2. cables
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When is unequal, equal?

Due to an awkward room configuration,the speaker placement in relation to the amps must lay out as follows: Speaker #1 is approximately 6' from the power source, and Speaker # 2 is spaced at 14" away. My question is as follows. If I choose to run unequal lengths of cable will this create any sonic problems, or will I be safe?... The ideal of having so much extra unused cable spooled up around the system is rather unsightly.
Please advise, and thanks.
mang53
pabelson
344 posts
 
Good work, GS. Every time you move your head while listening, you have a greater effect on the relative weight and timing of the sound reaching your ears from your two speakers than anything caused by a modest difference in cable lengths. In other words, if you think equal cable lengths matter that much, your listening chair should include a head-vise.
inpepinnovations1e75
395 posts
 
Also, Pabelson, the 'moving head' effect applies to all of the other tweaks that seemingly change the sound. All of those 'differences' if even true, are swamped by moving one's head (ears) by millimetres!
Bob P.
honest1
586 posts
 
The key point of Gs' response was that he didn't take capacitance and inductance into account. Since these are 2 of the most important factors, nothing has really been proven. If you don't believe cables change the sound, then you also should believe that length also won't. However, if you accept the notion that cables do affect the sound, then 2x the cable length will cause 2x the sonic trait of that cable, minus the effect of the terminations.
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
Honest1, I'm glad somebody else has their head on straight. Couldn't have said it better.
pabelson
344 posts
 
Well, GS actually did the analysis for resistance. If Honest1 would like to do the same for capacitance and inductance, then we might be getting somewhere. But just saying they're "important," without giving us any measure of how important, isn't saying anything. If all doubling the capacitance does is cause a 0.2 dB rolloff at 20 kHz, that won't be audible.
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