No one actually knows how to lculate what speaker cable they need

Making choices with setting a sound system by hearing.

Some components shall be selected with the ears. Like the speakers.

Some components shall not! Like the speaker cables.

The roll of speaker cables in a sound system is not to tweak the sound. As previously described, the cables are a pair of conductors that should pass 1:1 (transfer function) the audio content of the amplifier’s output to the speakers. Just as a driveshaft pass the motion from the engine to the wheels. Picking a thin cable, is like getting a thin (soft driveshaft) some of the engine power (horse power (=Watts) and torque (=DF) will be lost with a poor driveshaft. Some of the amplifier’s strength and power will be lost with a poor speaker cable.

That’s not the way to get a sonic difference. This is only playing on the range between using 100% of that amplifier’s potential to some part of it (sometimes as small as 20%!).

The right way, is to get the entire potential (100%). It makes no sense buying powerful amplifiers, spend money on that power and not using its potential.

Speaker cables can and should be tailored to your system, to fit its demand and enable the full potential of the amplifier reach the speakers. This is practically the say behind some of the sharing brought here. The change is significant to dramatic.

"Making choices with setting a sound system by hearing.

Some components shall be selected with the ears. Like the speakers. Some components shall not! Like the speaker cables."

If what you say is true, why after 40+ years of high-end cable use, the preferred way of choice is by ear and not by the numbers?

All parts of the system impact the resulting sound including, wire, cable, tubes, trannys, footers, caps, inductors etc.... Since they all impact the sound, then we should listen and make decisions. A cable is also a component and should be listened to wether 24 gauge or 0 gauge. This is after all a hobby and passion for the ears. Engineering and math will tell us an ideal amplifier for a given set of speakers based on the speakers efficiency, sensitivity, impedance curve, room size and listening volumes. Now will the mathematically chosen amp sound as good to the listener as the one he chooses based on actual listening tests? Well we all know the one picked based on actual listening tests will no doubt sound better to the individual. Cables are no different.

No I dont want to load in my system needs and have a computer printout what I should buy based on specs and numbers. Goodness no. I want to hear it.

Mr. grannnyring

Why do you say your word in plural and not in singular? The best would be if everyone would make that decision for himself. Even not by listening to a dealer!

You try to describe the audio hobby and the system building as a chaotic process that only can be sought out by listening. At a time that the number of combinations is endless. Well, it is not. There are rules that apply. It is just that there are people who know them and others who don’t. For those who don’t know the rules, others need to help them out by advice. It is mostly working well and also profitable for the one who is giving the advice, not so well for the one who is getting the advice. The journey you try to describe, in this endless possibilities jungle, just using your ears, is impossible. Most will never get there. There must be a more systematic and logical way to do this.

There is!

Whatever you like it or not, some physics rules apply and you better follow. Acoustics, power, electric compliance and more. Even with the LEGO bricks not all fit. Your desecration is required.

I’ve heard a lot this point of view, of getting to the right sound only by using hearing. This is mostly true for those who have no other way to do it, like using knowledge. Is your post actually is a declaration about yourself, only using plural to hide it?

For speaker cables that are the subject of this thread, if someone forgot, till now, you were right. From now on, there is a method (new way) to be used, by those who really want the best, not only say they have the best. Read the sharing’s and assimilate.

I only offer a new tool in your toolbox to be used and benefit from. This tool is good for speaker cables selection. Hearing is not and never have been a (measuring) tool.

Using the wrong speaker cables, have a bad sounding. I don’t buy your say that a poor engineered cable will be the one to sound best. I’m in this hobby for 45 years and I know it is not. So those who gave it a try know. What you are trying to convince me (and others) can benefit only one: the speaker cables industry! Why you don’t simply give your bank a standing order to deposit those 30% of your annual income and get the same feeling? You may save the trouble with the bank and just flash it down the toilet.