Hello, I've heard that buying more expensive speaker cables can greatly enhance the sound of the speakers. I currently have older speaker cables, and am about to purchase some new speakers that don't come with speaker cables. Is there a specific type or brand that are recommended? I can't justify spending more than $75 for cables, so am hoping that I can get some pretty good cables for this.
What speaker cables should I buy?
- Thread starter Wax4Daze
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Quadman2
Lunatic Member
Well, before you start a range war, and start up another thread on "cables", if you go to the upper right hand corner, wherein the "search" engine is to be found, and key in "speaker cables", you will find more than enough data/info/posts on just this topic. It may take a couple of days of reading to get through the material, but it's there...all two camps of thinking on it!
Q
Q
I already did this, and wasn't able to get the basic information on cables that I needed. I just need to know if it really matters that much once you get to a certain price point? Like can you get really good performance from cables that cost $50-75/pr, but excellent performance if you spend five times this amount?
This is a very arbitrary question you can answer on your own using your own judgement. This thread will turn into a warzone otherwise.
Obviously there are diminishing returns.
goodolpg
Just an old fart trying to help.
https://www.google.com/search?q=wha...XJJzQIHa2lC20QrQIoBHoECAUQBQ&biw=1600&bih=757
Question has been asked multiple times, usually ends up closed.
Question has been asked multiple times, usually ends up closed.
I feel that your response was very patronizing, and not helpful. If I thought that the I could answer this with my own judgement, then I wouldn't have posted the question on this message board. First, other members tell me to make a new post in the Dollars and Sense thread for things pertaining to value. Then, you tell me that I should look through the existing posts as the "thread will turn into a warzone". Isn't that the purpose of having a message board- to bounce ideas off of other members who may have more expertise on the subject? I searched through the first two pages of the message board with a search for "speaker cables", and found no helpful information.
Cables only need to be 6-8 feet long.
I'm currently using a Denon AVR 2700 that's a little over 20 years old. It's 80 w/ channel, but likely only has about 35-40 watts dedicated to actual power due to it being an AVR.
Speakers- About to purchase the Monitor Audio Bronze 500 speakers
$75 budget is just a general idea that I was throwing out there. If I knew that the quality of my audio would greatly increase by going up to say $200 for a pair, then I would likely be willing to go higher.
The response was not patronizing, it was just brutally honest. The topic has been beat to death dozens of times and it 100% comes down to opinion. I have yet to see anyone prove (with actual data) that a $10,000 cable sounds noticeably different than a $0.10 one. This is not a right/wrong question like is transistor XYZ a suitable substitute for transistor ABC, no one can tell you if fancier cables will make your system sound any better to you.
Personally I use this and have never felt the need to upgrade:
https://www.parts-express.com/Audtek-SKRL-12-100-12-AWG-OFC-Speaker-Wire-100-ft.-100-025
Personally I use this and have never felt the need to upgrade:
https://www.parts-express.com/Audtek-SKRL-12-100-12-AWG-OFC-Speaker-Wire-100-ft.-100-025
Quadman2
Lunatic Member
At that distance, you prob will not discern much of a difference, but I don't know the age or condition of the ones you are using. If they look in poor condition...change them.
If you go with a pure copper, 12 gauge shielded cable, you will be well within your budget, or close to it. However, some will take me to task on this POV.
I'd be tempted to upgrade on the power, if the cables seem decent.
Thanks for sharing your specs.
Q
If you go with a pure copper, 12 gauge shielded cable, you will be well within your budget, or close to it. However, some will take me to task on this POV.
I'd be tempted to upgrade on the power, if the cables seem decent.
Thanks for sharing your specs.
Q
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6-8 feet you can use coathanger wire twisted together, should be fine.
Seriously though, at that distance even 14AWG will be adequate, 12AWG overkill, if Radio Shack were still around I would suggest getting a 25' roll of speaker wire, similar to what RossW linked.
Ross is correct however, there is no agreement on whether you should spend thousands on botique speaker cables (and interconnect cables) or less than $50 on good quality copper wire. Just more arguments than we can keep track of. But (and not to offend) you are using a 20+ year old AVR that hasn't been adjusted/serviced/tested? Running 6' to speakers? Not sure of your sources, but just run good commercial-quality copper speaker wire (look out for copper-clad aluminum) and save the rest of the money for your next component upgrade or AVR service.
Seriously though, at that distance even 14AWG will be adequate, 12AWG overkill, if Radio Shack were still around I would suggest getting a 25' roll of speaker wire, similar to what RossW linked.
Ross is correct however, there is no agreement on whether you should spend thousands on botique speaker cables (and interconnect cables) or less than $50 on good quality copper wire. Just more arguments than we can keep track of. But (and not to offend) you are using a 20+ year old AVR that hasn't been adjusted/serviced/tested? Running 6' to speakers? Not sure of your sources, but just run good commercial-quality copper speaker wire (look out for copper-clad aluminum) and save the rest of the money for your next component upgrade or AVR service.
