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Cable length dilemma!

Ok, so here's the dilemma: speakers placed on either side of a fireplace, impossible to place the amp between them. Only place to put the amp is just to the left of the left speaker, leaving a 1-foot run to the left speaker, and a 9-foot rum to the right speaker. I have always read that your L/R cables should be the same length, but in my case that would necessitate coiling 8ft of the L cable underneath the rack, which is the lesser of two evils here - mismatched length, or a big coil of cable under the rack?

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mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,982 posts
 
This has been discussed ad nauseam on here. Al (almarg) has by far the best comments available. Maybe do a search. (I did the search for you below.)

I can tell you that you should NEVER coil the wire. It will cause inductance. You should, if you have to, use a loose figure eight type configuration.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/compensating-for-different-speaker-cable-lengths?highlight=di...

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/are-unequal-length-speaker-cables-really-bad/by_member?userna...
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
I also have the "fireplace between the speakers" situation (albeit a fake gas thing) and both cables are the same length (10 feet or so) with the closer speaker cable only looping once and crossing itself only once…no hum, loss, inductance issues…no problemo…it's an AQ Type 8 solid core pair so it's spiraled internally to reject hum, and sounds great.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,467 posts
 
I suggst finding a different spot for the speakers.  Anything large placed between them will be greatly detrimental to the sound.  If its a real fire place with a flu...all your lows will go up that flu.  Bad placement.
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