Cable Length Query

Wow, thanks everyone for the information. I have a SIM Audio Preamp and just purchased a Krell KSA250. Like Elizabeth, I have built into the left wall a custom equipment enclosure. However, the Krell is too deep to fit into this rack. Coupled with the weight, I plan to set it between my Martin Logan Ethos speakers. From the back of the rack to the center of the wall would require a set of 4 or 5 meter XLRs. This is the first time I have had the opportunity to have balanced cables.
Marcus

Sounds like an excellent plan, Marcus.

The Sim Audio preamps appear to all have low output impedances (e.g., 50 or 100 ohms).

You will be using balanced interconnects.

The impedance of the Ethos speakers descends to very low values at high frequencies (in this case 0.8 ohms at 20 kHz), as is typical of electrostatics. Assuming that the goal is for the speaker cables to behave in as neutral a manner as possible, that makes minimization of their inductance an especially important factor. Inductance is proportional to length, for a given cable type.

For a 2 meter cable length, I would expect the great majority of good quality (not necessarily expensive) speaker cable types to have adequately low inductance per unit length for use with your speakers.

It all adds up to long interconnects/short speaker cables being the right approach in your situation.

Regards,
-- Al

I am using long balanced interconnects and short speaker cables....Vandersteen recommends that for his speakers, so I went with it. The system is extremely quiet ..even on phono.