Cables

Will the Line Out Dock (LOD) fit my iPod?

The LOD will fit all iPods and the Nano, except the shuffle, iPhone and 2 generation iTouch – The ALO SXC Cryo and ALO UPOCC line out dock cables work for all iPods as well as the iPhone and 2nd generation iPod Touch. The connectors we use are not “made for iPod” approved, however they are a clone and will work just fine with your iPod device.

How long are your iPod cables?

Standard length of our iPod cables are ~ 5.5 inches and will fit most small amps with you have your iPod “sandwiched” on top of the amp. If you need a longer cable see custom lengths below. Note any custom or odd ball lengths will be a minimum of $20 and usually much more.

Custom Cables

Will it fit with my case?

As long as the case you are using has a opening for a dock it will work fine. The “thin” connector is no smaller than the regular so called “thicker” connectors. Both “thin” and “thick” are 8mm at the connection terminal, the same.

Will you make a cable that will fit my case/bag?

Yes and No. Please make or recommend a length and cable. If you need a certain length cable simply tell us.

• How long the cables needs to be, either the cable length or including the length of the connectors otherwise known as “tip to tip”
• What to terminate the cable with on both ends, I.e. what plugs do you need.

What do you recommend for the length?

We make the length for use with the amp sandwiched on top of your iPod. We use Velcro to adhere the amp to the iPod, as seen in a few photos. we make them to fit this configuration with a little slack to allow you to insert the mini with out any excessive strain. The Stock cables are not meant to be used in a “side by side” orientation as they will be too short. We can make this length longer, just ask!

Do you make any custom cables?

If you have an idea or need for a custom cable by all means email me and we will make it. Remember that custom cables are a cable that is not a stock item as seen on the web page and once you buy a custom cable it is yours so please do not ask to have it longer, sorter, a different color or ask to return it.

Custom Cable lengths will be a minimum of $20 extra usually more. We are trying to cut down on odd ball cable lengths and configurations. Sorry but we want to concentrate on the things that most people order and Headphone mods.

Can I return my custom cable if I don't like it?

Refunds are unavailable for custom cable builds, regardless of whether the order is canceled or the cable is returned.  Please be aware of this when ordering your custom cable.  This is why we will work closely to get you the exact cable you are looking for, from the begining. 

HeadRoom Bithead and Airhead amps

A word about these amps. Some of these amps have a design where the input is off to the side but most all the stock cablesweI make will be too short to fit these amps. Please do not buy a stock cable for this amp. We have made some cable for a bunch of people and often after we make them to the customers specifications we get a email saying its too short or too long so take great care in measuring as we can not give you a refund of alter the cable for free. If you have one of these amp please do the above to try and determine the proper length for your system. Keep in mind that this will be a custom cable and are subject to the above.

Can you ship what I want right away?

While most orders can be shipped immediately, some cables have a couple days of build time. We offer a huge variety of configurations and most need to be made to order.  The standard and base models of  are almost always ready to go however.

Wire Care and Questions

Silver cable care

If you order a solid silver cable please remember that it is a solid wire and must be treated with care and not bent at extreme angles or bent back and fourth repeatedly. I had a customer bend and put his silk dock in his pocket and this broke 2 of the conductors. All high quality silver audio conductors are like this. If your cable breaks from bending or impact damage I will not be able to cover a replacement. With normal care your cable will last a life time, please treat it gently when bending. Stranded copper is more durable to bending.

ALO Cryo SXC, Solid Silver Wire, Cryo Jena Wire, Jumbo Cryo Jena Wire...

The question I get the most is around Silver VS Copper. I always say the same thing, its a personal preference. One is not any better than the other. We sell only the finest Copper wire you can find in our ALO Cryo SXC, Vampire Wire’d Cables and the Cryoed Jena Ultra Wire.

The big gain is inherent to the design of my LineOutDock. It is a direct line out signal from your iPod. I eliminate the mini connection you would normally need with a, Sikdin, SendStation dock or the like. I have these docks and side by side my LineOutDock blows them away, and I do not know why someone would settle for these mass marketed devices. Not only are they not a Hi-Fi device but you have to by a Mini to Mini cable in addition to the dock! With my LOD you are all set.

What is the difference between the different wire?

ALO Cryo SXC Wire - Developed to my specification specifically for our highest audiophile desires in a audio grade wire the ALO Cryo SXC is our wire dream. We start with a extremely fine stranded mono crystal Ohno continuous cast high purity copper , then we have the manufacturer silver plate each strand. This not only protects the sensitive copper from future discoloration but also give the wire extra top end detail. We then jacket the stands in a clear PE jacket. The physical properties of this jacket are superb, ultra flexible and soft. The cable appears to be pure silver but it is silver coated copper. We then have all our ALO SXC wire Cryo’ed at www.Cryo-Parts.com

Cryo Copper Jena Wire - Made especially for Jena Tech for treatment in their Cryo lab. This stuff is the best kept secret in the interconnect world. I sat and bent 3 of these wires back a fourth for a hour, not only did they not break but there was zero stress or strain. Awesome stuff.

My Jena Labs Wire is discolored whats up?

Pretty much all bare copper stranded wire in a clear jacket that is handled very often is going to discolor. We have not experienced any adverse sonic effects of this discoloring. I understand it might not look very attractive to some. IMPORTANT!! If the thought of the copper turning dark or patina color over time please do not purchase a JenaLabs cable. Go with another cable wire type like the ALO SXC Cryo wire. Because we feel that the coloring is not effecting the sound signature we will not be exchanging or doing any kind of refund if you should encounter this phenomena.

Silver Wire Break in time?

My Silver cables will be sounding sweet right out of the box, its performance continues to improve throughout approximately the first 100-200 hours of break in time. An easy way to break in the cables is to simply hook them up to a tuner or other line level component and let them run continuously for several days. The Jena Cryo wire has a shorter burn in time of about 50 hours.

But Won’t your fancy silver wires tarnish?

ALO SXC wire should not tarnish or discolor, bear silver in Teflon can over time darken. Oxidation, Some correspondents have expressed concerns about the silver wire oxidizing inside the Teflon tubing. However, Prof. Alan J. Ardell of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at UCLA writes, “silver doesn’t oxidize at room temperature. The culprit is sulfur, which reacts with silver to form the tarnish that silver polish removes. Yes, there will be air between tubing of any kind and the wire, but to cause serious problems a fresh and ready supply of air is needed. Otherwise sulfidation will cease as soon as the local supply is used up. How much air flow is there likely to be between wire and tubing? Problems might arise from extra contact resistance of sulfurized silver in regions of contact with other conductors in the chain, but a thin layer of sulfide on the surface of silver wire won’t cause any harm, at least to the conductivity of the wire.”

In addition, Dr. Arthur Loesch, well known audio designer and Professor of Atmospheric Dynamics at the State University of New York, maintains that fears of silver oxide contaminating the sound are completely unfounded. As he puts it, “Silver oxide is still silver and it all sounds the same.”

My personal experience is that after more than 10 years of service, there is no evidence of silver oxidation within the Teflon jacket, although it does appear on the exposed ends. Silver will oxidize, but the oxide of silver is conductive, so oxidized silver will still make a good signal path. Don’t confuse this effect with copper oxide, which is definitely a bad conductor.

Excerpts from – Joseph Levy