Bought some 14/2 “speaker wire” from Home Depot

high negative feedback amplifiers tend to exacerbate cable differences.

not because high negative feedback is better, but because the negative feedback network becomes over excited and corrects transient function after the horse has left the barn.

that’s how high negative feedback works at high frequencies.

this mess of over correction leaves a trail of odd harmonic hash, which some misinterpret as signal, and thus ascribe to being cable differences.

all the transistors, the BJT types, and the MOSFET and FET types, are also non linear in their gain, so they also add odd harmonic hash.

Also, since the correction is lower in level than the main signal, the reflection of the correction -into the signal... comes about as a negative non-linear function in the complex harmonic pulse.

Since it is non linear in the gain department and the correction is at different level, then the correction can’t even trace the ’desired to be eliminated’ signal correctly. (it’s done in a different spot in the gain curve)

When we lost the linear gain of tubes and V-Fets ---- it all went to hell.

It has literally been downhill and backward, every step of the way, since then.

Millercarbon

what’s fascinating is that you mis-state what I said and then rail against your revised version of what I said- 

No I never said the 14/2 was indistinguishable from my Analysis Plus cables - or in your own words “can’t hear any difference”

My main point is that the 14/2 isn’t dreadful. And it’s not my long term choice either.  I suggest that if in your system copper 14/2 is something you could not endure for even a minute there is something very off going on in your system and your speakers cables are being used in a symbiotic relationship with other components to fix something. 

Exactly Zavato.

Teoaudii, that is why good engineers design for stability and hence properly applied even with a complex load distortion can be much less (even or odd) with negative feedback than so called linear amplifiers which are only somewhat linear. All comes down to implementation.

Williewonka. 50 years and never once see a slimy deposit on wire and I have stripped a lot of wire. Sounds like Uber cheap offshore or some boutique brand that did not know what they were doing.



Felixa the op stated stranded 14 awg. Most definitely not skin effect classic or otherwise. Inductance would be a much bigger impact at 20khz.

I am running Canare 4S11 @15 foot per side.  Total cost under $120.00 and one of the biggest bargains in home audio. It is 11 gauge cable when you pair each wire in the cable. 

Quite listenable, though perhaps not as extended at the high end. If someone told me I had to use the Home Depot wire I’d get along just fine.

Actual quote. Cut and paste.

Leads me to one of 4 possible conclusions- 1- my hearing stinks; 2- my fancy Analysis Plus cables aren’t anything special; 3- my system isn’t resolving enough to make a difference; 4- given sufficient gauge, cable is cable.

Actual quote. Cut and paste. Your words, not mine. Your choices, not mine. If you really are not sure which of these four conclusions, the only ones you say are possible, then its definitely #1.  

When you get better at it you will know it can't possibly be anything but your listening ability that is in question. You will not be able to get along just fine with crappy hookup wire. And you will not be getting into tiffs like this unless... wait a minute- are you trolling me? lol! Takes one to know one. ;)