Your short speaker cable experiences

My experiment is going to be with Cardas 101 bulk wire, 14 awg. I will try it at 3' and then try bi-wiring with two 3' runs. 

I run three subs, so I'll turn those off during the comparisons. They take care of bass issues pretty nicely, so I will be listening in other regions of the audio spectrum for differences.

I run my speakers in bi-amped mode, with one mono block amp behind each speaker. The speaker cable is 8'' long with bare ends. And a second mono block amp underneath each speaker with a 12'' long speaker cable again with bare ends. There was a very, very, very minuscule difference in bass impact compared to the 8' long cables again with bare ends I was previously using. Also, all cables are DIY the same type/brand 14AWG. To my knowledge, speaker cables should always be as short as possible even if there is no audible differences.

Mike

I mentioned the Neotech because it's something I would like to try.

You might also look into VHAudio bulk wire offerings (wondering if their much less expensive interconnect cable would work well as short speaker cable)?

Hoping that you will experiment with the better version of the Neotech 22 gauge solid core copper, just to hear your feedback.

Single runs of smaller gauge solid core copper speaker cable can (most likely will) offer somewhat less tight bass, which I prefer, but not reduced bass as many suspect/think/believe (quite the opposite form my experience).

Years ago when I ran 12' runs of the tiny OTA between an Audio Silver Night DH/SET 300B amp and Reynaud Twins MkII two members "here" who listened to the setup asked if I had a sub hidden under the bentwood settee located between the speakers.

The Audion was SS rectified and I suspect that the small gauge OTA reduced the damping factor to some degree with the 12' runs.

One thought he busted me (he stayed the weekend) when he found a wooden box tucked way back under the settee, but it was a wooden crate containing a 3 liter bottle of Italian wine that I was storing for an upcoming patio party.

DeKay

I am very skeptical that 5 feet will make a difference. 

But I may be wrong. 

Very nice replies, folks. Keep em' coming. I'm going to experiment with 3ft soon (vs. 8 feet). 

My dealer has told me one of the big changers you can make to benefit your system is to put your mono blocks right next to your speakers and run a really short speaker cable… it tremendously improves the speed and accuracy of the speakers. I know this guy really well and have for 20 years. He installs really high end systems all the time. I take what he says as gospel. But you have to do the shortest possible… think a foot or foot and a half.

I have monoblocks right now… unfortunately they are on loan and I don’t have any really short speaker cables. Or I would try it.

Not exactly apples for apples. For your consideration.

With each amp behind each speaker, 16" speaker cables (no connector on speaker side), was zero difference to a pair of 20' cable (with connectors on speaker side).

I hear no difference between 1M and 2.5M of the same cables.

@hilde45

I heard no audible differences between my 1.5M and 3M speaker cables. Both cables are built by same manufacturer. 

@carlsbad 
Thanks for your experience. I'm thinking of going raw wire as my connector.
@yogiboy ​@mike_in_nc  Thanks. I'm open to finding out the same result. The closure of knowing will be worth it!
@dekay  Interesting experiment. I'll try that next. I'm going with bare ends for sure.

I usr 24" cables from my Apollon monoblocks to the speakers. Though I like the idea from a technical point of view, I didn't notice any sonic difference compared to 6' cables. YMMV.

I believe that the general audiophile sonics convention is to have short speaker cables and thus longer interconnects vs vice-versa.  However, I plan to do the opposite since I already have 8ft speaker cables, no room to put amp between speakers, and to save $ on my shorter pre-amp>interconnect>amp cable.

Now would be a good time to experiment with bulk small gauge solid core copper wire for a pittance, as you would be using short runs (throw stranded wire into the mix as well, but up the gauge a bit).

If 26 gauge scares you (my 47 Labs OTA is 26) try 22 gauge...

https://www.soniccraft.com/index.php/neotech-wire-teflon-solid-cu-c-296_175_183_221?osCsid=b4c061571da0b7d12a0d984e30ecd85e

I've used the OTA  succesfully with more contemporary/normal amps/speakers than those listed in my system (Carver MXR130/Musical Fidelity X-A1/Pilot 232/240 - Magnepan SMGA's/Reynaud Twins II/ADS L880/Klipsch Chorus II, just to name some).

I've only tried the OTA in short runs (approx. 2') with my current system and did not notice a difference, but only tried it for a few days as I was concerned about our cats being able to access the Bottlehead tube DH/SET 2A3 mono blocks and their high voltages (the BH tube preamp less so).

I would suggest using bare ends, sans connectors, if you consider doing so.

Also once tried the OTA in long runs 25'-30', or so, and it sucked - so this type of cable definitely has it's limits.

DeKay

I have used 4 and 15 feet of the same speaker cable and it did not make a difference in my system!!

I've been using 10' cables which were longer than I need.  I just made a pair of 5' cables with low mass connectors and love the results.  

When you go ultra short there is not much to them, you might consider low mass connections (to do low mass right, you should change out the binding posts on both the amp and the speaker.  I use BFA type connectors on my cables.  KLEI makes low mass connectors.)

I have a friend who does just what you do, balanced interconnects to his monoblocks and 18" speaker cables.  He swears by it.

Jerry

@audioguy85 What problem are you referring to? I'm asking for people who have compared longer and shorter runs. You doubt there is an audible difference, but may I ask if you actually tried comparing things or are you just paper doubting?

I don’t have that problem, I need and use 4 meter pair, actually 2 pair (biwire)....I doubt there is an audible difference between a few feet and what amounts to 13.1 feet (4m), especially if using quality cables.