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Review on 250FT Outdoor UV Rated 14AWG Professional Speaker Audio Cable - 14/2 Bulk Spool for Direct Burial (250FT, 14/2) by Gary Newman

Revainrating 1 out of 5

Poor quality cable with serious problems

Item received quickly and on time. However, I had to heed the advice of the previous buyers. The outer shield of the cable is extremely stiff and difficult to machine. Small loops or bends are tricky. The outer coating rubs off easily and doesn't appear to be very strong when pulled through the line. The worst thing is the strand material itself. This is NOT copper, it's aluminum wire with a thin copper coating. Looking at the end of the wire I could see an already dark discoloration on the side of the cut. By re-cutting to remove a small amount (less than 1/4 inch), the darkening of the aluminum to copper bond could be seen within a few hours. I hate watching what's happening outside or in humid environments. The soldering attempt was even more frustrating: the solder could not completely cover the soldering point, as oxidation between the aluminum and copper jackets occurred immediately. To make matters worse, the core insulation is NOT a PVC material and melts and shrinks very quickly after moderate heating. I have been working in the electronics industry for 38 years and I know how to solder! If you still insist on connecting wires and putting heat shrink tubing on the joint, the heat from the heat gun will melt the insulation underneath the heat shrink tubing, creating an unreliable connection. I cannot recommend this product, especially for serious commercial use. Do yourself a favor and spend a few bucks more and buy a better product.

Pros
  • High marks for support and durability from testers
Cons
  • Not as thick as other picks