<![CDATA[Homegrown Audio Company: Latest News]]> http://www.homegrownaudio.com Tue, 21 May 2013 14:04:42 +0000 <![CDATA[Loose teflon tubing vs factory applied teflon- which is better?]]> http://www.homegrownaudio.com/news/8/Loose-teflon-tubing-vs-factory-applied-teflon%252d-which-is-better%3F.html Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:41:31 +0000 http://www.homegrownaudio.com/news/8/Loose-teflon-tubing-vs-factory-applied-teflon%252d-which-is-better%3F.html Air, is, of course the best dielectric.  Thus the theory of loose teflon being better would make sense.  In a perfect world, the teflon would never, ever touch the wire.  But since this is not the case, a loose teflon tube instead "leans" against the wire.  As signal travels down the wire, any microscopic vibrations of the wire can cause a sort of rattling of the metal against the teflon.  This is essentially how microphones work.  Send that vibration to an amplifier and all of a sudden you have magnified a noise that was never meant to be part of the music reproduction.  So we instead have the teflon directly factory applied to a very specific thickness (12 mils).  

If, in fact, you want the cleanest signal- cotton is the best alternative.  It surrounds the wire with air, without being a hard surface to cause additional noise.  This is the dielectric in our DNA Interconnect, which is the best we have designed.

]]> Air, is, of course the best dielectric.  Thus the theory of loose teflon being better would make sense.  In a perfect world, the teflon would never, ever touch the wire.  But since this is not the case, a loose teflon tube instead "leans" against the wire.  As signal travels down the wire, any microscopic vibrations of the wire can cause a sort of rattling of the metal against the teflon.  This is essentially how microphones work.  Send that vibration to an amplifier and all of a sudden you have magnified a noise that was never meant to be part of the music reproduction.  So we instead have the teflon directly factory applied to a very specific thickness (12 mils).  

If, in fact, you want the cleanest signal- cotton is the best alternative.  It surrounds the wire with air, without being a hard surface to cause additional noise.  This is the dielectric in our DNA Interconnect, which is the best we have designed.

]]> <![CDATA[Is the wire in your kits the same as your cables?]]> http://www.homegrownaudio.com/news/6/Is-the-wire-in-your-kits-the-same-as-your-cables%3F.html Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:56:56 +0000 http://www.homegrownaudio.com/news/6/Is-the-wire-in-your-kits-the-same-as-your-cables%3F.html Answer:  Yes.  The IC-8 kit makes and equivalent to the Silver Lace, the IC-4 is a Diva, and the IC-3 is a Super Silver. 

]]> Answer:  Yes.  The IC-8 kit makes and equivalent to the Silver Lace, the IC-4 is a Diva, and the IC-3 is a Super Silver. 

]]> <![CDATA[Can you re-terminate my cables?]]> http://www.homegrownaudio.com/can-you-re-terminate-my-cables/ Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:51:16 +0000 http://www.homegrownaudio.com/can-you-re-terminate-my-cables/ Answer:  Yes. 

Did you switch equipment but don't want to buy new cables?  We can help!  For $25 per end plus the cost of the new connector, we can change them out for you.  They don't even have to be our cables.  Just select your new connectors and add them to the cart.  Then add up the number of ends that need to be reterminated, and add it to your cart here.  There is a "remarks" section where you can add any specific instructions you have for us. 

Then mail the cables to:

Homegrown Audio Company
PO Box 19262
Roanoke, VA  24019

Once we receive them we will contact you with the estimated completion date.

(Please remember that you will lose a small amount of length on the cable with this procedure, as we will snip the cable at the solder joint for a fresh connection.)

 
]]> Answer:  Yes. 

Did you switch equipment but don't want to buy new cables?  We can help!  For $25 per end plus the cost of the new connector, we can change them out for you.  They don't even have to be our cables.  Just select your new connectors and add them to the cart.  Then add up the number of ends that need to be reterminated, and add it to your cart here.  There is a "remarks" section where you can add any specific instructions you have for us. 

Then mail the cables to:

Homegrown Audio Company
PO Box 19262
Roanoke, VA  24019

Once we receive them we will contact you with the estimated completion date.

