Which is better longer xlr or speaker cable

Agreed that it's an advantage to have short speaker cables(still go with the best you can afford). Don't for a minute believe that, "the quality of the IC doesn't matter as much with balanced cable"! We're discussing a complex musical signal here, not the input of one microphone or instrument. At VERY LEAST: go with Mogami cables (http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Mogami-Gold-Stage-Mic-Cable-with-Neutrik-XLR-Connectors?sku=338011), which are built with oxygen free copper, polyethylene dielectric and use Neutrik XLRs. If you skimp on your interconnects: You WILL lose a lot of musical information. If the rest of your system is accurate/resolving, and you do a comparison between pro and high-end balanced cables: The differences are quite audible. Of course everyone doesn't have the same aural acuity, or knows how to listen for differences. Consider how big Stereo Review's readership was(compared to any of the high-end magazines), and it's primary reviewer never heard a difference in anything(in thirty years of writing). Keep the speaker cables lengths short as possible, and you probably won't notice a difference between bi-wired and not(with good jumpers). It's best to keep all cable lengths as close to equal as possible, but don't neatly coil anything, and don't run any power lines parallel to your signal cables(not within 8in anyway). Happy listening!

Bettercables.com is also a great resource for reasonably priced longer balanced cables.

The $15 fifteen foot Hosa's are well made with silver contact Neutriks. When I had them I always felt shortchanged somehow. Now using long Kimber XLR PBJs with no urge to change them. Wire characteristics are typically described by the linear foot or metre so I'm inclined to believe the shorter the speaker cables the less relevant their quality. You've got a nice system and if you van get the new blocks close enough to the speaks now's your chance cheap out.

Guys - thnx for clarifying my point - no one here is recommending unobtanium XLR cables - I am not hearing you have to have ___ or you will die.

Rodman - your comment puzzles me a bit. Do you think that the microphone line from the lead singer or the featured soloist does not carry complex musical information? Aren't those the very things that we are looking to hear as they come out of blackness to enter the room surrounded by air precisely placed blah blah blah?

Music reproduction is a long and complex chain. But it all starts with a quality input signal (source). If its good enough to carry an artist to the mixing console its probably good enough to carry the mix to the speakers...

Mogami is good.