Cable Management Tips and Tricks

Call me crazy but I did some cable management work last night based on suggestions in this post.  Basic stuff...got the speaker wires off the floor and separated them from power cords and interconnects.  Re-routed some of the interconnects so they didn't touch and didn't run as parallel as before.  Took maybe 10 minutes, a couple pieces of string and a handful of rubber bands.  What I can say for sure is that immediately following the cleanup my system sounded the best it's sounded in a while...if not ever.  I guess some could convincingly argue that there could be multiple reasons for the perceived improvement, but my favorite is that cable management actually does make a difference.  I'm headed to Home Depot today to pick up some of that foam based pipe insulation to compete the task.  

One question I still have is this....I get how running a speaker wire next to a power cord could create a problem...but what I'm wondering is whether a pair of interconnects...say R/L channel to a single source...will also benefit from the advice (don't run parallel).  I look at the back of my DAC and the output jacks are in parallel.  I look at my fancy pre-amp and not only are the input jacks in parallel but they are all stacked very closely together.  So I'm thinking maybe interconnects, because of the low signal voltage/current/whatever...don't have the same problem?  Or do they?

@bh123 good question that’s never crossed my mind, but interested in the answer as well!

I’ve found the practice of cable management to be very zen-like at times. 

I think as long as they're not touching, running ICs in parallel won't present a problem. If they do come close to touching, use this like I mentioned earlier.

You can cut it to any length you need.

All the best,
Nonoise

bh123-

Call me crazy but I did some cable management work last night based on suggestions in this post. Basic stuff...got the speaker wires off the floor and separated them from power cords and interconnects. Re-routed some of the interconnects so they didn't touch and didn't run as parallel as before. Took maybe 10 minutes, a couple pieces of string and a handful of rubber bands. What I can say for sure is that immediately following the cleanup my system sounded the best it's sounded in a while...if not ever. I guess some could convincingly argue that there could be multiple reasons for the perceived improvement, but my favorite is that cable management actually does make a difference. I'm headed to Home Depot today to pick up some of that foam based pipe insulation to compete the task.  

One question I still have is this....I get how running a speaker wire next to a power cord could create a problem...but what I'm wondering is whether a pair of interconnects...say R/L channel to a single source...will also benefit from the advice (don't run parallel). I look at the back of my DAC and the output jacks are in parallel. I look at my fancy pre-amp and not only are the input jacks in parallel but they are all stacked very closely together. So I'm thinking maybe interconnects, because of the low signal voltage/current/whatever...don't have the same problem? Or do they?

You're not crazy. I'll call you a guy who wants better sound and is willing to try a few ideas if it will help. Admittedly doesn't quite roll off the tongue but it has the virtue of being true and I have an established record at taking true over expedient, so there.

There's several reasons careful cable routing works, not just one. Until you try and compare like you've done it is hard to appreciate. Like, when I first tried cable elevators it was under speaker cables. Took a good long time to try under interconnects and power cords. By the time I got around to inventing the rubber band isolation trick everything was already suspended and routed pretty good. The only thing being changed was using rubber bands for isolation.

Speaker cables, big improvement. We did another demo yesterday, only removed 2 of the 4 on each side, that was enough to be obvious. Real obvious. Like shaking your head how can this be so obvious obvious. Okay what about power cords? Tried them next, another big improvement. Not as massive as speaker cables but still pretty good. Finally did the interconnects. About the same as power cords.

What I'm getting at, there is more than one thing going on. Rubber bands are pure isolation. The cable is already up in the air, it isn't moving relative to other fields, the improvement is all vibration. So everything you do there are multiple influences to consider.

I've always used interconnects with conductors that do not run parallel, they already are twisted around, and so twisting L around R wouldn't seem to add much benefit. But I never tried. So go for it. While you are at it there is nothing magical about twisting, fields follow the inverse square law so separating them even a little greatly diminishes field interactions. That is why I never bothered, mine are generally spaced an inch or so apart for most of the run anyway. Heck maybe I will try this tonight and see. But why wait for me? DIY. Go for it.

These work perfect for me-http://www.nsiindustries.com/catalog/nsiproducts/cable-ties-and-mounts/cable-tie-mounts-and-clamps/s...