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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


128x128b4icu
b4icu's avatar
b4icu OP
558 posts
 
Mr. fuzztone

Which model of tara labs did you purchase? How much did you paid for it?

The Omega (#4 awg) or the The Grand Master Evolution ( $000 awg) ?
Your favorite brand is thinking that the thicker the better. So this is a good start.

They do not link the need of such thickness with length or DF, but it well related to the price.
My recent check (about 4 years ago) suggested a price of $32,000.- for the Omega, at my local dealer.
I made my friend a pair of #4 awg (PASS LAB 250.8) for material cost:
Less than US $75.-
Up’s that’s a bit cheaper than the Omega...Yes, it came without a fancy box, nor fishnet sleeve (-:. 
I really don't think it makes a difference when he cleans the dust over the cables, once a while.

Now I’m into assemble a #0 awg, so he asked me to have it for a demo.
The material BOM is about to arrive till Aug. 5th. 
Even though the calculation shows that #4 awg is enough, I would be happy to see if a #0 awg improve the already good sound he has (B&W 802D).


b4icu's avatar
b4icu OP
558 posts
 
Mr. andy2

Tube Amp. have a low DF (less than 20) so the cables are insignificant in that case. Not at 20kHz nore any other Fr.
Above there is a guy who has an Amp. with a DF of 3 !!!

It is very significant when using a fine SS Amp. with higher DF's (above 200, up to 700 or 1000, before getting into D class with DF's of 2000 and above).
andy2
1,555 posts
 
^^^ If an amp has low DF (high output impedance), it will drive the high frequency more if a speaker has a rising impedance toward 20KHz which will result in harsh treble.  

But if an amp has high DF (low output impedance), then the difference is less at low freq. vs. high freq.
eganmedia's avatar
eganmedia
26 posts
 
I’d kindly asked not to refer me to web articles. There are so many out there, with different ideas. So what?
None are yours. It is your choice which one to addaped, and which one do reject. So it is for myself.
Wait a second:  I'm not sure what you're saying.  Are you claiming that because something is published online that it can be immediately discounted regardless of the source?  Are you saying that footnoted claims are dismissible because they rely on others' research?  Are you saying that the only valid opinion is one you have derived yourself, and that prior work by others can be dismissed simply because someone else did the research?  I really don't get what your point is, other than that no claim can be true if it can be backed up, which is just sad.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
5,023 posts
 
@b4icu Do you sell speaker cables?
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