Using 22 gauge .999 24K Gold Wire as Bi-Wire Jumpers?!

[CableDude]

Ok... so I'm setting up my 5th system (5.1 Orb Audio Mod2x Stainless + Super Eight Sub + Marantz SR6009)... I know this will sound a bit nuts, but...

But the stock jumpers on the Orb Audio Mod2x are stranded and hard to insert speaker solid wire into. Also horrible speaker wire. I was looking @ Audioquest's PSS Silver Jumpers at $400 a pair, and thought that Beats might as well make a packaged surround system.

So I bought 60in. of 22 gauge .999 24K Gold jewelry wire and plan to cut it up into 10x 6" strands to use as speaker wire. I paid only a little bit over Spot Gold price (~11% over spot, $400 total).

Will this work?? I mean, it will, but will there be noticeable effects? Thought it might be an interesting experiment since it'll retain it's value anyways... so what's the harm?

I know some cables have 1-3% Au content with the rest being pure silver, but... Has anyone done *this* before?

 

[capt.chaos]

I would have used copper jumpers and saved my money.

 

[Hyperion]

The thing about gold is, that although it isn't the best conductor, it is stable so it doesn't oxidise and change it's contact resistance. If there is any noticable effect it will be this, that you won't need to clean the jumpers. However, you are the one that can decide if this is all worth it, by having a listen, and telling us about what you hear.

 

[w1jim]

I see this is your first post - welcome to AK!
We are not here to judge your audio decisions - all audio, no attitude.

The main advantage of gold is that it is resistant to corrosion, especially when compared to copper and silver, as noted it is not as conductive as either - but it is a good investment.
If you do use these as jumpers connect the main wires to the low frequency input and then jump to the high frequency drivers.

 

[capt.chaos]

I bet your internal speaker wire is copper from the terminals to the drivers.

 

[sobolan]

Copper is the simplest easiest way. Gold has the advantage that it does not oxidize but is not as conductive as silver. As you saw from the table posted by capt.chaos there is a 7% difference in conductivity between Cu and Ag, but they both conduct electricity 40% better that Au. Gold is good only for connections as the gold plated plugs do not oxidize. Higher conductivity means a more transparent cable. In my opinion the best cable ins an invisible one(in the electrical way).

Bottom end, if you like it, use it but it will not make anything sound better. It just adds a bit more resistance. Lok at the "audiophile" cables. Almost all of them are based on copper wires and shielding/braiding/plating/adding small batteries and other stuff.

 

[Superampman]

Conductivity won't be an issue at all as long as the awg used is adequate for the current required no matter what the conductor is made of. Clean spades/binding posts clamped down tightly lock out oxygen. Undo them 6 months later and they'll still be clean as a whistle.

 

[BigElCat]

I think it would be okay for the car; I wouldn't want it the house, though.

 

[CruzBay]

It does present an opportunity as to which side (tweeter or woofer) you have traveling through the gold jumpers.

If you wire your Marantz to the the bass side binding posts; the HF will travel the gold jumpers, if you wire your Marantz to the HF binding posts; the bass will travel the jumpers.

Might make a difference, might not.

To go a bit further, (outside of your system) say you've got a speaker that's a bit bright; you could work your way down the list supplied by Chaos, using jumpers to your HF binders of different conductive metals.

Might make a difference, might not...

 

[Gibsonian]

I voted will work and make difference. What difference I don't know but just maybe you will be able to hear it.

Copper will work better and prolly going to sound better. Almost voted for the moron as that was next best answer.