Is sound quality effected by twist connecting 2 speaker wires together for extra length?


Hi all,

I have been using a switch (Niles ABS-1) so I can use the same speakers to play music from different sources: my turn table via my nice equipment (Cary AE-3 tube pre-->McIntosh 2125 amp) and then lesser important things like television/Xbox powered by a Sony receiver. This setup has worked well allowing me to use the same set of speakers without having to physically move speaker wires around when I am listening from different sources.

However, at this point the turntable audio quality is all that matters, so I was thinking I would take the Speaker switch out of the equation since I figure it could possibly degrade/modify the signal and therefore the quality of the acoustics I hear (correct me if I’m wrong?)

Question:
with that said I cut my quad 12 gauge wires to match the length of the setup using the switch, so without it the wires from the speakers are about 2 feet short of the length needed to reach the McIntosh Amp. Is there any reason i should avoid just twisting another wire on (same kind) to the end of the speaker wire so it’s long enough to reach the amp?

I dont have any single pieces of cables long enough, but I have some extra 2’ pieces I could use to extend. I really don’t want to spend $$ unless it’s essential.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
hockey4496
This is really one of those questions that can't be accurately answered by anyone other than yourself. I could say outright that I think that I would hear a difference, but in reality maybe yes maybe not. The point is that only you can answer to your satisfaction whether there is a notable difference. I have discovered over the years that we each hear and perceive what we hear differently.  What I would venture is that you would hear a more significant change with different cables rather than adding 2' of 12 ga onto existing 12 gauge speaker wire.
Twisting and securing with cap of proper gauge or using brass crimp plates will work better than soldering.
spray from time to time with Deoxit to prevent corrosion.


I would crimp them with copper sleeves. A good crimp shouldn't oxidize on the cold welded contact surfaces. You could then wrap with Teflon plumber's tape and put some heat shrink tubing over it and it should be good for a long while..