DIY component cables - Yay or Nay?

Thinking of knocking up some component cables myself using the Van Damme red series cable> http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...23265&doy=23m6

My budget won't allow for the Canare/Belden true 75ohm terminations but presumably a good set of metal phono plugs will suffice? Is this what most commercial cables are terminated with?

Thanks

[Nic Rhodes]

Cable is decent, plugs less so, but it is what most people use in commercial cables so no worse than the majority of cables out there. Perhaps better than many but Canare are better. Belden cable is cheap as chips and I think better again.

[Joe Fernand]

ReVeReNcE

Its quite tricky finding the correct size of Canare connectors to fit the VanDamme cable without purchasing more connectors than you require - and of course you then require the correct crimp tool.

Best regards

Joe

[Petri]

I found this site of how to make your own cables: http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/theater/diycable.htm
Does anyone know where I can find these tools to a good price in Europe? I need RCAP-C4A Canare connectors. Unfortunately it is very expensive to ship these tools from USA.

[Nic Rhodes]

There is a UK supplier whose name eludes me at the moment but the cost is MUCH more than the USA shipping This is the down side of these cables, the good side is they are as good as it gets. Mark Grant will knock these up at a great price for you from a forum power buy and may be cheaper in the long run. If you are doing a whole cinema then the saving may well justify the tools but they are expensive and you might just have to bite the bullet.

[Petri]

Does anyone know where I can buy RCAP-C4A rca canare connectors in Europe then? With them in my hands I´ll try to find crimp tools here in Sweden!

edit - where can I find Marc Grant?

[Ian J]

www.markgrantcables.co.uk

[baldrick]

I stumbled across this thread and Canford (www.canford.co.uk) sell Canare products.

If anyone is interested I'm thinking about ordering the tools detailed in the linked site. A friend lives in the US so I can get them delivered to her and then she can ship them for about $25

All in, you can get the tools for about £100 rather than over £200 here. This is using the cheaper crimp frame mentioned. The Canare crimp tool takes the cost upto about £130....

If anyone is interested then I can order several sets and get her to ship them over in one go...

[daveb975]

I have bought some cables to run through my wall, which I will then have terminate myself because the plugs will not fit through the conduit.

I was under the impression that I could just solder the plugs on afterwards, but will I needone of these tools?

[Nic Rhodes]

If you use Canare yes you do.

[daveb975]

I am using Van Damme ones, so I guess I will be ok.