Cable management....crossing at right angles or


Good morning,

I have been out of the hobby for a while, and now just getting things back into my system.

No matter how I try, I can't keep my cables isolated from each other, especially speaker and power. Is there anything besides the old saying of trying to cross at right angles, something..copper tape/Faraday sheets that you can put on the cables when they cross to reduce-eliminate interference or distortion/ EMI RFI?

Thanks,

Randy

 

randu

Use shielded cables, keep them away from each other as much as possible, cross them at or close to right angles when you can, and then don’t worry any more about it unless you have a specific noise issue.  If you feel better lifting them off the floor, use whatever works for you.  I wouldn’t spend a bunch of money on that stuff, although years ago when I used to believe the advertising I read, I did buy a set of Cable Elevators.

An inexpensive alternative that I find to be handy is to cut pieces of foam pipe insulation, which you can use to provide separation between cables that are crossing each other or even to elevate cables off the floor, but not very high.  I usually cut them about 2-inches long and use the pre-cut slit to insert the cable in the middle.  Using one on each crossing cable and resting them against each other provides almost an inch of separation.

 

I simply try to keep mine from actually touching each other. It’s basically impossible not to have a wire cross here or there. The only cables I try to isolate as much as possible are my phono connects. Other than that, it is what it is. I wouldn’t worry much…

Well, @nonoise ...rats kinda find them pleasant, but.... ;)

@mitch2, the pipe insulation is likely the lowest cost option for cable lifts. 👍

I've been trying avoid a major revamp of my 'nest', the worst of which is the 5 pairs of speaker lines that at one point cross a 3' w. 'path'; for lack of a better term...

The Plan (at this time, anyhow) is to sequester the speaker lines, the ac  and dc distributions, and the ic's as much as practical.

The speaker lines can be run straight down from the amp, under the 'rack', and run parallel to the various 'n sundry....

The ac/dc lines can drop vertically to their 'distribution means'; separate the more discrete audio items (amp, pre- and 'pre-subs' {eqs'), 'puters [2], and anything else of it's ilk), keeping in mind the power 'draws' each may use...

CD, TT's, tapes, and their peripherals' with their own power source...

All the 'signal' cables are essentially above all this, physically and conceptually...

Those of themselves could still be a nest of sorts....🤷‍♂️

I'm hoping for a 'cloud effect' visually....with the occasional detail of reasonable rationale....*L*

A variant of the 'foam tech' could look kewl in it's way.....'pipelines' leading to the 'sprayers'....;)

From bitter experience it is clear that cables move around in the night and tie themselves up in impossible knots. FACT

Agree that this shouldn’t matter - other than phono cables. If you’re really experiencing a problem or want to be anal - a little trick from the world of Fire Alarm  notification wiring - where this does happen often and is heard. It requires custom cables. Use a shielded cable. Decide which end has the larger transformer / ground sink. Land the shield on that end. On the other end, pull the shield back a couple inches over the insulation and make certain it’s not in contact with anything.  Always twist your pairs. 
 

it helps to know what your up against - AC induction vs RF interference. Either way, FA guys have been doing this for years.