1 meter speaker cables

Ralph of Atmasphere would say that for tube amps difference between 1 meter and 2.5 meters speaker cables may very well be audible and could in fact be significant

Atma-Sphere utilizes OTL and zero feedback designs and, as such, its output imp. (5-15 ohms) has been relatively higher than the tube counterparts without.  It is understandable that Ralph will want cable as short as possible to reduce total impedance before the load.  Nevertheless, given the speaker cable impedance (0.005 ohm/ft) is two orders of impedance less than the most of tube amp., the difference caused by a bit longer cable is in general negligible.

As funny as it sounds, shorter is better!

The key driver of going mono-blocks path is an opportunity to shorten speaker cables.

Good speaker cables, like Kimber-Kable 12TC, allow to keep performance with longer cables. 12TC at 8ft length has 0.006 Ohm resistance per line, and very low, if not lowest in Inc., loop inductance! 

Thank you all for your responses.

@randymaqp and @soix  Good to hear.  That helps a lot.

@inna I am using Ayre monoblock amplifiers so hopefully interaction with the amp will be minimal

@tony1954 Words to live by.

@erik_squires I agree with your approach.  I am not really looking for any specific improvement or change in sound, just trying not to break things.  I just got new speakers and thought it would be a good time to revisit cables.  I am currently using Belden 12ga and they are a little too long, a little too stiff and a lot too ugly but they sound fine.

@mclinnguy Transparent is the reason I asked the question about demoing longer lengths.  Most of the shorter cables I have looked at, but not tried, are custom orders which I assume are not returnable.  Also, in the past I considered moving up the Transparent line in interconnects and did not like the result so I am hesitant to special order.

@jl35 I guess compromises must be made or I would have 5 or 6 feet of cable wandering around my family room 

@mitch2 Thanks.  That is what I was hoping.

@ghdprentice I wish that I could get by with 18 inches but Ayre put the connector block for the amplifier output on the right side of the case so for one amplifier I have to run across the width.  I guess I could put them perpendicular to the speakers but that would look a little weird and I am not sure I have the room.  If I could figure out how to demo a custom length without buying it with no return I would give it a try.

@lanx0003 I am hoping I don't have these concerns with SS amps.

@westcoastaudiophile I will add Kimber to my list cables to consider.

Thank you all.