At that distance, you prob will not discern much of a difference, but I don't know the age or condition of the ones you are using. If they look in poor condition...change them.
If you go with a pure copper, 12 gauge shielded cable, you will be well within your budget, or close to it. However, some will take me to task on this POV.
I'd be tempted to upgrade on the power, if the cables seem decent.
Thanks for sharing your specs.
Q
Thanks for your response. It sounds like I don't really need to overthink cables, so I could probably just go with the standard cables available on Crutchfield. I will be looking into switching out the amp as well, but plan to replace one thing at at time. The first thing I'm upgrading is the speakers and speaker cable.
Quadman2
Lunatic Member
Curious as to how one gauge up might be "over kill"? Most findings I've read, indicate this selection as the base to work from, esp if future gear might be acquired.
Have you found your take based of any valid research in the last while?
Q
It was recommended on a different forum to replace one component at a time. The first thing that I'm going to replace is my speakers, and then will likely be replacing the receiver and turntable as well. Thanks for the tip about copper-clad aluminum wire, and it sounds like I don't really need to invest too much in speaker wire. Appreciate you taking the time to break this down for me.
Love the hostility.
However, the OP stated that he has a 35-40WPC source 6'-8' from his speakers, he would likely be fine with 16AWG I stated that I feel 12AWG is overkill.
Overkill (it is one word, you misquoted me as I spelled correctly)? I'm not going to link to a definition, ... but I'm pretty sure that anything that exceeds the requirement is by definition overkill.
...not worth it.
I very much apologize, I sure read that the wrong way @Quadman2
Most calculators I find when I buy speakers tended to be pretty minimal on speaker wire requirements, and 40w (or lets say 80 for peak) isn't that high, plus the short run I believe that the oft-quoted Roger Russel page http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable shows the 12AWG as much more than is needed.
Personally, provided the wires are of adequate size, material, and condition I prefer to go with the "run what you have" method, and since I "invested" heavily in 12AWG and 10AWG copper, most everything received 12AWG in my home over the years.
I do have some overkill on the Altecs right now, being fed by a 35WPC tube amp only a few feet away, with heavy-gauge silver braided cables, ... because they had the correct ends on them.
Most calculators I find when I buy speakers tended to be pretty minimal on speaker wire requirements, and 40w (or lets say 80 for peak) isn't that high, plus the short run I believe that the oft-quoted Roger Russel page http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable shows the 12AWG as much more than is needed.
Personally, provided the wires are of adequate size, material, and condition I prefer to go with the "run what you have" method, and since I "invested" heavily in 12AWG and 10AWG copper, most everything received 12AWG in my home over the years.
I do have some overkill on the Altecs right now, being fed by a 35WPC tube amp only a few feet away, with heavy-gauge silver braided cables, ... because they had the correct ends on them.
I didn't notice any difference between the telephone wire my Dad used to wire speakers in 1968 and 12 gauge after I re-foamed my HPM-500s. Most manufacturers recommend 14 gauge (ordinary lamp cord) for less than 50 ft, 12 over that.
The wires are just a conductor to transmit the electrical waveform of sound from the amplifier output to the sound transducer (your speakers) -- minimal resistance and minimal capacitance are all that's required.
Do avoid copper plated aluminum, and ignore all the noise about skin transmission and insulation capacitance and the need for blah blah blah, all that has no effect on anything less that radio frequency signal. We aren't transmitting digital data at gigahertz rate, we are sending 10Hz to 20kHz signals down a wire. Cross section means more than anything else at that range -- solid core wire is better, but it's not very manageable and tends to break with repeated bending. So long as the resistance is low, nothing else will have a measurable (or hear-able) effect.
I use 12 gauge marine grade wire, it's pretty cheap, and nicely color coded red and black. Very well insulated. Back in the dim and dark distant past I used the transparent vinyl clad wire in the post above, although you need to be careful with it, some batches in the past have begun to corrode the wire after a decade or two.
The wires are just a conductor to transmit the electrical waveform of sound from the amplifier output to the sound transducer (your speakers) -- minimal resistance and minimal capacitance are all that's required.
Do avoid copper plated aluminum, and ignore all the noise about skin transmission and insulation capacitance and the need for blah blah blah, all that has no effect on anything less that radio frequency signal. We aren't transmitting digital data at gigahertz rate, we are sending 10Hz to 20kHz signals down a wire. Cross section means more than anything else at that range -- solid core wire is better, but it's not very manageable and tends to break with repeated bending. So long as the resistance is low, nothing else will have a measurable (or hear-able) effect.
I use 12 gauge marine grade wire, it's pretty cheap, and nicely color coded red and black. Very well insulated. Back in the dim and dark distant past I used the transparent vinyl clad wire in the post above, although you need to be careful with it, some batches in the past have begun to corrode the wire after a decade or two.