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Speaker Cable Lengths - W/ Monos

I'm considering having the manufacturer of my 10 foot cables cut the cables in half and re-terminate them for use with my Monoblocks in a Bi-wire configuration. They are very expensive cables, however, and I'd hate to cut myself short on cable (while also ruining their resale). At the same time, I'd hate to double up the longer length due to costs if I can help it.

My short term listening room will work easily with 4 1/2 to 5 foot cables, however, I'm not sure about a future room I'm planning.

What are typical cable lengths for those of you running monos out there? Is five feet usually enough? How far away from my speakers should my 150 lb. monos be?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.
audiopman
caesar
7 posts
 
I invite you all to take a look to the thread "Silver vs. Copper, Effect of length" started on 3-21-01: there is a very accurate followup that explains why SHORT interconnects are to be preferred to LONG ones.
Now: who's right?
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Like Welfed, I use 4' speaker cables with my monoblocks, and find that a comfortable length as well.
eldon_mapleshade
16 posts
 
I'd suggest proceeding with caution, and if possible listen and compare before doing something irreversable to your cables.

I'm certainly no expert, but it seems that each model/brand of cables has it's own unique characteristics. Just because Joe Blow's Kimber, AQs, Cardas, whatever sound good in 5 ft. runs doesn't mean your TARAs will. For example: we don't make our Golden Helix cables shorter than 8 ft. because their good sound is greatly degraded in shorter lengths. But, I'm pretty sure this isn't true for all cables. Hope this is helpful input.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Hi Eldon; your input is certainly useful for Mapleshade cables. BUT, if you want to try out other shorter spkr cables, at some point you've got to "pay the price". I have used 14 ft. Syn. Res. cables for years, but I'm going to bi-amps, and could then use about 3 ft. cables.

The cheapest way for me to try them is to buy a 6-8 ft. pair used and have them cut (for bi-wires) and re-terminated. I intend to keep my 14 ft. cables at least ubtil I find out whether or not the 3 ft. ones sound better. There is a "particle" of financial risk in many things audio. No? You suggest "caution" re cutting speaker cables-- well, how would you do this test cheaper? Note: long (read expensive) ICs will be needed also. At some point, one just has to "bite the bullet" and do it, IMO. Cheers. Craig.
nemo
5 posts
 
Long interconnects and very short loudspeaker cables sound better than short interconnects and long speaker cables in VERY close to 100% of "all cases"! - and it's not too difficult to explain why: interconencts are
voltage-driven" (almost no current) and there is practically no signal quality degradation in properly made interconencts, but loudspeaker cables carry very considerable current, so there is definitely a signal degradation in long speaker cables - which was confirmed by numerous listening tests on many different systems.
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