Talking of Speaker Cables....

smglbrth
smglbrth Posts: 1,472
edited March 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
Just a small, probably insignificant question for anyone who might know the reasoning for what I see. In one set of my speaker wires the positive cable is, or has, turned a darker shade than the others. I know it wasn't this way when I first had them and sound quality doesn't seem affected. I wouldn't have even noticed this until my wife wanted to paint the living room (got suckered into that one). Anyway, the negative side is still the same as the other cable(s).

Just wondering if anyone else had this happen and if it's a bad sign of anything.
Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me
Post edited by smglbrth on
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Comments

  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited March 2009
    Your copper wire was either contaminated from the start at the factory or they've oxidized.

    There is a chance that when the wires were produced in the factory, the L and R sides came from different spools before they were joined together so the good got mixed with the bad..
    While in the living room, did you have one side tucked away in the corner or under the carpet and the other exposed to sunlight?
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited March 2009
    I have seen that on old Monster cable but on both sides not just one. Must have been a manufactoring problem or a bad run/ batch of cable.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited March 2009
    That's what I"m thinking too. I had a pair start turning black after a couple months. I think that was because the store had it's spool right by the window and exposed to sunlight all day. But I think yours may be a manufacturing issue.
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  • smglbrth
    smglbrth Posts: 1,472
    edited March 2009
    I've had the wires for quite a few years now and I'm guessing this started about a year or so ago. They've never been in direct sunlight as the living room faces the north. Funny though, the wire that is darker than the others isn't the same shade throughout the whole length but seems to be progressing. It starts at the speaker, going back to the amp.

    Can I stop this by splicing the dark out or am I screwed? Also, is this going to screw up my equipment?

    Speaker wire is cheap, comparatively, to equipment (at least for me).
    Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me
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  • Blownrx7
    Blownrx7 Posts: 137
    edited March 2009
    Definitely can't stop the oxidation. It will only get worse.
    It won't hurt your equipment, but it won't perform at its best.
    Treat yourself to some new cables:D
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  • max997
    max997 Posts: 33
    edited March 2009
    never seen it speaker cables but have seen something similar on a cheap pair of RCA cables I had a long ways back
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  • AudioGenics
    AudioGenics Posts: 2,567
    edited March 2009
    could be mold growing that feeds on the copper...
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  • 285exp
    285exp Posts: 43
    edited March 2009
    The dark color of the wire is going to muddy the sound. Unless you like your music dark and lifeless, like the Virgin Prunes, you should exchange them for a lighter color.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,195
    edited March 2009
    Take those cables and throw them out the front door, then buy some fresh new higher quality cables.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • smglbrth
    smglbrth Posts: 1,472
    edited March 2009
    I would love nothing more than to purchase new speaker cables BUT..., my current employment might very well be going over the other side of the bubble in the next couple of weeks. So..., right now guess it's a guessing game as far as that goes.

    One thing is for sure, I've never had speaker cables do this before, even the heapy cheapies haven't done it!
    Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me
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