How long does speaker wire last?

StinkyDog

I am in the process of rearranging my home theater and figured since everything is dissassembled this may be a good time to replace the speaker wire, if necessary. I am currently using Monster cable throughout my system and it is around 15 years old now. Now I know that Monster cable is not thought very highly of on this forum but aside from the personal opinions of the brand itself, could anyone tell me if speaker wire degrades over time and would need to be replaced?

If I need to replace it I will likely go with a different brand but if it will still be ok then I will most likely keep it. I don't hear anything in particular that would be a sign of the wire failing, but since I have been listening to it almost daily for 15 years now I probably wouldn't notice a steady declination of sound quality. Unfortunately speaker wire isn't someting you can 'buy and try', so if I don't need to shell out the money at this time for new wire I would prefer not to. But if I do what brands would you guys recommend at a resonable price? Bearing in mind I don't really need audiophile quality cable that costs $100/10ft.

Any and all feedback is welcome!! Thanks!

Sean

Zen Dragon

While monster is not highly thought of it is solid quality high purity copper, which is what you want if you are just running standard speaker wire.
Generally the wire itself is not going to degrade. The stripped ends of the wire will oxidize some over time. If the wires have a dull look, or even green, where they exit the cable simply cut the bare ends and strip back some more insulation to get clean wire that was protected by the sleeve.
Some people use anti oxidizing compounds on the bare ends of the wire to slow/prevent oxidation. Unless the wire has been exposed to extreme prolonged high temperature or corrosive chemicals the part in the sleeve should be fine.

steveinaz

Your speaker wire will be conducting electricity long after you enter the "oxygen free" zone....

StinkyDog

Thanks guys. I appreciate the feedback!

dharris1969

Untill you decide that it's the week link and time to upgrade it and buy better more exspensive stuff. Also known as the upgrade bug...

Early B.

Buy new speaker wire. You'll get a better sound. Check out Audioquest Type 4 or Type 6.

cfrizz

If you are still getting the same good sound out of your speakers that you were getting 15 yrs ago, then there is no reason to change it.

F1nut

Unfortunately speaker wire isn't someting you can 'buy and try',

Sure it is. What you do is buy it used from places like Audiogon and if it doesn't float your boat, then you can resell it with little or no loss of money.

As for your present cable, if it's the stuff with a clear plastic cover then you need to examine it closely for oxidation, which will appear as a green color.

StinkyDog

F1nut wrote:

Sure it is. What you do is buy it used from places like Audiogon and if it doesn't float your boat, then you can resell it with little or no loss of money.

As for your present cable, if it's the stuff with a clear plastic cover then you need to examine it closely for oxidation, which will appear as a green color.

Good idea F1nut, I didn't think of something like that. I'll have to look around and see what I can find. That way I'll be able to tell if my sound quality has declined.

As far as the cover of the wire, it's the pink cover that is kinda clear. But there shouldn't be any oxidation since it is still sealed within the plastic sheating, correct?

Zen Dragon

StinkyDog wrote:

As far as the cover of the wire, it's the pink cover that is kinda clear. But there shouldn't be any oxidation since it is still sealed within the plastic sheating, correct?

If there is oxidation at the bare wires, sometimes it can travel a tad under the insulation. Usually not more than half an inch or so, unless you were in an especially moist or corrosive environment.

StinkyDog

Zen Dragon wrote:

If there is oxidation at the bare wires, sometimes it can travel a tad under the insulation. Usually not more than half an inch or so, unless you were in an especially moist or corrosive environment.

That's what I thought. The ends will need to be trimmed up a bit though. Thanks!!

danger boy

the great cable and wire debate will continue till we're all just dust in the wind many years from now.

As i see it.. some people are very content in whatever brand wires/cables they choose.. why change it out right? Other's like to taste something a little different now and then. and maybe find out that their cable they've been using for 15 or so years.. no longer sounds good. The only way you'd know that for sure is to try out a new different brand cable.

If you like your pizza for instance with sausage every time you eat pizza.. but one day you venture after from your sausage pizza and try hot Italian sausage.. sure it's still sausage, but it's your new favorite pizza.. you will never go back to the regular sausage pizza anymore. once you've had hot Italian sausage.

Point being is.. how can you know if there isn't something else out there better that you may like if you never try it out?

F1nut

StinkyDog wrote:

As far as the cover of the wire, it's the pink cover that is kinda clear. But there shouldn't be any oxidation since it is still sealed within the plastic sheating, correct?

No, the M cable with the clear covering is known to have a problem with a reaction between the plastic and the copper wire that causes severe oxidation, that's why I brought it up.

StinkyDog

F1nut wrote:

No, the M cable with the clear covering is known to have a problem with a reaction between the plastic and the copper wire that causes severe oxidation, that's why I brought it up.

Ouch! I'll look it over. Thanks!

StinkyDog

danger boy wrote:

...you will never go back to the regular sausage pizza anymore. once you've had hot Italian sausage.

My new favorite line!!!

Zen Dragon

danger boy wrote:

you will never go back to the regular sausage pizza anymore. once you've had hot Italian sausage.

Wasn't that a Sylvester Stalone line from one of his movies:D