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Do speaker wires make a difference?
- Thread starter jamiecantar
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Rob-F
Likes Vintage Gear and DIY
Yes that is what I think of as lamp cord. Generally 18 gauge. I can remember when most people used no heavier than 18 gauge for speaker wire. Those of us who used 16 gauge were considered true dedicated audiophiles. I recall that the KLH model 12 was supplied with wire thinner than that--probably about #20, going from the speaker cabs to the outboard crossover network. The times, they are a-changin'.
jamiecantar
Well-Known Member
From what I've learned thus far,
1.) Always try and keep the wire as short as possible from amplifier to speaker.
2.) Use heavier 99.9% oxygen free 11 gauge wire which offers a higher damping factor and lower resistance.
3.) Deliver constant voltage to the speaker through AC Power Conditioners providing steady, filtered voltage and current to stereo system components allowing them to send a steady signal of current without dips.
The amps run cooler
The bass is much tighter
The highs are smother and more extended.
and I think this can all be achieved with an affordable small investment.
1.) Always try and keep the wire as short as possible from amplifier to speaker.
2.) Use heavier 99.9% oxygen free 11 gauge wire which offers a higher damping factor and lower resistance.
3.) Deliver constant voltage to the speaker through AC Power Conditioners providing steady, filtered voltage and current to stereo system components allowing them to send a steady signal of current without dips.
The amps run cooler
The bass is much tighter
The highs are smother and more extended.
and I think this can all be achieved with an affordable small investment.
Last edited:
● It is certain
● It is decidedly so
● Without a doubt
● Yes definitely
● You may rely on it
● As I see it, yes
● Most likely
● Outlook good
● Yes
● Signs point to yes
● Reply hazy try again
● Ask again later
● Better not tell you now
● Cannot predict now
● Concentrate and ask again
● Don't count on it
● My reply is no
● My sources say no
● Outlook not so good
● Very doubtful
● It is decidedly so
● Without a doubt
● Yes definitely
● You may rely on it
● As I see it, yes
● Most likely
● Outlook good
● Yes
● Signs point to yes
● Reply hazy try again
● Ask again later
● Better not tell you now
● Cannot predict now
● Concentrate and ask again
● Don't count on it
● My reply is no
● My sources say no
● Outlook not so good
● Very doubtful
musician2358
Active Member
Count me among those who think 12 gauge copper wire from you hardware store is more than adequate for the typical lengths people use. It is about 0.16 ohms/100 feet.
If you are contemplating an expensive speaker wire upgrade, take your existing ones or some 12 gauge copper to the stereo store and ask to do a blind A/B test.
M2358
PHP:
If you are contemplating an expensive speaker wire upgrade, take your existing ones or some 12 gauge copper to the stereo store and ask to do a blind A/B test.
M2358
whoaru99
Epic Member
Ha! I had one of those Magic 8 Balls...Good answer pretty much sums it all up.
MtnHam
Audio Evangelist
Teo Audio: Liquid Cable
www.teoaudio.com/liquid_cable.php
Anyone heard them?
A very different concept. I've had them in my system and am a believer. Unfortunately, they are very expensive. Otherwise, I would own them.
www.teoaudio.com/liquid_cable.php
Anyone heard them?
A very different concept. I've had them in my system and am a believer. Unfortunately, they are very expensive. Otherwise, I would own them.
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Brindabella
Well-Known Member
Agree/disagree; all I can do is share my experience with you:
Back in 1985 I worked in a hifi store that had been operating for 10 years and had only ever sold the standard cable (basically lamp cord that came from an audio supplier called Arista). In making the decision to sell Monster Cable back then we did a very simple test, one amp that could be A/B (Kenwood M1 C1 if recall correctly) and two pairs of identical speakers - can't remember the model but mostly likely JBL something from the L series (everyone's favourite in the shop).
One set of speakers wired standard cable and the other with Monster. For weeks we ran our own little test swapping the cables backwards and forth to see if we could trick each other into working out which was lamp cord and which was Monster Cable. There was no doubt in any of our minds not only was there an audible difference, the music reproduction was significantly improved.
There were five us working in the store and we never got it wrong testing the difference between lamp cord and Monster Cable. One of the owners was an electrical engineer who was very cynical prior to our test to the merits of exotic cables. He was also a Ducatti racer who tuned his bike by ear and would openly admit to some level of deafness could hear the unmistakeable difference.
I have a range of exotic cable brands hooked up to the 10 or so speakers I have and each cable company has, in my opinion, its own sonic characteristics/signature. Since joining AK and reading all the fuss about cables I decided to just buy a role of 12 gauge oxygen free cable cheap on the net for my home theatre system. I am not really into HT sound quality - Yamaha RX-V2095 and Chinese 5 speaker + sub package valued at about $1000.
Had left over cable and did my own little 2013 test; one amp Pioneer SX 750 and one pair of speakers Celestion E-70 and swapped between the two. Sure enough there was clear improvement in sound using quality cable.
That little test kept niggling at me so a couple of months ago I upgraded the cable on the HT system, again a positive and distinguishable difference. The cheap 12 gauge I now use to tie trees (saplings) back when staking them in the paddock.
Just one man's journey.
Enjoy the music
Rob
Back in 1985 I worked in a hifi store that had been operating for 10 years and had only ever sold the standard cable (basically lamp cord that came from an audio supplier called Arista). In making the decision to sell Monster Cable back then we did a very simple test, one amp that could be A/B (Kenwood M1 C1 if recall correctly) and two pairs of identical speakers - can't remember the model but mostly likely JBL something from the L series (everyone's favourite in the shop).
