Cables:Hyper Pure Copper vs Oxygen Free Copper

I've been doing a quick research about cables quality material.For example Kimber 8 TC is made of Hyper Pure Copper.What is the most expensive and better material?The Oxygen Free Copper or Hyper Pure Copper?And what are the main differences?

 

Silver :MILD:

 

Silver Plated Copper?

 

Actually I was thinking pure silver. It is supposed to be the best electric conductor.

 

don't use silver plaited copper ....it has the worst charateristics of both wih no of the good bits ....IMO

silver is just so much better than copper.....clean fast natural opposed to coppers lumpy bloomy bass and rosy tinted upper mid.

 

From a strictly metallurgical point of view, very little. Normal electrical copper is already astonishingly pure - and they add oxygen to it to enhance the conductivity. You need nothing more than ordinary copper wire, so ignore the hype (tripe is more accurate).

I respectfully disagree with my esteemed colleagues over silver. Silver is the best room temperature conductor there is, but its conductivity is only slightly better than that of copper* and a whole lot dearer. And having personally tried a number of high-quality silver cables. my view is that they are no better than copper. They certainly don't sound any different. So save your money and buy a length of reasonable thickness ordinary copper wire.

*Here are the conductivity figures for metals:

Aluminum 59
Brass 28
Cadmium 19
Chromium 55
Cobalt 16.3
Constantin 3.24
Copper:
Hard drawn 89.5
Annealed 100
Gold 65
Iron:
Pure 17.7
Cast 2-12
Wrought 11.4
Lead 7
Manganin 3.7
Mercury 1.66
Molybdenum 33.2
Nichrome 1.45
Nickel 12-16
Nickel silver 5.3(18%)
Phosphor bronze 36
Platinum 15
Silver 106
Steel 3-15
Tin 13
Titanium 5
Tungsten 28.9
Zinc 28.2

 

I agree there is not much audible difference between any decent cable. BUT if you want the best, it's pure silver.

Now.. will that be solid core or stranded? What is this 'skin effect' stuff anyway?

 

Fraid I disagree about solid silver cables as well, esteemed or not!!!

 

What is it you disagree about exactly? Do you disagree that there is no difference or if there is a difference?

 

So......
Tones you've taken those silver IC out your system now ?

Strangely silver is not the best ...but that was not the question was it.........if we all go back and read it before this decends into mire.

Buy twin and earth if you like copper 15amp house hold stuff....keep the rest of your hard earned in your pocket or by software!

As to the use of the word hyper .....it normally, for me, means its going to cost more for no obvious gain IMO I hestitate to use the word con. If you want to brag about the lack of other things in metals its common to talk in % terms ie 99.9999% rather than mega or hyper.

As to adding oxygen to copper its probabely done to oxidise impurites as it is in other metalurgical processes ie oxygen lancing etc
you can read more here

http://www.copper.org/innovations/1997/Dec1997/wiremetallurgy.html

 

A phenomenon that occurs at radio frequencies and which radio engineers have to allow for in their designs. Completely negligible at audio frequencies but has become one of the great myths of hi-fi.

 

No. Since they're no better or no worse than any other, I left them.

True, superconductors at the temperature of liquid helium are so much better - but I have problems keeping the darn stuff liquid!

Good advice! Effectively, this is what I have done.

Correct, but nevertheless some does remain and apparently enhances conductivity.

 

In the celebrated words of Mandy Rice-Davies...

 

Depends best for what?

 

Conducting!?

 

Come on WM .....you need to elucidate

 

No I loathe pure silver cables with a passion