Does upgrading my center speaker wire make a difference?

[alexb997]

Hi all,

I have a combo hifi/home theatre setup with an older B&W XTC Center speaker. Now, this particular speaker is quite inefficient (my R/L is B&W 805S). I basically have to crankup the center channel to level match it to R/L channels. Would upgrading my speaker wire help drive it better? I have done an Audyssey audio measurement and there's a dip in the midrange.

The wire is about 8feet long, some basic audio speaker cable I bought years ago, I think it's 12 or 14 gauge. I was thinking of upgrading to a low resistance cable, like Kimber Kable 8TC? https://kimber.com/products/8TC I know that wire has measured well by Audioholics.

Thanks!

 

[Doodski]

No, the speaker wire will not improve stuff.

 

[RayDunzl]

I was thinking of upgrading to a low resistance cable

You have one now:

8 feet - twice for there and back

• Resistance of 16 feet of 12 AWG wire: 0.0254 ohms.
• Resistance of 16 feet of 14 AWG wire: 0.0404 ohms.

 

[darakon]

Speaker Cable is the Most important for Center Speaker.
The Most important parameter for a speaker cable is the price. The higher the price, the better the sound.
Expensive cable have by physical law a better power flow:
Power flow = $ = Soundquality.

 

[jcarys]

You say you have a dip in the mids, have you checked to make sure that Audyssey's midrange compensation is turned off? Don't worry about Audyssey changing speaker levels by a few db, that's exactly what it is supposed to do.

 

[Doodski]

Speaker Cable is the Most important for Center Speaker.
The Most important parameter for a speaker cable is the price. The higher the price, the better the sound.
Expensive cable have by physical law a better power flow:
Power flow = $ = Soundquality.

I am guessing you are being facetious.

 

[DVDdoug]

Now, this particular speaker is quite inefficient (my R/L is B&W 805S).

So you've identified the issue!

I basically have to crankup the center channel to level match it to R/L channels.

That's OK as long as you don't over-drive the center channel into distortion.

I have done an Audyssey audio measurement and there's a dip in the midrange.

That will exaggerate the problem since the main dialog is in the center (and dialog is mostly "midrange").

I know that wire has measured well by Audioholics.

I don't really know Audioholics but I don't trust MOST "audiophile" websites. This is one of the few scientific-rational audio related resources.

There's no reason to measure speaker cables unless you want to show (for the millionth time) that speaker cables don't make a difference. In general, audio cables don't make a difference as long as you're using a cable appropriate for the application (line level and phono cables should be shielded and speaker cables appropriately heavy-gauge for their length, etc.). You might be able to measure a difference between cables at 1MHz, but that's not audio.

The only thing I'd watch-out for is "CCA" (copper clad aluminum) speaker wire. Aluminum has higher resistance than copper so for it to be equal to copper it has to be heavier gauge.

My speaker wire is 16AWG "zip cord" from the home improvement store.

 

[staticV3]

Speaker Cable is the Most important for Center Speaker.
The Most important parameter for a speaker cable is the price. The higher the price, the better the sound.
Expensive cable have by physical law a better power flow:
Power flow = $ = Soundquality.

You forgot to put a "/s" at the end

 

[MarcT]

Speaker Cable is the Most important for Center Speaker.
The Most important parameter for a speaker cable is the price. The higher the price, the better the sound.
Expensive cable have by physical law a better power flow:
Power flow = $ = Soundquality.

 

[antcollinet]

I am guessing you are being facetious.

I'm assuming the same - to avoid using up the whole months supply of facpalms.

 

[kemmler3D]

I have a combo hifi/home theatre setup with an older B&W XTC Center speaker. Now, this particular speaker is quite inefficient (my R/L is B&W 805S). I basically have to crankup the center channel to level match it to R/L channels. Would upgrading my speaker wire help drive it better? I have done an Audyssey audio measurement and there's a dip in the midrange.

If you can't get enough volume out of your center channel, and you are clipping the amp, the thing to do is upgrade the receiver / amp.

Upgrading speaker wire is a lot like upgrading your windshield wipers to make your car go faster. It can, in an extremely small theoretical sense, work. But that's never priority #1.

