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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
keppertup
26 posts
 
Professor,

I have installed the third 0 AWG cable between a Devialet 120 and Magnepan MGIIIa’s. I was expecting an incremental increase is performance. The performance increase is dramatic.

Now, I am tempted to install a fourth per channel per side.

I have no idea why it works, and I don’t care why.

Maggie owners take note. I bought mine in 1988. They have been paired with many amps and cables. They have never sounded this good.

Best regards,

J
jollygreenaudiophile2's avatar
jollygreenaudiophile2
275 posts
 
So, You believe in the absolute that;
Cooker: the melting point of Copper is: 1,085 °C
In the process of making a cable, it is melted. Once it solidifies, the metal structure is set. No heating under that melting point would change that.
So is the other direction: Cryo treatment. No effect on conductivity.
When using supper conductivity, in extreme cold: (close to the 0 Kelvin = -297 °C) it is not a copper conductor, but composite material. None apply to Audio. They are used in supercomputers or cold fusion attempts.

And further you believe;
Directional: Sound is an AC signal. It's nature to flow 50% of the time in one direction and the other 50% of the time in the other. (Nyquist theory, that all AC signals can be broken down into sine waves, is the basic of digital Audio!).
When you claim on a cable it's directional, which 50% of the time it benefits, and which 50% of the time it doesn't?

Also;
It's fun to crash them, one at a time. There are so many. The latest is called: Geometry.
It will expend for Quantum physics, String theory, Singularity quiq to come and maybe lean over older fashioned religious blessing or cursing, to get ignorance to the a new hight.

Man-o-man your just precious!
 Please, do not ever change!
Can you message me whenever you are going to, "Crash" something in physics or math? Like geometry! I just have to see that.
Ok, buh bye now..
    (waves).
b4icu's avatar
b4icu OP
558 posts
 
Mr.  jollygreenaudiophile2

You quote my say, no comments and than you have a say that is irrelevant. 
Nice trying. No big deal.  
b4icu's avatar
b4icu OP
558 posts
 
Mr. keppertup

Thanks for sharing your impressions from your upgrade.
I’m happy that it works for you.

The increase is not linear all the way. it looks more like a Capacitor Charging Graph:
http://www.learningaboutelectronics.com/Articles/Capacitor-charging.php
Keep in mind that my recommanded calculation, for DF=8000 was an enormous 32x 0 AWG. That would be your 95% point on the chart.
The 3 or 4 first #0 AWG cables are still at the bottom part of that chart.
Every cable adds significantly vs the level before.
32x 0 AWG is not a practical option...we can assume that already.

Just to be kindly reminded, it is better for you to get two mono blocks and place them very close to the speakers. Every time you get rid off 1/2 the length, you can get rid of 1/2 the cross section.
That could get down from 32 to 16, or 8 or 4 x0 awg...where you are just about to be next.



estereo23
4 posts
 
B4icu 

Same as before on the DF BUT cable is 25 foot,This is for a 7.1 system and wall speakers. I wonder if I also need the 8 AWG

DF 105 [it literally says DF:greater than 105 from 10Hz to 400Hz] -25 foot cable

Thanks in Advance
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