Making an SDA interconnect

[geppy1]

I have a question concerning a pair of SDA 1Cs with pin and blade. I want to replace the tiny 18 GA two wire cable with 10 or 12 GA.
I looked inside at the back of the binding post plate and the pin socket has a blue wire and the blade socket a white one.
I thought i had read in the Compandium that both wires in the cable itself go to the pin.
I have not cut it apart enogh to tell if there is one wire to the pin and one to the blade or both are to the pin but then why in the cabinet is one to the pin socket and one to the blade socket? Makes a guy think one wire in the cable goes to the pin and one to the blade. Thanks,keith

[ben62670]

They IC only uses one of the wires for SDA(the pin). Gage isn't very important here. I have been using 14 ga silver plated Teflon wire on the ones I sell. It works very well. I also use an RCA plug for the connection with the flutes removed. Here is the thread on them.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/show...ghlight=custom

Edit: The 16ga is so much easier to solder in the pin of an RCA than anything larger.

[jim 249]

According to the schematics sticky for constructing a non common ground IC wire both wires are connected to the pin and none to the blade. "Once this is done you should
see the two wires inside the cable itself, one white and the other black. It is important to note that both of
these wires are connected to the pin part of each pin/blade connector. Neither one of these two wires is
connected to the blade; only the pin is conductive from one end of the cable to the other."

[geppy1]

Correct In the cabinet the white wire goes to the blade socket and the black (blue in this case) to the pin socket.
IF both wires in the cable go to the pin on each end and the blade does nothing then why in the world would they put a wire to the blade socket in the cabinet???

I took a hunk of old 12GA Monster Cable and put a pin on each end of one lead and and a blade on each end of the other lead. Works great and sounds better BUT are you saying i should have put the two 12 GA wires together and just gone to the pin??

[jim 249]

The flat pin has a wire that goes straight to the negative binding post of each speaker. If you read the Sticky for schematics for SDA speakers for constructing an IC cable for non-common amps you will note that the two negative speaker binding posts are connected through the isolation transformer. This would be the same connection as if you had used the flat pin, or a factory made cable. The flat pin is made for that special cable which could have been bought from Polk some moons ago. Since I suppose your amp is a common ground amp, by connecting the flat pins, that would be no different than connecting the negative binding posts together which is already done through the common ground amp. Hope this helps.

[geppy1]

Ok,so nothing needs to go to the flat blade socket and i only need to connect pin to pin so i could put the two 12GA wires together as one and just go pin to pin.

[jim 249]

That would work fine as long as you have a common ground amp.

[ben62670]

Only the pin is used for SDA. The Blade is needed for using an A1 transformer.

[dorokusai]

You can still buy the pin/blade from Polk. Kim Jasper, Customer Service, makes them by hand....as a "hobby".

[geppy1]

I do have an original one but the wire used, well ,I have hair thicker. I made my own using old cheap Monster 12GA in double runs (somewhat like you did as mentioned in your book) put bananas on the ends and fittings above the pin and blade socket. Sounds better then the original. I use Analysis plus oval 9 for the main leads but cannot afford that for the IC so I used what i had. Thanks,keith

[jim 249]

What book are you referring to? Did you install new binding posts for the SDA connection? Sounds like a good idea.

[Assimilator87]

I got these 2Bs for $100 so I can't be bothered to spend over $20 for a single cable. Am I not allowed to use any old cable with RCA plugs at the end? If not, I have some speaker wire left over and I can buy some RCA plugs from Radio Shack tomorrow if someone would be able to guide me in the process.

[F1nut]

I got these 2Bs for $100 so I can't be bothered to spend over $20 for a single cable.

Considering that they usually sell in the $300.00 range, do you think you could be bothered to spend a little more on the cable?

[messiah]

Considering that they usually sell in the $300.00 range, do you think you could be bothered to spend a little more on the cable?

LOL you'd think so, but some people are just too cheap.

[Assimilator87]

I totally understand what you guys are saying, but I'm a broke college student that recently got layed off. I'm always hunting for the next bargain and it just seems wrong to spend $35 on a cable for $100 speakers. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate quality though. I have some 12 gauge wire and I'd rather make an interconnect on the cheap rather than buy a premade one. So do I actually have to make a cable or can I just use anything with RCAs at the tips?

[F1nut]

Yes, you can make the cable using the 12 gauge wire and some RCA jacks. You'll have to remove the outer shell around the pin by breaking, cutting or grinding off the pieces. You do not need to do anything with the blade connection as only the pin carries the signal as long as you are using a common ground amp. Did you get the owner's manual as SDA's are not set up as most other speakers are.