One set of speakers wired standard cable and the other with Monster. For weeks we ran our own little test swapping the cables backwards and forth to see if we could trick each other into working out which was lamp cord and which was Monster Cable. There was no doubt in any of our minds not only was there an audible difference, the music reproduction was significantly improved.
There were five us working in the store and we never got it wrong testing the difference between lamp cord and Monster Cable. One of the owners was an electrical engineer who was very cynical prior to our test to the merits of exotic cables. He was also a Ducatti racer who tuned his bike by ear and would openly admit to some level of deafness could hear the unmistakeable difference.
I have a range of exotic cable brands hooked up to the 10 or so speakers I have and each cable company has, in my opinion, its own sonic characteristics/signature. Since joining AK and reading all the fuss about cables I decided to just buy a role of 12 gauge oxygen free cable cheap on the net for my home theatre system. I am not really into HT sound quality - Yamaha RX-V2095 and Chinese 5 speaker + sub package valued at about $1000.
Had left over cable and did my own little 2013 test; one amp Pioneer SX 750 and one pair of speakers Celestion E-70 and swapped between the two. Sure enough there was clear improvement in sound using quality cable.
That little test kept niggling at me so a couple of months ago I upgraded the cable on the HT system, again a positive and distinguishable difference. The cheap 12 gauge I now use to tie trees (saplings) back when staking them in the paddock.
Just one man's journey.
Enjoy the music
Rob
hotroady
Well-Known Member
Sure, but I bet your amp was dead quiet.
And soon dead if it was a tube amp.
river25
Super Member
I am not a supporter of those little bridge things that hold the cable off the floor. I cannot fathom any reason - except under the floor where the speaker cables are laying is some massive AC cable/source that is letting out a lot of noise.
Yes, go Google. Read all you can and have a ponder. If you know a HiFi shop where you can borrow some exotic speaker cables then do so. See for yourself if the more expensive cables make a difference or not. If you like then use them, if not then return them.
Just don't get too hung up about some of this type of stuff. Personally I find there are greater, more cost effective gains to be had in cartridge and speaker selection, and speaker placement, and room dynamics before I start down the exotic cable route.
The nice about tweaks/accessories like this is: they are fairly lightweight, so return shipping costs are generally low, and there are a number of Internet retailers who will give you a money-back 30 day satisfaction guarantee, so you don't have to take anyone's word about how these perform. Simply get some and try them for yourself, since presumably yours is the only opinion that matters to you.
Tinnkindling
OLD SCHOOL
I had a co-worker a few years ago, and we were charged with the responsibility of installing a flat screen display in the public waiting area of the premises. Came time to purchase a wall mount for the display, and my co-worker, who had previously worked in the audio-video dept. of a large box store said that wall-mounts were a very high profit item, and that he could use his contacts to get one for about 25% of the usual price, which he did. When I talked to him about this, he told me that such things as mounts, stands, CD holders and CABLES (HDMI, Speaker, interconnect) were also in the very high profit category.
Retailers push these products, including the "exotic" cables, because they make lots of money doing so.
Personal opinion: wire is wire. For speakers, as long as it is the correct gauge, and made out of copper, it will do the job, and there will be no difference in sound between that cable, and some exotic, high-profit product.
Retailers push these products, including the "exotic" cables, because they make lots of money doing so.
Personal opinion: wire is wire. For speakers, as long as it is the correct gauge, and made out of copper, it will do the job, and there will be no difference in sound between that cable, and some exotic, high-profit product.
Zonker92
All shiny and chrome
Yes, I think it's true that accessories typically have a very high profit margin. (That's also true for phono cartridges, I have heard.) I have been told that in retail, as a rule of thumb, the less something costs, the higher its profit margin is. So a three-dollar cup of soda might cost only seven cents wholesale.
I have heard so many anecdotes about cables sounding better than others, that I have come to believe that some people may actually be able to hear a difference. Personally, I have never heard a difference, so for me it's not worth the money.
That being said, I just installed what were to me "expensive" speaker cables (Blue Jeans 10-gauge), simply so I don't have to worry (as much) that I'm bottlenecking my performance at that point. So for me, it's more about peace of mind.
I have heard so many anecdotes about cables sounding better than others, that I have come to believe that some people may actually be able to hear a difference. Personally, I have never heard a difference, so for me it's not worth the money.
That being said, I just installed what were to me "expensive" speaker cables (Blue Jeans 10-gauge), simply so I don't have to worry (as much) that I'm bottlenecking my performance at that point. So for me, it's more about peace of mind.
I've tried several sets of "audiophile" speaker cables, and I think the 'sound' has more to do with the connectors and how they are attached to the wire. When I moved to my new house I made my own set by using 2 lengths of 12 g per side, silver soldered to high quality banana type jacks. 4 individual wires per side. They are 14 feet in length. THOSE cables I made sound no different than my friends gold contact, screw to tighten style banana type connector heavy braided wire ones when listening to either 40 WPC low distortion power amp to KEF 104aB's OR Crown PSA2 as power amp. Swapping to JBL 4312's and doing the test again, starting with the low distortion power amp and later the PSA2 the results were the same. Sure, my cables are far overkill, but since I made 'em I might as well us 'em.
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