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| (Above) Original
style Belden umbilical (upper) and new umbilical build with LAT
"Silverfuse" wire (lower). From Charles Stoyonovich's SA-5000. This is
an example of a non-molded on connector, note how it can be
disassembled to get at the internal wires. Molded-on connectors cannot
be disassembled and require an extra charge to replace. |
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| (Above) If the original connector is molded on and cannot be re-used, we terminate the upgraded umbilical with a sturdy all-metal connector. From Mr. J. Hoy's SA-3000. |
Sometimes
it just takes me a long time to start thinking outside the box. I
always knew that the Belden (and similar) PVC-jacketed multiconductor
wire that I used at Counterpoint was probably not very good sounding.
However, it is rated to handle high voltages, and those umbilical cords
that connect Counterpoint preamps to their supplies have to handle high
voltages. If a cable can't handle the voltage, it could lead to arcing,
blown fuses, angry customers . . .
However,
in early 2007 a good customer convinced me to try using something
better than the Belden wire for his upgraded preamp, and he wanted me
to use a 24 gauge wire made by LAT International,
called "Silverfuse," which is rated to handle 600V. But before I
committed to installing the wire into his preamp (and charging him for
it!) I promised him I would first listen to it and compare it with his
stock cable. So I built up one umbilical from the old Belden wire, one
using the LAT wire, and one using Cardas Teflon jacketed 6N copper
multi-strand litz wire tested to 5000 VDC.
I
was blown away. The new umblilicals walked all over the Belden
umbilical in so many ways, and so profoundly, that I knew I had to
offer this upgrade. If I had to choose between the Cardas and the LAT
umbilical, I'd be hard-pressed to make a decision because they both
make the Belden sound like dog doo-doo: grungy, slow and
blurry-sounding, like old dirty copper and crummy PVC insulation
(surprise!). Note that LAT has a lower insulation voltage rating which
makes it unsuitable for umbilicals which carry high AC voltages, such
as the SA-2, SA-3/3.1 and SA-3000, so for those products only the
Cardas wire can be used.The other products convert AC to DC in the
power supply before bringing it to the audio chassis so the lower
voltage rating is not a concern and either brand of wire can be used.
In addition, the Cardas wire is more flexible than the LAT wire, so for
reliability I recommend the Cardas wire.
Pricing
for the umbilical depends on several factors: wire brand, umbilical
length, number of conductors, and connector modification surcharge, if
needed. Note that if you have another wire you'd like me to use, please
contact me.
Pricing table for power supply umbilicals
| Counterpoint Model |
Number of Conductors |
Setup Fee1 |
Base
charge2 plus price per foot if built with LAT Int'l wire. LAT
Silverfuse is thin and single-stranded, two wires per conductor must be
used for reliability. |
Base
charge2 plus price
per foot if built with Cardas wire. Cardas is multistrand and a
suitably large gauge so one wire per conductor works well. |
Connector Replacement Surcharge (if needed)4 |
| SA-2 |
8 |
$100 |
Not Available due to voltage.3 |
Base charge: $189, then $18/foot, two-foot minimum. |
None needed |
| SA-3/3.1 |
7 |
$100 |
Not Available due to voltage.3 |
Base charge: $179, then $16/foot, two-foot minimum. |
None needed |
| SA-5/5.1 |
10 |
$100 |
Base charge: $255, then $32/foot, two-foot minimum. |
Base charge: $209, then $28/foot, two-foot minimum. |
None needed |
| SA-3000 |
10 |
$100 |
Not Available due to voltage.3 |
Base charge: $209, then $28/foot, two-foot minimum. |
May
require $85 additional if umblilical has molded-on connectors. Older
version SA3000 do not have a connector, the connection is permanent.
The upgraded umbilical can remain that way, or you can have us install
a new 10-pin connector for $145. Replacement is Hirose HR1387 Strain Relief,
HR1312 Plug (Male), HR1345 Receptacle (Female). |
| SA-5000 |
15 |
$100 |
Base charge: $262, then $48/foot, two-foot minimum. |
Base charge: $249, then $35/foot, two-foot minimum. |
May
require $95 additional if umbilical has molded-on connectors. In that
case, molded parts to be replaced with Hirose HR1388 Strain Relief,
HR1324 Plug (Female), HR1335 Receptacle (Male). |
| SA-9 |
24 |
$100 |
Base
charge: $475, then $77/foot, two-foot minimum. (This unit has a lot of
internal wiring coming off the power supply connectors and 24
conductors to work on.) |
Base
charge: $419, then $55/foot, two-foot minimum. (This unit has a lot of
internal wiring coming off the power supply receptacles and 24
conductors to work on.) |
None needed |
1 Setup fee is applied if this is the only upgrade that is done to your
unit. If other upgrades are done at the same time that meet the minimum
upgrade fee, the Setup Fee is waived. More information here.
2 The "base charge" covers the labor and additional wire needed to
complete the connections inside the power supply and audio chassis.
3 Insulation on Silverfuse wire is not rated to handle the 600 to
900VAC present in the umbilicals of these products.
4 Some Counterpoint models have molded-on connectors which cannot
be opened and worked on -- both the connector and the chassis
receptacle need to be replaced. |
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