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Can speaker cables be too thick?

Hi folks, I've tried several speaker cables in the past, like the MIT MH-750, Wireworld Gold Eclipse, Ridge Street Audio, Pure Note Paragon and Cardas Golden Eclipse. I've been using these expensive cables until I replace them with ordinary 2x6mm2 OFC copper cables consisting of multiple small gauge solid conductors. These cables have the best tonal balance and they match very well with the speakers (Dunlavy SC-V). I use them in biwire fashion (each cable is 5 ft in length). What would happen if I replace them with even larger gauge copper cables, like 2x8mm2 or 2x10mm2? Would the sound improve further with the larger gauge cables? What sonic characteristics can be heard when the speaker wire is "too thick"?

Chris
dazzdax
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Oh, I didn't know the copper conductor was the issue. When Dazdax mentions Cardas and MIT in the same line, I naturally thought he was talking about the visual size.

I do not have an opinion on thick cables. I will try that on my bass panels. I found very thin works wonders on the mids and highs.
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Slv,

Yes inductance appears to be one of the factors that can begin to affect roll-off in highs. Skin effect can do this to (ever so slightly). However, the effects of inductance are still pretty small unless you go to large wire spacings (ribbon cables) and long lengths.

A difficult load (much lower than 8 Ohms) will lower the point at which inductance begins to affect high frequencies.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Flat - very thin- should be kept very short. That gives you the best worlds in mids and highs. Even 1 ohm benefits.
phaelon
1,052 posts
 
Slv,
Thanks for explaining things in such a way that even I could make some sense of it. Given the reluctance of cable manufactures to publish electrical parameters, would it be difficult for someone else (retailers, reviewers, etc.) to independently measure and publish results? Also, why don't amplifier and speaker manufacturers more vigorously address the need for specific properties in connecting cables?
davemitchell
253 posts
 
I have found when making my own cables that too thick a conductor sounds bad (oddly enough too thick sounding) as does too thin. The range that I have found sounds best is between 18awg and 20awg per solid core conductor with the particular metals that I like. Why is this so? I don't honestly have a clue, I can only describe what I have experienced sonically.

What makes nearly as big a difference is the dielectric (insulation) material or lack thereof. Surrounding the conductor with as much air as possible yeilds the best sound.
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