Posted on Monday, 26th December 2011 by Auw Jimmy

For most of my soldering life, I still use what we call as ‘Flux’ or ‘Soldering Paste’ (or also known as ‘Lotfett’). Although some people say that the use of Flux for soldering is for newbie work , but I don’t really care actually. What I do want is a perfect soldering quality.

Below is the frequently used Flux. It’s cheap (indeed, very cheap) and enough for most of us. I bought this long-long time ago and never can finish it although has been used hundred (if not thousand) times.

But few weeks ago, I started to think a better replacement. I saw a Rosin Flux made by Cardas (to be honest, not many brand makes such Flux any longer as most of the newer solder already incorporates Flux inside to simplify our soldering job). But again, in most of the time, a separate Flux still needed. As the price was quite reasonable (though still multiple times compared to the Lotfett), I decided to grab one.

(more…)

Tags: Cardas, lotfett, rosin flux, soldering paste
Posted in DIY Audio, Personal | Comments (11)

Posted on Monday, 12th December 2011 by Auw Jimmy

I was quite surprised to hear this email below few days ago. Yes I knew that some Cardas SRCA has Cardas logo, found on their reference or factory terminated cable – but I didn’t know (or didn’t realize) if their separate selling of the SRCA (plug only) shouldn’t have this logo.

According to Josh Meredith, the SRCA with Cardas logo is a fake or counterfeit one. Except if you buy a factory terminated cable.

Should I say I’m lucky or not? That I have both type of SRCA on hand… >.<

I bought the ‘considered fake one’ on the common public online marketplace ‘where you can buy almost everything’  – I do hope you got my clue. I bought at similar price with common retailer like PCX. The reason for me to buy from that marketplace was the delivery time was faster as the seller was from Asia, instead of – let’s say PCX – which located on Canada. And that kind of shortcut leaded me into throwing money into garbage bin. Since it’s already happened, there is no reason to cry. Let’s see what is the different from the physical side between those two.

(more…)

Tags: Cardas, Counterfeit, Fake Cardas, Fake SRCA, SRCA
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (2)

Posted on Friday, 15th July 2011 by Auw Jimmy

The upgrade not yet ended. I still have something to finalize my Aikido PreAmp. I go to upgrade some section in order to make it firms before fitting it on the new chassis.

Here we go. First, we will install the affordable grade IEC from Furutech, the Rhodium plated FI-03. Fuse holder integrated there (oh well, which fuse shall I use?). That’s gonna be another question.

(more…)

Tags: Aikido, Cable, Cardas, Duelund, Furutech, Kimber, resistor, Vishay
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (12)

Posted on Thursday, 22nd July 2010 by Auw Jimmy

I don’t like expensive cable. My most expensive one was Kimber, the lower one was Synergistic Research. But I was stunned when listened my friend’s Duelund interconnect 0.5 and 2.0. Now, Duelund launches their new interconnect, the 2.0 Rev 2. This Rev 2 means the improvement over the original 2.0. They said, this one has more silver and better (silk) insulation. Ok, I have put half of my feet on the water, there’s no way back, let’s go deeper (that means, go deep inside your pocket to get this one).

The main ingredients of this cable is Silver (oil impregnated) with Silk insulation.

If we are talking Duelund CAST Silver as the most expensive capacitor, their cable is not even close to the most expensive one (like Pear Cable, Kubala Sosna, or Nordost Valhalla). But still, spending over US$ 40 per foot/single cable has never been an easy job.

The appearance more likely like a silver tape with my old socks! Well, it’s a silk though!

(more…)

Tags: Cardas, Duelund, Interconnect
Posted in DIY Audio | Comments (5)