Your short speaker cable experiences

I've been using 10' cables which were longer than I need.  I just made a pair of 5' cables with low mass connectors and love the results.  

When you go ultra short there is not much to them, you might consider low mass connections (to do low mass right, you should change out the binding posts on both the amp and the speaker.  I use BFA type connectors on my cables.  KLEI makes low mass connectors.)

I have a friend who does just what you do, balanced interconnects to his monoblocks and 18" speaker cables.  He swears by it.

Jerry

I have used 4 and 15 feet of the same speaker cable and it did not make a difference in my system!!

Now would be a good time to experiment with bulk small gauge solid core copper wire for a pittance, as you would be using short runs (throw stranded wire into the mix as well, but up the gauge a bit).

If 26 gauge scares you (my 47 Labs OTA is 26) try 22 gauge...

https://www.soniccraft.com/index.php/neotech-wire-teflon-solid-cu-c-296_175_183_221?osCsid=b4c061571da0b7d12a0d984e30ecd85e

I've used the OTA  succesfully with more contemporary/normal amps/speakers than those listed in my system (Carver MXR130/Musical Fidelity X-A1/Pilot 232/240 - Magnepan SMGA's/Reynaud Twins II/ADS L880/Klipsch Chorus II, just to name some).

I've only tried the OTA in short runs (approx. 2') with my current system and did not notice a difference, but only tried it for a few days as I was concerned about our cats being able to access the Bottlehead tube DH/SET 2A3 mono blocks and their high voltages (the BH tube preamp less so).

I would suggest using bare ends, sans connectors, if you consider doing so.

Also once tried the OTA in long runs 25'-30', or so, and it sucked - so this type of cable definitely has it's limits.

DeKay

I believe that the general audiophile sonics convention is to have short speaker cables and thus longer interconnects vs vice-versa.  However, I plan to do the opposite since I already have 8ft speaker cables, no room to put amp between speakers, and to save $ on my shorter pre-amp>interconnect>amp cable.

I usr 24" cables from my Apollon monoblocks to the speakers. Though I like the idea from a technical point of view, I didn't notice any sonic difference compared to 6' cables. YMMV.