By: Jake https://www.hifizine.com/2011/03/dh-labs-cables/comment-page-1/#comment-774 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 05:17:55 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=1843#comment-774 The cables were not blind tested, just swapped in and out after listening to the same song over and over again on repeat to get and aural feel for the sound of each cable. This allowed me to hear the subtle differences in each cable, and choose what attributes of each cable provided the best attributes for my system. In a way, this does provide some tone control in that you can tweak the sound of you system depending on what analog cables you choose. Give it try and enjoy the listening!

]]> By: audiofan https://www.hifizine.com/2011/03/dh-labs-cables/comment-page-1/#comment-744 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 01:45:35 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=1843#comment-744 Are these blind tested? It’s not possible for these cables to act like a “tone control” !

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