How long is too long for interconnects?

There have been a number of threads here in the past on the question of long interconnects/short speaker cables vs. short interconnects/long speaker cables. My perception is that a majority favor long interconnects/short speaker cables. But as with many things in audio it depends on the specific equipment and the specific cables.

Generally speaking the following factors tend to reduce the criticality of interconnect cable length:

-- Low output impedance of the component driving the cable.
-- Use of balanced interconnections.
-- Low cable capacitance per unit length.
-- Insensitivity of the interconnected components to ground loop effects (which is generally not predictable).

Generally speaking the following factors tend to reduce the criticality of speaker cable length:

-- High speaker impedance.
-- Low cable inductance per unit length.
-- Low cable resistance per unit length.
-- Avoiding cables having unusually high capacitance per unit length, as that could have adverse effects on some amplifiers.
-- Low or no global feedback in the amplifier driving the cable, as noise picked up in a long speaker cable might otherwise be injected into the feedback loop of the amp, with unpredictable sonic consequences.

In this case, without knowing anything about the OP’s equipment I would say that it is probable that 12 foot interconnects will not be a problem.

Also, I agree with the earlier poster that there is no need to keep the lengths of the two cables the same. Unless, that is, you (the OP) envision the possibility of selling them at some point in the future, as unequal lengths would tend to turn off some potential buyers.

Regards,
-- Al

But I always heard (or maybe misheard) that longer speaker cables were a bad idea.

Kind of depends on a lot of factors. I mean, ideally everything is close together, cables never cross, blah blah blah.

The big issue among audiophiles is the big-ass very expensive speaker cables. If you are going to spend $300/ft for speaker cables, but $30/ft for interconnects, the latter is preferable.

I used to work in a theater and we had up to 150' from amps to speakers. Worked fine. Was it ideal? We could have put the amps behind the screen, but then we'd have 150' of signal cable, which, even when balanced, is MUCH more prone to noise pickup than speaker cables. And I don't mean your reviewer sitting at home with a glass of wine type of splitting hairs about blackest black backgrounds, i mean NOISE!!!

So, honestly, think about the subtle 'notes' you may change with longer amp cables vs. convenience of wiring the whole thing.

Best,

E

Usually more than about 30 minutes then I get too sore. Oh, wait, that’s interconnects. Never mind.

Good advice above. I ideally ALL cables would be as short as possible. But then we'd all be listening to Bose Wave Radios. My suggestions:

1. For unbalanced connections, keep the lowest level connections as short as possible. These would be (in order of lowest to highest) analog source (turntable, tape) to step up, step-up to preamp, preamp to amp, amp to speakers. Thus ICs should be shortest and speaker cables longest. There are exceptions to this rule, or course.

2- For balanced connections, keep source level connections as short as possible. Preamp to amp connections can be as long as needed (within limits). Speaker cables can be short if preferred.

It sounds like you might benefit from using active, powered speakers. Place the speakers where you want and run balanced interconnects to your preamp or high-gain source. Should work great if you haven't yet purchased gear.