To correct a dip in the midrange, make sure you're taking good measurements and then EQ if you can.

 

[RayDunzl]

General Question from a Stereo Kind-of-a-Guy

Could the position of the center (distance) relative to the L/R be creating nulls in the mids?

 

[AudiOhm]

The only way to have a speaker cable improve sound would be to follow this process.

Conductor material - Enhanced Loud Oxygen Free Unobtainium, with a 52! Double Helix Geometry.
Insulation - Non Toxic Teflon Coated Tightly Woven Unicorn hair.
Heat Treated by Virgin Female Dragon flames.
Cryogenic Treatment taking place on the surface of Pluto for 3.1415926 days.

Then can only be delivered by a bare foot Shaolin Monk on February 30th at 11:59pm.

Ohms

 

[boxerfan88]

Yes, definitely!! (if the old cable termination is oxidized and cannot be cleaned).
I had intermittent volume issue with my HT center ... traced to a badly oxidized banana plugs.
Recently, I replaced the center channel cable with a fresh cable and fresh banana plugs ... all good now.

 

[Holmz]

If you can't get enough volume out of your center channel, and you are clipping the amp, the thing to do is upgrade the receiver / amp.

To upgrade the speakers is more like putting a 911 body shape on the Mack truck frame.
More efficient speakers do not require as much power to push them.
The power * efficiency ~= the SPL… so there are two ways to skin the cat here.

Upgrading speaker wire is a lot like upgrading your windshield wipers to make your car go faster. It can, in an extremely small theoretical sense, work. But that's never priority #1.

To correct a dip in the midrange, make sure you're taking good measurements and then EQ if you can.

How far is that amp from the centre channel?
The fellow (or lady) could double up his/her zip-cord and see if it makes a difference.

Hi all,

I have a combo hifi/home theatre setup with an older B&W XTC Center speaker. Now, this particular speaker is quite inefficient (my R/L is B&W 805S). I basically have to crankup the center channel to level match it to R/L channels. Would upgrading my speaker wire help drive it better? I have done an Audyssey audio measurement and there's a dip in the midrange.

Realistically the mixing of the L/R speakers, and the different center speaker, could have some phase mismatch that makes them a bad pairing together.
(Dunno if it is)

The wire is about 8feet long, some basic audio speaker cable I bought years ago, I think it's 12 or 14 gauge. I was thinking of upgrading to a low resistance cable, like Kimber Kable 8TC? https://kimber.com/products/8TC I know that wire has measured well by Audioholics.

If you cut the 8’ ones in half, and doubled them up, then the résistance goes down by a factor of 4.
I would try that or doubled up zip-cord just to see if it makes a difference, and then you’ll know.

If the 8TC is better, then what about their 12TC?
Where does one draw the line?

 

[alexb997]

Ok. Well, I don’t clip the amp but wanna help the sound and maybe get more sound volume without cranking up the dB on the center.

I just ordered one and will see how it does and measure.

 

[Holmz]

Ok. Well, I don’t clip the amp but wanna help the sound and maybe get more sound volume without cranking up the dB on the center.

I just ordered one and will see how it does and measure.

Well a cable is not going to get more sound, or everyone would just be running a massive cable.
In theory one can get electrocuted easier grabbing hold of a really fat wire, but even a thin 20 or 24 ga wire will do the job just fine.

Your main friend here is just cranking up the center channel by a few dB.
That is what those settings are for, and unless you have all gear that is matched, and to some extent the room is cooperative, then maybe you would have no +/- dB between the channels. But they put those settings there because they are needed when the equipment is not all matched.

 

[Penelinfi]

Yes, changing the wires to much thicker wire will help it become 0.05dB more efficient
Moving 10cm closer would achieve a greater dB increase however

 

[voodooless]

I just ordered one and will see how it does and measure

Why on earth would you spend such an inordinate amount of money on a bit of copper wire ?

 

[kemmler3D]

Why on earth would you spend such an inordinate amount of money on a bit of copper wire ?

To get rid of the 200 milliohms that are holding the center speaker back by 6dB, duh!