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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
davemitchell
253 posts
 
Dazz, using a selection of solid core silver conductors that I experimented with, when I got to 18awg I could already hear the sound getting too thick. Beyond that it just kept getting worse.

Remember though, you can't draw any global conclusions from that experiemnt because it is possible that I would have gotten slightly different results using some other metal conductor. I would bet that with any conductor you wouldn't want to go to much heavier than a 17 or 18awg individual conductor.

The way to make a heavier gauge cable then is too use multiple conductors, each individually insulated. But you should take care to minimze the insulation's contribution too.
davemitchell
253 posts
 
Muralman, while it seems we agree on the importance of the dielectric contribution, we disagree about the shape of the conductor.

I have experimented quite a bit with round vs. flat or rectangular conductors and my experience is exactly the opposite of what you say regarding high frequency performance. In my own experiments, a round conductor in the ~20awg range resulted in the most extended and open high frequencies.

What actually seems to be most improved by air dielectric is the high frequency range and sense of openness.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Yes, Dave, dielectrics in fine source open systems benefit with air dielectric for just the reason you are describing.

As for round vs, flat I am talking solid wire vs. flat ribbon at 12 gauge. For small wires, I like solid just fine. I use such an interconnect. The highs are everything you want them to be.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Thin-wide (flat) conductors are best for radio frequency signals. The misapplication of this true fact to audio frequency signals is typical audiophile science.

That said, my speaker wires are flat. However, the reason is that they are Goertz, and the two thin conductors are one on top of the other so as to create a relatively high capacitance. The shape of the wire is not a factor.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
The proof is in the listening, musical instruments and voices gained a normalcy with decidedly more detail over the round wire. If there are radio signals getting through then I do not hear as well as I thought. The painter that is working in my room now, somewhat younger, says the same.
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