How to select a good Speaker Cable
Speaker cables do have a significant role in how our system sounds. Different cables sound different.
So which one is the right one for you?
The Speaker Cable is an extension of the Amp. and not an addition to the speaker's load. It shall have a certain resistance (low) not to spoil the Amp's DF figure. As so, it can be calculated and there is a formula to do it.
The higher the Amp's DF, the lower the Speaker Cable's resistance shall be. As today SS power Amp's get DFs of 400 and above (Digital Amps go by thousands) the cable of 10 ft (3m) long, gets as thick as 0 AWG.
I can see your eyebrows elevates, when that thick cable is to be deal with. Most Speaker Cable makers skip it because of that. So most cables on the market (regardless of the look or price) are of 14-12 AWG. Way less that supposed to be.
Worst! no Speaker Cable maker, dealer or seller knows the answer, of what is the correct cable for your system.
So most of us ended up, with a cables too thin for the task.
A conducted test, on this site, about a year ago as well as with some closer friends, shows a significant improvement with a calculated size cable over their previous cable. The results were all positive and preferred the calculated cable.
So, instead of asking: which of two brands, or two prices or two colors of Speaker Cable do I need, you should ask how thick of a Speaker Cable do I need.
I'll be happy to provide you the calculation, for who request it. All you need to provide is:
1). Length (Ft. or meter)
2). The Amp's DF figure.
Thanks
So, instead of asking: which of two brands, or two prices or two colors of Speaker Cable do I need, you should ask how thick of a Speaker Cable do I need. This is right out of Stereo Review circa 1970. Awful long time to still be fanning the flames for Julian Hirsch. Or are you just being thorough and decided to start your speaker cable research with articles from 50 years ago? My guess is this is sincere, and genuinely oblivious of just how out of date this is: Half. A. Century. |
You’re not adding the amp resistance. DF 700 = 8/700= .0114 Ohm 0awg resistance = .000098 ft 10 awg resistance = .00099 ft Total drive resistance 0 awg = .0114 +.000098 =.011498 ft Total drive resistance 10 awg = .0114+ .00099= .01239 ft Difference = 10 awg .01239 - 0 awg .011498 = .000892 ft The difference between using 10 awg and 0 awg over a 10ft speaker wire 10*2 * .000892 = .017 Ohm Learn how to figure what you’re supposed to be doing you’re not adding the amp resistance to the speaker wire resistance so your numbers are skewed. The DIFFERENCE is only a .017 Ohm for a 10ft speaker wire in other words INSIGNIFICANT. |
Most cable resistance is fairly low enough that DF may not be that importance. The problem comes in when the impedance of the speaker load increases toward 20KHz that damping factor could be a problem especially with tube amp. If so, the sound could sound harsh on the treble. A speaker with high impedance at high frequency can use a Zobel network to flatten out the impedance so that it may work well with tubes which are more sensitive to speaker load vs. solid states. |
Head ye over to your local Straight Wire dealer and purchase Crescendo 3 speaker cables. Or:https://www.thecableco.com/crescendo-3-interconnect-pair.html You're welcome. |
