Speaker cable advice

[fpitas]

But math is anathema to the true subjectivist!!!

It's good form to wave your hands about abstruse math, though

 

[mhardy6647]

It's good form to wave your hands about abstruse math, though

Greek letters come in really handy . The less commonly used, the better.

... and it is only a matter of time before the boutiques' white papers embrace Dr. Seuss' "On Beyond Zebra". Mark my words.

 

[Ninjastar]

I'm looking to wire my LS50 Meta speakers. I am looking at a distance of about 3m required.
What gauge and length would be suggested?
also what about silver coated copper? thanks!

I use these and recommend them:

Amazon.com

Same company that is behind World's Best Cables that also sells through Amazon. They are similar to Blue Jeans Cable where they just use studio grade copper wiring and connectors, but they are less expensive and I find the cable easier to work with. Blue Jeans uses Belden for speaker cable, which I find somewhat stiff.

I prefer cables with banana plugs that have been professionally soldered as opposed to trying to do that myself or use screw-down connectors, not because I think it sounds better but just to avoid any problems in the future.

 

[babar]

bi-wire or not if there is an option?

 

[Chrispy]

bi-wire or not if there is an option?

No, even if it is an option. Waste of wire.

 

[Speedskater]

Bi-wire is never a good option.

 

[fpitas]

I guess if I only had tiny wires, I might bi-wire.

/Trolling

 

[egellings]

Bi-wire is never a good option.

Bi-wiring doesn't do anything except get you to pop for double the number of wires. So, it does work--for the seller.

 

[Doodski]

Bi-wiring doesn't do anything except get you to pop for double the number of wires. So, it does work--for the seller.

...and it makes vacuuming more difficult too.

 

[egellings]

...and it makes vacuuming more difficult too.

Vacuuming? Hmmm; I should try that sometime.

 

[antcollinet]

Vacuuming? Hmmm; I should try that sometime.

We have an oversized hockey puck called Wall-E for that.

 

[mhardy6647]

I guess if I only had tiny wires, I might bi-wire.

/Trolling

For some reason, this troll comment is reminding me of an image I saw earlier today on the Polk forums...

 

[Jeremiah Sheets]

This is an old thread but I feel for posterity I need to chime in.

Do NOT waste your money on fancy cables. A copper conductor is a copper conductor. Wrapping it in gold will not affect current in the conductor. The only advantage of gold connectors is the aversion to corrosion, which is only a concern with installed systems. A simple disconnect and reconnect habit will remove any built up of carbon.

Smaller gauge (larger diameter) wire reduces current loss because of thermal conductivity. That’s important if you are running a 10’ wire into a 2-8ohm load… except no it isn’t. Current is extremely low and the load is high. The thermal loss happens in the voice coil. You can use lamp cord on your mains and subs and the loss would be negligible.

 

[babar]

I’m not extremely knowledge on this from a science perspective. However I do have ears which are very discerning.
I recently replaced the copper cables on my bowers and Wilkins 802D’s with silver sleeved copper. The difference was transformatively for the better.
While I appreciate that there lies wisdom in comparing ofcc to lamp wiring from a conductivity perspective, I will follow my ears.
I’m only sharing this so that others try and see the difference before using lamp chords.

 

[Bob from Florida]

This is an old thread but I feel for posterity I need to chime in.

Do NOT waste your money on fancy cables. A copper conductor is a copper conductor. Wrapping it in gold will not affect current in the conductor. The only advantage of gold connectors is the aversion to corrosion, which is only a concern with installed systems. A simple disconnect and reconnect habit will remove any built up of carbon.

Smaller gauge (larger diameter) wire reduces current loss because of thermal conductivity. That’s important if you are running a 10’ wire into a 2-8ohm load… except no it isn’t. Current is extremely low and the load is high. The thermal loss happens in the voice coil. You can use lamp cord on your mains and subs and the loss would be negligible.

I agree about not wasting money on cables. However, amp manufacturers go to great lengths to reduce the wire resistance from the output devices to the speaker outputs. They do this to get higher damping factor specs. Using a sufficiently large gauge conductor will help with maintaining that damping factor. Ten gauge is usually good enough for the typical short runs. You can go larger, but it gets to the point where the weight of the conductor puts stress on the connector......

 

[Jeremiah Sheets]

I’m not extremely knowledge on this from a science perspective. However I do have ears which are very discerning.
I recently replaced the copper cables on my bowers and Wilkins 802D’s with silver sleeved copper. The difference was transformatively for the better.
While I appreciate that there lies wisdom in comparing ofcc to lamp wiring from a conductivity perspective, I will follow my ears.
I’m only sharing this so that others try and see the difference before using lamp chords.

That is due to one of two things:
1. Psychosomatic response.
2. Corrosion in the connectors.

It’s number 1.
Corrosion would simply cause static as you cleaned the connection.

You suffered from confirmation bias. You wanted to hear a difference, and so you did.

 

[Jeremiah Sheets]

I agree about not wasting money on cables. However, amp manufacturers go to great lengths to reduce the wire resistance from the output devices to the speaker outputs.

Have you looked at the wires inside those speakers? From the crossover to the speaker terminals. Basic wire. 16-18 gauge .

 

[Bob from Florida]

Have you looked at the wires inside those speakers? From the crossover to the speaker terminals. Basic wire. 16-18 gauge .

Yes, I am well aware of the size conductors in the speaker cabinets. Those wires are short compared to the typical 8 foot run. Inefficient speakers will need the larger gauge for woofer control. If you get the 10-12 gauge in the first place, you are done with regards to most any speaker unless you have long cable runs. Buy the right cable once and you are done.

 

[Jeremiah Sheets]

The right cable can be lamp cord. There isn’t enough current running through any speaker to require special cables.

 

[antcollinet]

I agree about not wasting money on cables. However, amp manufacturers go to great lengths to reduce the wire resistance from the output devices to the speaker outputs. They do this to get higher damping factor specs. Using a sufficiently large gauge conductor will help with maintaining that damping factor. Ten gauge is usually good enough for the typical short runs. You can go larger, but it gets to the point where the weight of the conductor puts stress on the connector......

10 Guage is massive overkill for almost all domestic applications.

I'm currently using 12 - even that is much bigger than I need. (It'd be good for a 90ft run with my speakers)

This article has a handy table - but more importantly does the analysis.

Speaker Wire