Speaker length vs. I/C length

Try checking out this link over at the Cable Asylum archive. I found it after doing several searches:

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/cables/messages/29011.html

To sum it up briefly:

Jon states: keep interconnects as short as possible unless you know for certain that the component can drive a long length of cable. Most preamps should be kept below 2 meter runs for best sonics and 3 meters at max. That pretty much confirms my previous statements of 6' to 8' at max for single ended ( RCA ) cables.

Thorsten Loesch states: Keep interconnects as short as possible. Long interconnects introduce noise into the system, act as antennas and are responsible for ground loops.

Audio Engineer states: Keep interconnects as short as possible due to problems with dielectric absorption, phase shifts, high frequency roll-off, etc...

Even though i received a few private emails contradicting the statements in my post, i think i'm in pretty good company with my statements and findings. There are always "exceptions" to every "rule" or "generalization" though..... Sean
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Well, the science of it all is a bit confusing, but halving speaker cable length (e.g., 8 feet to 4 feet) will frequently make an audible difference, while doubling IC length (e.g., 1 meter to 2) will rarely have much effect, at least on balanced cables. I've tried it with various speaker-amp-cable combos, and it always seems to work out that way.

I personally think that Mgottlieb's message points to the source of the confusion. Balanced ICs were designed to cover long distances. In recording situations there are sometimes 50 feet or more between even a mic and its pre-amp (this is a signal much weaker than line level). Single ended (RCA) interconnects were designed for under 2 meter runs. Speaker cable was also designed for longer but still relatively short runs, but because of its higher level it can usually take runs up to about 25 feet without much audible effect (providing the cable has good electrical properties at that distance). So if you have balanced (XLR) interconnects, longer ICs (within reason) and shorter speaker cable may work well (though you will need very good ICs). But if you are using single ended ICs they should be as short as possible and speaker cable can be lengthened a bit. All that said if your setup has everything under 2 meters or so there won't be much of an issue either way. Personally I use very short single ended connections to the pre-amp (.5 meter) and a .5 meter digital cable. I use a slightly longer cable to the power amp (1.5 meters) and am forced to use quite long 25' speaker cables. I have very good results with this configuration.

I think the short speaker cables trick used to be a popular way of helping average output monos drive insensitive (79-ish db) speakers? Shorter wire, juice flows faster & more easily into the crossover... with indifferent results, in my case (I used ear519s back then, to drive Apogee Stages)

I have had better results the other way round, as per Sean & Fineberg. I play single-ended.

Oy. I hung my monos (no jokes, guys) under my floor's joists directly under my speakers, mostly to escape heat and WAF objections, thus necessitating 3m and 6m ICs, and allowing 8ft speaker cables. The ICs are UNshielded Red Dawn, but are indeed balanced. There is abosolutely NO noise audible within 6" of the tweeters, even at full gain.
These ICs run only a few feet away from the house panel 300 amp, and its webs of romex. Am I lucky, or is it the combo of a quiet Aleph P pre and the balanced ICs?
No, I didn't (and won't--threading through the baseboards was a pain!) try RCAs....
I don't know if Sean and/or John are right, but I thought
the issues revolve around current levels, and that's why speaker wires should be short...especially with low impedence or highly reactive loads.
Oh well.