Something doesn't seem right about this...


When a speaker cable is designed with the positive lead(s)
intertwined with the negative (I'd name names but almost everyone does it),
won't this cancel out some signal?

When an amplified audio signal pulses down the + wire (to your speaker)
it does some work (i.e. makes some sound) then exits in the - (minus)
wire to ground and completes the circuit.
If these wires are next to each other, the incoming signal (+) will be affected by the outgoing (-) won't it?

What am I missing?
128x128dweller
@ Almarg, Yes, Taralabs is controlling the inductance and capitance in other ways than twisting the conductors!, The result with their top models is one of the best at doing so in the bussiness!, Look into every white paper they have available, check the specs on the omega gold that I own, I'd say, very well done., Happy Holidays.
High capacitance speaker cable can have an impact on your amplifier e.g. Naim amps do not like high capacitance speaker cables.

It really depends on the design of your amp.
Williewonka ... is there an amp that "likes" high capacitance speaker cables.
Bifwynne - Judging by the number of people reporting great sound from Kimber Kable I would say there are many...

e.g.
Kimber 12 TC is rated at 1400pF/ft

Van Den Hul D-352 is rated at 32.5pf/meter

I think Naim cable is around 22 pF/meter

I believe the issue is high capacitance cables can cause some amps to oscillate.

But it is due to the design of the amp, so it does not apply to all amps.

I have not heard that Low Capacitance cables affect the operation of any amp to my knowledge.

Again, it the type of thing you have to try before you buy unless otherwise stated by the amp manufacturer.

The same thing probably applies to interconnects and source components.

Probably why some members report great sound with one cable brand versus some other name brands.
A correction to your post, Willie, if I may. The specs for Kimber 12TC, and as I recall for many of their other cables, are for a length of 2.5 meters. See this page. ("DUT" presumably stands for "Device Under Test"). So the 1400 pf number represents only 171 pf/ft.

Very few speaker cables approach or exceed 1000 pf/ft. Some of the Goertz models are among the few that do, as are the old Polk Cobra cables.

I would add that speaker cables having capacitance that is high enough to approach, but not to reach, levels that might cause a given amplifier to oscillate, can nevertheless cause effects such as frequency response peaking, overshoots, ringing, and phase shifts that may have audible consequences. Particularly in the case of amps that use a lot of feedback. Those kinds of effects could perhaps be subjectively appealing in some cases, especially if not too severe, but are inaccurate in any event.

Regards,
-- Al