How long should we expect cable to last.
I had some crackle/intermittent sound and traced it to around the jack plug. Thinking one of the solder joints may have failed I checked it and all was good, but knowing there was a problem in that area I cut the lead back about 6 inches and stripped the sheath and found this....
The copper screen was gooey and discoloured just in that area. It was not even where the compression grip is, that is more in the body of the plug casing.
Any ideas what would cause this. Does cable just deteriorate.
Possibly about 12 years old, not abused, always neatly coiled and stored, can still see the make all along the cable, Lynx Audio. I made the leads myself.