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Cable Length Optimization...Speaker vs Interconnect, etc.

Component placement constraints have me trying to decide the best compromise between amp to speaker and preamp to amp cabling. I'm on a limited budget, so probably looking at Blue Jean cables or similar (in cost). With a Freya+ I can use balanced or unbalanced outputs, but amp is unbalanced only, so have to use an interface at the amp end if I go balanced. 

Choices are

(1) pre to amp about 5 ft, amp to furthest speaker about 20 feet

(2) pre to amp about 18 feet, amp to speakers about 7 ft.

I lean toward option 1, but that isn't based on anything empirical. If option 2, even though it means adding an interface (Rolls MB15b, Rolls HE18, or similar), I think balanced might be the better pre to amp connection.

Thoughts? 

Paul



paulf3rd
gdnrbob
4,494 posts
 
I would try to go with longer interconnects, especially balanced, rather than longer speaker cables.
Since your amp only accepts RCA, then a Jensen converter would be a wise purchase. Go balanced for the long run, then convert to RCA near the amp.
Bob
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Always love the "separates on a limited budget".  Anyway, surprise, no one needs XLR for length. That stuff is made for professional use where the runs are tens of meters, not ten feet. Another one audiophiles completely misunderstand. So save yourself some money. (And if you really want to save money: integrated amp.) 

That's all. No one even thinking of running 20 ft of wire gonna listen to me anyway. But at least maybe someone will get that XLR is a total waste and misapplication of money and technology. 
paulf3rd OP
20 posts
 
Bob..Thanks.

MC...I have to assume you are single and don't have the same constraints I do. Last IA became a brick, resident financial advisor set the budget...and paying attorneys fees to get a new advisor would put me into the 14 dollar Walmart checkout line BT speaker.
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,640 posts
 
Limited budget? Balanced cable to a single end input is the biggest waste of $$ I can think of.
Don't worry about MC. He can't run balanced so you shouldn't either. The fact is that unless both ends are completely differental it is a total waste of funds.
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