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No longer need 16' speaker cable pair- options?

So- when I bought my speaker cables a few years ago, Analysis Plus Mesh Oval 9's, the way my system was set up, I needed a 16' pair. My set up is entirely different now, and I don't need more than a 10' run. As I see it, I have 3 options: 1- do nothing; 2- have my cables re-terminated by AP into a 10' pair and a spare 6' pair; 3- Sell my Oval 9's and look for an entirely new cable.

I do like the AP 9's- it's a full and warm cable. Really checks off all the right boxes for me and in the time I've owned them, never been disappointed by their performance. My amp is a Pass X250.8 and the speakers are Revel Studio 2.

Your thoughts? Thanks!
128x128zavato
elliottbnewcombjr
5,376 posts
 
10' sound different than 16' same brand?

they sounded great for a few years? no way would I shorten them. a 6ft pair of speaker cables for what? future change, you might want longer than 10ft. again. you might experiment/find a more forward position you like and need a few more feet to get forward.

If you really think it would make a difference, which I seriously doubt, I would research and try a new pair of 12 foot from ___, keeping those 16', send the new ones back if I couldn't hear anything I liked better.

I suspect you have covid cabin fever, spend that money on new music!
chayro
2,985 posts
 
If you like the cable, I would leave it alone and route the excess cable appropriately.  It's not that much excess.  IMO, a reterminated 6' pair of cables would not have much value, especially if you deduct the cost of retermination.  If you needed a 6" pair for another system, that's a different story.  
zavato's avatar
zavato OP
1,403 posts
 
I don’t exactly need a 6’ pair for a 2nd system right now but it might well come in handy in the not too distant future. The cost of re-termination is about 40% of what a new 6’ pair would run- 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Its doubtful you will hear any improvement from the shorter length. So the question is how much is the better looking shorter length worth it to you? Some place like the Cable Co will probably take your longer cable on trade and sell you the shorter one for next to nothing net. The other way, re-terminate, you spend a couple hundred to get to the same place but with an extra 6 ft cable worth maybe... a couple hundred. That's if you can sell the shorter cable. 

The only way I see it worth re-terminating is Option Four: have them cut the 6 ft wires, don't terminate, and use them to replace some of the internal speaker wires. Probably not something you'll be into, especially with those hard to work on speakers. But I've done this before and its almost guaranteed to be a bigger improvement than any of your other options.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Leave it alone.  Nothing to be gained, and who knows, some time in the future you might need longer ones again.
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