Michael & Ultrasonic
Ultrasonic
Hey Michael, I’ve been building a new balanced cable using silver and pure copper, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on how impedance tolerance could affect signal integrity in a high‑fidelity setup.
Michael
Sounds like a solid project. For a high‑fidelity balanced cable, keeping the impedance tightly on target is essential – if it drifts too far from the 50‑ or 100‑ohm spec you’ll see reflections, loss and distortion. With silver and copper you get a very stable conductor, but the dielectric and geometry are what really set the characteristic impedance. I’d recommend measuring the impedance with a time‑domain reflectometer and aiming for a tolerance of ±1‑2 % of the target. Make sure the shield or braid geometry is consistent, use a stable dielectric, and choose connectors that match the impedance as well. Even a small mismatch can throw off the phase relationship between the two conductors, which is a real headache for balanced signals. Keep the layout tight, test thoroughly, and you’ll preserve signal integrity.
Ultrasonic
That’s good, but remember the cable’s impedance is really a reflection of its own waveform path. If the dielectric isn’t stable, the phase of the two conductors will wander and the balance collapses. Keep the geometry tight, use a braid that’s uniform, and check the whole run with a TDR—any stray mismatch will pop up as a hiss you can’t ignore. And don’t forget the connectors: a mismatched jack is like a bad filter in a high‑pass chain, it’ll bleed the clean sweep you’re chasing.
Michael
Exactly, the whole line is a single resonant system – any small change in dielectric or spacing throws the phase off. I’d double‑check the braid pitch and the connector’s return loss, too. A clean, tight run and a low‑loss jack are the only ways to keep that hiss from creeping in. If you still see imbalance, run a sweep from the source to the far end; the TDR will show you exactly where the stray impedance is. Keep the layout as simple as possible and you’ll preserve that clean sweep you’re after.
Ultrasonic
You’re right, that whole run is one resonant pulse train. Keep the braid pitch uniform and make sure the jack’s return loss is below a dB or two. A TDR sweep is the quickest way to locate any micro‑impedance spikes, and once you’ve trimmed them out you’ll have that clean, hiss‑free channel I’m after. Don’t over‑complicate it—just straight copper, steady dielectric, and a tight shield, and you’ll hear only the pure tone you’re tuning for.
Michael
Sounds like you’ve got the right plan. Keep the braid tight, check the return loss, and run that TDR sweep. Trim any micro‑spikes, and the channel will stay clean. Stick with steady dielectric and straight copper, and you’ll get the pure tone you’re aiming for. Good luck with the build.
Ultrasonic
Glad that hits the mark. I’ll lock in the braid, double‑check the return loss, and do the TDR sweep. Straight copper and a stable dielectric will keep the signal pure. Thanks, and I’ll keep the build clean and focused.