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

Mr. khiak

You have been ignoring my two requests:

a.     To share your impression about the sound with your new DIY cable.

b.     Fill in the data missing on the excel table.

Please do.

Your approach regarding the equation of the amp-speaker circuit, with the speaker cables in between is wrong! If you would isolate (as you did) the DF from the circuit, and use optimal cables (0.0000 Ohms), it still not the 8 or 6 ohms of the speaker impedance, vs. the DF resistance value.

DF is provided by the standard, in an 8 ohms load (no matter what is your speaker's actual impedance!) and at 1 KHz. Some brands would extend that data into higher Fr.

However 1 KHz is not a low frequency at all.

Directionality: What directionality in AC where the wave is symmetrical both ways?

Skin effect: When you look at the AWG table, you see that the data provided is regarding the top Fr. That a cable can still pass it's full power. A 4-0 gauge cable is way thicker than an audio system needs to pass through its full power. At the playing power (even at peak) the 4-0 gauge cables still pass more than sufficient at 20kHz.  

I’m the UK guy. Geoff’s right, the cable I replaced with the custom 0AWG cables aren’t “high end” (van damme blue). I read the review of them, and it’s not great. I’ve also given my reasons for choosing them.

My personal dilemma with this whole thing was whether I think speaker cables matter at all. If they don’t, then what cable I choose doesn’t matter so the van dame blue or the 0AWG should be the same. If they do then it’s a gamble as to whether they’re an upgrade or not. Lots of variables. The 0AWG sounded better, but that could have been for lots of reasons: oxidation, the cable, or just the matter of re-seating them.

Anyway, to test, ive bought myself a length of kimber 12TC cable. Hopefully we can agree that cable is closer to “high end” and that my “mid-high end” system, as I’m guessing some would call it
would reveal the differences? I would hope so.

Mr. Dill

Big misunderstanding.

1.       You link an article not a spec on a wire.

2.       Why do you need me to read a long (endless) document that has nothing, but absolutely nothing to this thread? After 220 posts you still do not understand a thing!

3.       Even if you would bring one spec., it is nothing in that big pile of others who has no data at all.

4.       For the sake of this thread, try to post things on subject and not off subject. Thanks.

Mr. conradnash

Good luck with the kimber 12TC cable. Let us know what your verdict is.

Even with a mid end system, before you lay down your equipment, it needs a proper room and some excellent sources (recordings). Are you sure you have that as a start?

I’ve EQd the room <1000Hz to within +-3db down to about 8Hz. My mic isn’t accurate above that. I’m waiting on my calibrated mic which I’ll get in March.

im using all digital sources ranging from Spotify through flac from HDTracks up to Sacd (Telarc, plus others) and DSD 512. My dac is only good until 24/192, but I have an alternative dac that supports full DSD as well, it’s just not in my main system (it’s only 2 channel). 

So, all things being equal, my system is high-end (RME HDSP, Classé ct-5300, B&W 802N) The cable is high end? The room is ok? The sources are ok? I should hear a difference, right?