(Please remember that you will lose a small amount of length on the cable with this procedure, as we will snip the cable at the solder joint for a fresh connection.)

 
]]> <![CDATA[What is the wooden box on your interconnects?]]> http://www.homegrownaudio.com/news/4/What-is-the-wooden-box-on-your-interconnects%3F.html Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:45:23 +0000 http://www.homegrownaudio.com/news/4/What-is-the-wooden-box-on-your-interconnects%3F.html The wooden block is  designed to keep the cables from tangling and does not have any affect on the acoustic performance of our cables.  It slides from end to end and can be placed wherever you need it to be.  We do not offer these blocks for sale by themselves.  This design change was added to the latest version of our cables.  If you need to use the interconnects in separate locations, let us know when you place your order and we can leave the block off when making your cables. 

]]> The wooden block is  designed to keep the cables from tangling and does not have any affect on the acoustic performance of our cables.  It slides from end to end and can be placed wherever you need it to be.  We do not offer these blocks for sale by themselves.  This design change was added to the latest version of our cables.  If you need to use the interconnects in separate locations, let us know when you place your order and we can leave the block off when making your cables. 

]]> <![CDATA[Can I trade in my old HGA cables for new ones?]]> http://www.homegrownaudio.com/news/3/Can-I-trade-in-my-old-HGA-cables-for-new-ones%3F.html Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:37:29 +0000 http://www.homegrownaudio.com/news/3/Can-I-trade-in-my-old-HGA-cables-for-new-ones%3F.html

Answer:  Yes.  It's now even easier to upgrade to the newest and best HGA cables. Generous trade-in allowances are available to complete the system of your dreams. Best of all, we love keeping you as an HGA customer!

Cables purchased: Upgrade credit:

< 12 months ago

75% of original purchase price

12-36 months ago

60% of original purchase price

>36 months ago

50% of original purchase price

The fine print:

  • Upgrade credits available only to original owners of factory assembled HGA/Homegrown Audio cables
  • Upgrade product must be of higher value
  • Trade-in cables must be in good working order
  • Call or email us for your trade-in credit now!
]]>

Answer:  Yes.  It's now even easier to upgrade to the newest and best HGA cables. Generous trade-in allowances are available to complete the system of your dreams. Best of all, we love keeping you as an HGA customer!

Cables purchased: Upgrade credit:

< 12 months ago

75% of original purchase price

12-36 months ago

60% of original purchase price

>36 months ago

50% of original purchase price

The fine print:

  • Upgrade credits available only to original owners of factory assembled HGA/Homegrown Audio cables
  • Upgrade product must be of higher value
  • Trade-in cables must be in good working order
  • Call or email us for your trade-in credit now!
]]> <![CDATA[Are your connectors made of solid copper?]]> http://www.homegrownaudio.com/news/2/Are-your-connectors-made-of-solid-copper%3F.html Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:34:12 +0000 http://www.homegrownaudio.com/news/2/Are-your-connectors-made-of-solid-copper%3F.html Answer:  LOK Brand connectors are considered high copper content (no less than 68% copper) brass.  This is a higher copper content than most connectors.  The bulk of the remaining content is zinc and by definition brass in an alloy of copper and zinc.  Additionally, the plating we apply is also significantly heavier than most of the competition.

While any higher copper content is obviously a good thing sonically, it makes machining the connectors extremely difficult due to the softness of the metal.   It also limits the durability of use in your system.  Just to give you an idea of where we stand, my understanding is that WBT toplines also use a 68% copper content brass.

]]> Answer:  LOK Brand connectors are considered high copper content (no less than 68% copper) brass.  This is a higher copper content than most connectors.  The bulk of the remaining content is zinc and by definition brass in an alloy of copper and zinc.  Additionally, the plating we apply is also significantly heavier than most of the competition.

While any higher copper content is obviously a good thing sonically, it makes machining the connectors extremely difficult due to the softness of the metal.   It also limits the durability of use in your system.  Just to give you an idea of where we stand, my understanding is that WBT toplines also use a 68% copper content brass.

]]>