[Fongolio]

it just seems wrong to spend $35 on a cable for $100 speakers

You may have only paid $100 but they are still $300 speakers. Folks around here hold SDA's of any kind in very high regard and many (myself included) may fear that if you think of them as $100 speakers you will treat them that way. That said, I totally understand the broke student thing and wish you luck with your interconnect project for your "$300" speakers that you got for a song.

Kelvin

[gdb]

A87, I've got a "factory fresh" NOS AI-1 cable that I'll sell to you for the low, low price of $150.00 (If you come to appreciate your SDAs more & decide to use a non-common ground amplifier or mono-blocks);)

[Reagan]

Check out the pin interconnect I made for $20. It blows away the stock cable.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51214

[inspiredsports]

A87, I've got a "factory fresh" NOS AI-1 cable that I'll sell to you for the low, low price of $150.00 (If you come to appreciate your SDAs more & decide to use a non-common ground amplifier or mono-blocks);)

Is this really for sale??

[gdb]

It could be, do you need/want one? I've been hoarding it for a while,just in case I ever needed it but I still haven't had an application for it, and I've also bought a good used one since finding the "new" one. My post to A87 about the AI-1 was more a poking of fun than a serious proposal. I really don't sell anything(more of an accumulator:D)but, if you want it,that'd be OK.

[inspiredsports]

It could be, do you need/want one? I've been hoarding it for a while,just in case I ever needed it but I still haven't had an application for it, and I've also bought a good used one since finding the "new" one. My post to A87 about the AI-1 was more a poking of fun than a serious proposal. I really don't sell anything(more of an accumulator:D)but, if you want it,that'd be OK.

I have been seriously researching and stalking vintage McIntosh tube gear for the past several months and I may end up with monoblocks that end up creating the need for an AI-1.

I've worked a lot with Ben on other projects, and had decided to buy his design at one point when funds were more readily available. Now I'm thinking the original (wrapped in foil, of course :)) will be all I can afford after the tube gear is acquired.

[gdb]

ISports, it's not going anywhere, PM me if you decide you need it.:)

[inspiredsports]

ISports, it's not going anywhere, PM me if you decide you need it.:)

Thanks! I will if this comes together the way I plan.

[gdb]

[hearingimpared]

It could be, do you need/want one? I've been hoarding it for a while,just in case I ever needed it but I still haven't had an application for it, and I've also bought a good used one since finding the "new" one. My post to A87 about the AI-1 was more a poking of fun than a serious proposal. I really don't sell anything(more of an accumulator:D)but, if you want it,that'd be OK.

Careful gdb! My 1.2TLs came with an AI-1 cable and I traded it for a straight interconnect cable because the amps I was using at the time could be strapped together. Lo and behold about a year and a half later I purchased a Musical Fidelity Trivista 300 that is not common ground and could not be strapped. I had to go begging with hat in hand to the fellow I traded with to get the AI-1 back. He magnanamously agreed.

I'm not trying to step on your toes Greg but ya never know.

[gdb]

H.I., thanks for the cautionary advice but, as I have two AI-1s that aren't currently in service, I wouldn't be too depleted by letting go of the "cherry" one. It's too nice and better than I really deserve anyway!!:D

[Assimilator87]

Yes, you can make the cable using the 12 gauge wire and some RCA jacks. You'll have to remove the outer shell around the pin by breaking, cutting or grinding off the pieces.

So I finally got some RCA plugs. I've never made cables so I have zero knowledge about it. Am I supposed to break off the shell just on the outside so the pin will go further in the jack or do I need to break off the inside conductor as well. As far as the actual wire, do I just connect it from pin to pin and that's it?

[inspiredsports]

I got these 2Bs for $100 so I can't be bothered to spend over $20 for a single cable. Am I not allowed to use any old cable with RCA plugs at the end?

Considering that they usually sell in the $300.00 range, do you think you could be bothered to spend a little more on the cable?

Yes, you can make the cable using the 12 gauge wire and some RCA jacks. You'll have to remove the outer shell around the pin by breaking, cutting or grinding off the pieces. You do not need to do anything with the blade connection as only the pin carries the signal as long as you are using a common ground amp. Did you get the owner's manual as SDA's are not set up as most other speakers are.

So I finally got some RCA plugs. I've never made cables so I have zero knowledge about it. Am I supposed to break off the shell just on the outside so the pin will go further in the jack or do I need to break off the inside conductor as well. As far as the actual wire, do I just connect it from pin to pin and that's it?

Coat hanger wire would be cheaper.

[Assimilator87]

Thanks for taking the time to quote four different posts instead of helping someone in need.