2. cables
  3. 161646-3420

Should I use long interconnects, or long speaker cables?

Currently, my equipment rack is placed centered between and behind the speakers.  I’m getting acoustic feedback (rumble) from my tt due to it’s location.  Successfully, I have eliminated this rumble by using a KAB rumble filter.  However, this seems to me like a bandaid approach, and I would like to try to eliminate the use of this filter if possible.  I’m thinking of moving my equipment rack to the side wall to try to eliminate the rumble filter.  My question is, there are two ways to do this.  Is it best to:
#1). Move everything (including the amplifier) to the side wall, and use long speaker cables to connect the amplifier to the speakers.  
#2. Move everything, except leave the amplifier on the floor (on a separate amp stand), and run a long interconnect (20’-25’) from the preamp to the power amp (my preamplifier is single ended only)?
In advance, thanks for your guidance!
louisl
darrell21256
17 posts
 
The key to eliminating tt rumble is 3 things...Isolation Isolation Isolation. You simply cannot isolate enough. Mounting a tt on an exterior wall away from the speakers usually does the trick. I have had great success with this in addition to using Sorbethane  cones under the shelf and used cork isolators under the tt  feet.  I am also big on short as possible speaker cables and long runs of "Balanced" interconnects. I have monoblocks and have used this method for years without fidelity loss of any kind. 
Good luck
sgreg1
612 posts
 
Richard Vandersteen has actually tested this theory not just offered an opinion. His results are shortest speaker cable you can possibly run. If you need long runs make it the interconnection cables to components.
audiorusty
285 posts
 
I have my turntable set up in what most consider the worst possible location, tucked into a corner just behind and to the left of the left speaker. To make matters worse the table the TT sits on, sits on a suspended wood floor of the second story of a 120 plus year old house in a very small room and I have a penchant for playing loud, bass heavy music. I solved my TT feedback issues with a Townshend audio seismic  platform. No fuss, no muss, no long cables.
desktopguy
384 posts
 
Conventional wisdom is to use long interconnects, rather than long speaker cables--the theory being that long runs will do less damage to low signal than high/amplified signal.

I put the theory to use in my 1st house, where the big Vandersteen 4 speakers (each w/integrated dual 12" push-pull sub) was located ~25 ft from the source hardware. As the 200 WPC SS amp for the subs & tube amp for mids/highs were located as close as possible to the Vandies, but off to one side, that meant:
  • 2 X 25 ft runs of interconnect 
  • and ~9 ft. pair of speaker cables 

The resulting sound was amazing. Once I heard that, I never thought twice about the wisdom of my cabling.

BTW, it does make sense to make sure your interconnects have relatively low capacitance--as that is one spec that definitely "accumulates" w/greater length. My interconnects qualified, plus I knew they sounded great from previous experience.
decooney
2,167 posts
 
With single ended (non-XLR) interconnect cables, you are in more of a pickle. XLR is designed for longer runs, single-ended ICs are not. 

Longer speaker cables impact the sound. Shorter the speaker cables, the better.  Long runs of quality speaker cables can be expensive too. 

As suggested, isolation. Worth more exploration, granite slabs, layers...
More to discover