Cable length?

Kirk
Kirk Posts: 16
Greetings once again... Before I order three speaker cables from Signal Cable, I wanted to know if there are any problems or concerns associated with the length of the speaker cables. I might be forced to move my rack about 15' away from the tower speakers (RTi12's), the CSi5 center and TV so as to open up the sound stage for a better sound. I have a Marantz 8500 receiver and 3 Outlaw monoblocks for the front speakers. I'm kind of looking forward to hearing this set up, and the only thing holding me back are the speaker cables.. Oh, and a quick question about the placement of the FXi5 speakers on the back wall.. I figured on about 3 feet above the listeners head. My couch is against the back wall and I can't move it forward. Here's the question. Is the distance measurement above your head to the bottom of the speaker, or to the horizontal centerline where the speakers are? I also have no clue how far away from the walls to place them for the best sound... The wall is 10' wide (open on one side) and I was wondering the placement of the centerline of the speaker.. Any help would be great...Thanks, KIRK
Post edited by Kirk on

Comments

  • Skynut
    Skynut Posts: 2,967
    edited May 2005
    My speaker cables are all 15' long and I coil up the excess behind each speaker. So far this has not been a problem.
    As for speaker placement I recomend you play with that a little.
    Run wire to the speakers and place them on ladders or stacked boxes or whatever to get them close to where you think you want them and see how they sound.
    Watch a few trailers or a movie.
    Skynut
    SOPA® Founder
    The system Almost there
    DVD Onkyo DV-SP802
    Sunfire Theater Grand II
    Sherbourn 7/2100
    Panamax 5510 power conditioner (for electronics)
    2 PSAudio UPC-200 power conditioners (for amps)
    Front L/R RT3000p (Bi-Wired)
    Center CS1000p (Bi-Wired) (under the television)
    Center RT2000p's (Bi-Wired) (on each side of the television)
    Sur FX1000
    SVS ultra plus 2

    www.ShadetreesMachineShop.com
    Thanks for looking
  • opus
    opus Posts: 1,252
    edited May 2005
    Originally posted by Skynut
    My speaker cables are all 15' long and I coil up the excess behind each speaker.


    :confused: Is this not bad?
    The Flea rig
    Hitachi 50VG825 LCD
    Rotel RSP 1066 (pre) :)-flea market
    B&K St-202 (mains)-flea market
    Carver M 200t (x2) (center and surrounds)-flea market
    Blu-Ray..PS3 (dvd player)
    Polk RTA-11t-flea market
    LsiC, Fxi30's

    Dual SVS PC-Utra's (1 port blocked) thanks MikeC78
    Behringer Feedback Destroyer
    -flea market
    AudioAlchemy DDE v1.0 DAC-flea market
    Cambridge Audio Azur 640 CDP-flea market
    Signal Cable and Kimber Kable
  • Skynut
    Skynut Posts: 2,967
    edited May 2005
    I hope this is not bad.
    I keep the excess rolled and tied up away from anything else.
    I kinda figure it is best to have all cables the same length and I plan to center my system on the wall someday and use most of the L/R cables in a straight run. The center will still be rolled up.
    Skynut
    SOPA® Founder
    The system Almost there
    DVD Onkyo DV-SP802
    Sunfire Theater Grand II
    Sherbourn 7/2100
    Panamax 5510 power conditioner (for electronics)
    2 PSAudio UPC-200 power conditioners (for amps)
    Front L/R RT3000p (Bi-Wired)
    Center CS1000p (Bi-Wired) (under the television)
    Center RT2000p's (Bi-Wired) (on each side of the television)
    Sur FX1000
    SVS ultra plus 2

    www.ShadetreesMachineShop.com
    Thanks for looking
  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited May 2005
    The length of speaker cables won't matter in your system. If a hum or noise is finding its way into your setup, check the wire runs for interference by power cables, etc. Coiling wire, bunching it with power cables, etc. can all create some unwanted noise at times. You may notice it more in speaker wire since it isn't shielded like your other interconnects are.

    Just FYI
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
  • Skynut
    Skynut Posts: 2,967
    edited May 2005
    I try to keep them all seperated but what a nightmare in a HT.
    That is what I am doing tonight, (actually I am taking a break right now) I am re wireing everything and adding my new outlaw ICBM.
    Wish me luck, I'm going back in there.
    What a mess.:eek:
    Skynut
    SOPA® Founder
    The system Almost there
    DVD Onkyo DV-SP802
    Sunfire Theater Grand II
    Sherbourn 7/2100
    Panamax 5510 power conditioner (for electronics)
    2 PSAudio UPC-200 power conditioners (for amps)
    Front L/R RT3000p (Bi-Wired)
    Center CS1000p (Bi-Wired) (under the television)
    Center RT2000p's (Bi-Wired) (on each side of the television)
    Sur FX1000
    SVS ultra plus 2

    www.ShadetreesMachineShop.com
    Thanks for looking
  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited May 2005
    Good luck. It probably will be a long night, but worth it in the end.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!

    NORTH of 60°
  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited May 2005
    According to the audiophile gurus, coiling is bad but I know several people who do so without problems. I try to avoid it though because I am just mental like that.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
  • BobMcG
    BobMcG Posts: 1,585
    edited May 2005
    1) Coiling is bad. (And yes, left and right channel cables should be the same length. Catch 22? Or need to re-think system setup strategy?)

    2) For general HT and HS use on general systems, probably doesn't matter.

    3) Getting serious about 2-ch listening? Don't get into the habit.

    4) People into high end 2-ch critical listening. Wouldn't even consider doing it.
  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited May 2005
    I would have to say unless you are talking about some major diferences in speaker cable length ( like 50 ft or so) that you would not notice any difference in sound due to speaker cable length. A few feet or so will be fine. I have a 6 foot length or my LF and 10 for my RF and they sound great.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited May 2005
    I like to keep the lengths the same. If you have excess, don't coil it. this can create problems. Run it in lengths around 2 ft long.