type of signal on speaker wire

jrlouie
jrlouie Posts: 462
edited April 2007 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Is the signal on speaker wire considiered AC or DC? My gut tells me DC, but I really don't know much regarding the electrical characteristics of amplifier output.
What about interconnects?

Thanks in advance for the info.
Post edited by jrlouie on
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Comments

  • mldennison
    mldennison Posts: 307
    edited April 2007
    ac on both, dc will quickly burn out a speaker.
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  • louthewiz
    louthewiz Posts: 581
    edited April 2007
    mldennison wrote: »
    ac on both, dc will quickly burn out a speaker.

    tHAT IS NOT CORRECT!!:rolleyes:
    My gear,
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,780
    edited April 2007
    Lou, he is correct. Sorry.
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  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited April 2007
    You can connect a 1 1/2 volt DC battery to the speaker and I don't think any damage will occur.

    That was a good tip from some Polkie to determine if all the SDA speakers are wired in phase. That is they all move in or out together.
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  • ledhed
    ledhed Posts: 1,088
    edited April 2007
    It's not AC in the sense that there is an electrical pulse traveling at 60Hz but yes, the current is alternating.
    God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,780
    edited April 2007
    You can, but he was asking about the signal. If it were DC, the cone would only move 1 direction, and would eventually overheat.
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  • jrlouie
    jrlouie Posts: 462
    edited April 2007
    Ok, I'll take it as AC then. Thanks for the info.

    In case you are wondering why I care, I was just reading an article on PS Audio's site and was trying to understand it. Here was what it read...
    You will need an AC line voltage sniffer. I got mine from the hardware store for around ten bucks. It is made by AW Sperry and it looks like a fat pencil. It has a sensitivity control, a red LED and an audible squeal which increases as the device is brought in proximity to any source of alternating voltage.
    Set the sensitivity so that it squeals and glows when it gets within 4 to 6 inches of an electrical outlet. Then run the tester along the length of your speaker cables while the amplifier is muted. I was amazed to find there were several feet of cable that were picking up AC voltage even though the nearest source of power was a lamp cord 3 feet away. Even more amazing was the tester squealed like a stuck pig when placed near the speaker cones themselves (All my efforts at keeping grunge out of the system were defeated by a lamp cord!!!)
    Nonetheless, the solution was easy. Unplug the lamp and "bingo" the tester goes silent. Apparently the lamp cord acts like a radio transmitter antenna and my unshielded speaker cables act like a radio receiver antenna.

    I thought it was interesting.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited April 2007
    It is ac
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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