Tweakers' Asylum

Finding the best silver solder wire ?

218.102.75.141

Any solder wire contain >12% silver ?

Follow Ups:

RE: Finding the best silver solder wire ? - Cpk 12:44:31 12/22/08 (0)
7% from Kapp Alloy
- http://www.kappalloy.com/silver.htm (Open in New Window)
RE: Finding the best silver solder wire ? - zanash 23:36:05 12/21/08 (2)
not that I've come across..the best I've used is 5%.

higher silver content makes the solder very hard to work with and doesn't flow easily ...

that said I recently built three identical cable using different solder one a cheap solder high tin content , my usual solder 2% ag and a 4% ag ....could I hear any difference .... no !

now I can hear different rca plugs on the same wire ....so its not a hearing or belief thing.

I'll stick with 4% but thata only because I bought a reel of the stuf !
- My experiences sort of mirrors yours - unclestu52 10:15:57 12/22/08 (1)
  That being said it wasn't till I tried the lead free solders that I experienced a true difference in solder sound. Apparently the absence of the poorer conductor is more imortant than the addition of a superior one (lead versus the silver).
  
  All the lead free solders I have tried impart a cleaner top end and more detail throughout although there seems to be s slight lessening of the Bass impact. The most commonly found lead free solder is 2-3% silver and .5% copper and the balance tin.
  
  One interesting solder has been the new AudioQuest solder. I do not know its composition but the spool I have advertises the line "More silver than lead". It has superb bass while retaining the top end detail and clarity. It flows very easily unlike the lead free solders which seem to demand external flux for really good flow characteristics.
  
  One interesting means to compare the sound of solder is to construct an interconnect using solder as the wire. A bit hard to attach to the RCAs, it does give you an immediate indication.
  
  Stu
  - RE: My experiences sort of mirrors yours - zanash 23:57:03 12/23/08 (0)
    just looked at all mine seems I've been using low lead solder for years ...the new silver is lead free too ....I can see this could have an impact on the sound ...lead has never been the conductor of choice in the hifi or any other industry ....thought I did read about some ic made of lead foil that compared with the usual silver plated copper sounded very good indead. But the silver plated copper can sound extremely bad!

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