audio video REVOLUTION Review of ZenWave Cables and ZenWave SurgeX

[DaveC]

Andre Marc just completed a review of my cables and modded SurgeX here:

www.avrev.com/home-theater-accessor...cables-and-surgex-zenwave-edition-review.html

I couldn't ask for a better review, what he describes is exactly what my goals were and IMO, no higher praise can be given to cables than they sound like nothing. It's gratifying that so many people review my cables the same way, and confirms that I have achieved my goals. Thanks Andre!

 

[DaveyF]

Dave, I heard your cables at Andre's place, and I must say they are very impressive. I do have a question....why did you pick the particular sheathing that the power cables utilize?

 

[Blizzard]

Andre Marc just completed a review of my cables and modded SurgeX here:

www.avrev.com/home-theater-accessor...cables-and-surgex-zenwave-edition-review.html

I couldn't ask for a better review, what he describes is exactly what my goals were and IMO, no higher praise can be given to cables than they sound like nothing. It's gratifying that so many people review my cables the same way, and confirms that I have achieved my goals. Thanks Andre!

Great review Dave! I noticed that Parts connexion just started carrying the Neotech silver/gold hookup wire. Is this the same stuff you have?

http://www.partsconnexion.com/wire_hookup_neotech_s_g_teflon.html

http://www.zenwaveaudio.com/product/neotech-26-gauge-occ-silvergold-alloy/

 

[DaveC]

Great review Dave! I noticed that Parts connexion just started carrying the Neotech silver/gold hookup wire. Is this the same stuff you have?

http://www.partsconnexion.com/wire_hookup_neotech_s_g_teflon.html

http://www.zenwaveaudio.com/product/neotech-26-gauge-occ-silvergold-alloy/

Not likely, the wire I have is custom made for me. Mine is solid-core with an unspecified percentage of gold in the mix. Wire isn't exactly complicated so it's possible PCX specified the exact same wire I did, or Neotech decided they liked my wire and started offering it themselves, it is interesting the price is the same. Strange actually...

Anyways, best people get it from me and not PCX as the performance of mine is well proven...

 

[DaveC]

Dave, I heard your cables at Andre's place, and I must say they are very impressive. I do have a question....why did you pick the particular sheathing that the power cables utilize?

Thanks! The cotton cover on the litz wire is both nice looking and does a good job mechanically damping the wire, which is especially important with AC cables. The combination of the well-damped cable and well-damped Furutech FI-50 plugs makes for a pretty amazing power cable.

 

[Folsom]

Cotton also doesn't exhibit any negative properties that are found in a lot of plastics... If it's bad to have cables laying on plastic blend carpet, you can image it's not good to extra coat the cables with it either. There are more inert forms, mostly teflon, but not for carpet.

 

[amirm]

Congrats Dave. Did I read right that you use Litz wire for AC mains cable? I don't think I have ever heard that application. What gauge does it come and how many do you parallel?

 

[DaveC]

Congrats Dave. Did I read right that you use Litz wire for AC mains cable? I don't think I have ever heard that application. What gauge does it come and how many do you parallel?

Thanks! The litz wire is amazing for power cables, my PL power cables have not lost a comparison yet. I have 11 and 14 gauge versions, both with 11g grounds. The 11g version uses over 6000 runs of 44g UPOCC copper wire total.

 

[amirm]

I think I just soiled my shorts . Did you say 6000 individual strands??? You must have far more patience than I to create such a composite cable.

 

[DaveC]

I think I just soiled my shorts . Did you say 6000 individual strands??? You must have far more patience than I to create such a composite cable.

It's made of 6 runs of 14g litz wire, each with 1024 runs. The 1024 runs are braided by machine around a flat core. The biggest hassle is stripping the enamel insulation... I tie the strands together with wire and compress them by twisting the wire to form one neat bundle of wire with as little airspace as possible, then dip it in a solder pot.

I also use litz wire in my ICs and SCs. As I'm sure you know, litz wire has less AC impedance vs regular wire and it shows... it makes for a cleaner sounding, more neutral cable. For audio frequencies, 60 Hz AC especially, the technical optimum gauge is much lower then 44g, but the finer gauge wire sounds best imo.

 

[Blizzard]

Not likely, the wire I have is custom made for me. Mine is solid-core with an unspecified percentage of gold in the mix. Wire isn't exactly complicated so it's possible PCX specified the exact same wire I did, or Neotech decided they liked my wire and started offering it themselves, it is interesting the price is the same. Strange actually...

Anyways, best people get it from me and not PCX as the performance of mine is well proven...

Well I know you had it first, but now they have it. And there prices were higher before on all the things you had the same, but now they matched them. So I think Chris found out about you, and decided to source the same cable.

 

[DaveC]

Well I know you had it first, but now they have it. And there prices were higher before on all the things you had the same, but now they matched them. So I think Chris found out about you, and decided to source the same cable.

He has no idea exactly what my wire is, I have not given away the percentage of gold I use to anyone. Anyway, I don't care much as DIY wire sales are nearly non-existent.

That makes sense about the price though... he's just matching my price. The wire probably isn't exactly the same though.

 

[Blizzard]

He has no idea exactly what my wire is, I have not given away the percentage of gold I use to anyone. Anyway, I don't care much as DIY wire sales are nearly non-existent.

That makes sense about the price though... he's just matching my price. The wire probably isn't exactly the same though.

I guess it would need to be melted down and examined by a metallurgist unless of course it had the same part # on the spool