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Are unequal length speaker cables really bad?

Ok, I've been into audio since the 70's and always have used equal length speaker cables to the right and left channels. Considering the electrical signal flows through the cable at a significant fraction of the speed if light, it seems that speaker placement that is unequal by as little as a 1/4 inch would have a far greater negative impact on channel balance, soundstage, etc than would unequal cable length as the speed of sound is very slow compared to the flow in the cables.

What do the people that really know say?
128x128zavato
williewonka
3,075 posts
 
It could depend on the amp and the speaker cable being used

As an example...
- Naim amps require low capacitance cable - using anything else can result in less than optimum sound.
- Naim also recommend a minimum length of their cable be used and of the same length.

I also recall a conversation with a Linn rep along the same lines.

However this could be a ploy to get you to buy more into their product
Iine.

As Almarg said - the distance electrons have to travel is not the issue, it is the effect the cable parameters may have on the amplifier, since it would present two slightly different loads on the left and right channels.

The bigger challenge might be convincing yourself there is no difference when you know of the cable length difference.

Try it - if you like what you hear - then it's obviously not an issue in your setup.
facten
2,878 posts
 
I have different run lengths and I can't hear any diiference
nhaudio
35 posts
 
I second that. I have one 8 ft speaker cable and one 6 ft cable, and can't hear any effect. Given the speed at which the signal runs through cables, the mismatch would have to be on the magnitude of many a difference of several times the length of the shorter cable and then, it would be probably noticeable only for someone with great hearing (which I've not had for many years) if the cable lengths were many times longer than the 1 to 2.5 meters most folks use.

In other words, relax and enjoy.
rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
#1 - if the equipment is so sensitive to minute capacitance differences between say an 8 ft. cable and a 15 ft. cable it is very poorly engineered equipment indeed.

#2 - the fact that your head is not locked in a vice when you listen means that the small differences in your position when seated translate into audible differences in your listening experience. Worrying about the difference in a signal traversing an 8 ft. cable vs. a 15 ft. cable is the textbook definition of audiophile nervosa. Get over it.

-RW-
sonic_genius
528 posts
 
Equal lengths are best since there will be sonic differences. I point this out because some audiophiles claim to hear differences in the terminations alone. YMMV
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