Unequal speaker cable length

Jetmaker737
Jetmaker737 Posts: 1,047
edited January 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
I could save a bit of coin ordering cable just in the lengths I need... 8ft and 15ft.

Would there be any detrimental effects?
SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette
Post edited by Jetmaker737 on
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,033
    edited January 2010
    Other than the audio Gods sending a bolt of lightning your way? No.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    edited January 2010
    It makes no audio difference with speaker cables being unequal length. Unless they where extremely long and short or of different gauge or incorrect gauge for the system , you will be fine at those lengths.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,420
    edited January 2010
    I have always been told just the opposite
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited January 2010
    From what I have read there is a difference but it may or may not be noticeable. Personally, that would be too big a difference for me.

    Regards,
    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited January 2010
    Same here. I have had differences in speaker distances from the amp but I always kept the wire runs the same length.
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited January 2010
    The electrical travel time differences could not be heard but my OCD requires me to use the same lenght.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2010
    thsmith wrote: »
    the electrical travel time differences could not be heard but my ocd requires me to use the same lenght.

    +1...
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Jetmaker737
    Jetmaker737 Posts: 1,047
    edited January 2010
    thsmith wrote: »
    The electrical travel time differences could not be heard but my OCD requires me to use the same lenght.

    Funny... found this post in AVS forum:

    http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9836372#post9836372
    SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited January 2010
    I have them equal in my 2 channel system, but in my HT the FL, RL, and CC are 8', while the FR and RR are 16'. This is using 'good' speaker wire, and I cannot tell any difference from the different lengths. But, man o man did I hear a tremendous improvement when I went from hardware store 12 gauge to the 'good' speaker wire.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
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  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited January 2010
    my front three are all the same length, the surrounds are the same length.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2010
    Different lengths of speaker cables are a non issue until you push the limit at about 500'. Even then Superman would have a tough time hearing any difference between different lenghts.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited January 2010
    Not the point Phil! Do you or would you use different lengths of speaker wire? I think not buddy.
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  • JohnLocke88
    JohnLocke88 Posts: 1,150
    edited January 2010
    thsmith wrote: »
    The electrical travel time differences could not be heard but my OCD requires me to use the same lenght.

    Same here. (I hate when people do this with no link...)but I read somewhere that having your speaker cable lengths off by several hundred feet would be the same as shifting your head (ears included :D) 1/2" off center from the "sweet spot."

    Even if the distances from the amp are different, I'll have the total length of the cables be the same.

    I think the key though is to keep the runs as SHORT as possible.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Not the point Phil! Do you or would you use different lengths of speaker wire? I think not buddy.

    Joe, with my system layout the speakers cables are the same length. If by chance that wasn't possible, I wouldn't be the least bit concerned over it though. There just isn't any audible difference in different length speaker cables until you approach 500'...not likely in a home system.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • fluffy
    fluffy Posts: 71
    edited January 2010
    Jetmaker737 wrote: »
    Funny... found this post in AVS forum:

    http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9836372#post9836372

    this ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=9838074&postcount=14 ) is the best post evah!!
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,033
    edited January 2010
    Posts like that is why I don't join that forum.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited January 2010
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    Joe, with my system layout the speakers cables are the same length. If by chance that wasn't possible, I wouldn't be the least bit concerned over it though. There just isn't any audible difference in different length speaker cables until you approach 500'...not likely in a home system.

    No **** Sherlock but you are just as OCD as the rest of us!!!:D:p
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited January 2010
    treitz3 wrote: »
    Posts like that is why I don't join that forum.

    Amen Brother. It would be like World War III!
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited January 2010
    With respect to two channel I always use the same lengths..but as for surround I often have different lengths for L/R surrounds because of the way I have to run the wire. Since the current travels at near light speeds...I think you'd be hard pressed to hear a diffference? I mean we're not talking about 700+ miles an hour (mach 1) but less than a light second (186,000 mpsecond)? No?

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited January 2010
    cnh wrote: »
    With respect to two channel I always use the same lengths..but as for surround I often have different lengths for L/R surrounds because of the way I have to run the wire. Since the current travels at near light speeds...I think you'd be hard pressed to hear a diffference? I mean we're not talking about 700+ miles an hour (mach 1) but less than a light second (186,000 mpsecond)? No?

    cnh

    Even knowing that the difference most likely isn't audible, I couldn't use different lengths of wire. EXTREME ANAL RETENTIVENESS!!!:D
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,565
    edited January 2010
    I am always very suspicious of the human senses as a measurement tool, especially ears, which are much less sensitive than eyes.

    That one isn't playing with a full deck.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • BIZILL
    BIZILL Posts: 5,432
    edited January 2010
    i made my runs equal lengths. as mentioned previously, OCD commands this be done.

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    bobman1235 wrote:
    I have no facts to back that up, but I never let facts get in the way of my arguments.
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  • Polkersince85
    Polkersince85 Posts: 2,883
    edited January 2010
    Keiko wrote: »
    OCD, as in Obsessive Cable Disorder?

    Fixed it for ya.
    >
    >
    >This message has been scanned by the NSA and found to be free of harmful intent.<
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited January 2010
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Keiko
    OCD, as in Obsessive Cable Disorder?

    Fixed it for ya.

    LOL

    -Jeff
    HT Rig
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    It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. :D
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  • fluffy
    fluffy Posts: 71
    edited January 2010
    treitz3 wrote: »
    Posts like that is why I don't join that forum.

    but it is a fantastic forum with some really knowledgeable folks for the most part.. some of them can be asses though.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    No **** Sherlock but you are just as OCD as the rest of us!!!:D:p

    Hey Holmes, I'm ever more anal than you (if that's possible :rolleyes:). I use this method of measurement & kill two birds (salmon really) with one stone. Once I lay them out end to end, I then lay the speaker cable next to them stretching from nose to tail. Once I'm happy with "precise" equal measurements, I then grill them up for a superb dinner!!! :eek::D;) There you have it...spot on equal cable lenghts & dinner!!!!

    http://afsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1577/1548-8640%281967%2929%5B238%3AAMOMLO%5D2.0.CO%3B2?cookieSet=1&journalCode=ficu
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited January 2010
    thsmith wrote: »
    The electrical travel time differences could not be heard but my OCD requires me to use the same lenght.
    I think the point audioholics makes (which I agree with) is that [a] yes, there is technically SOME impact to different cable lengths but human ears are not sensitive enough to sense the effect.
    There is a difference but unfortunately my hearing isn't as sensitive as many of the audiophiles on this board and therefore can not hear the micro second difference, potentially due to the wax in my ears :p
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Not the point Phil! Do you or would you use different lengths of speaker wire? I think not buddy.
    While my hearing is "waxy" I always make sure my cables are of the same lenght anyway. Even with the HT set-up, cables are all of the same lenght. Despite the fact that I will not hear the difference, keeping my set-up balanced has the priority not counting that the extra lenght provides for any potential modification of the system.

    Cheers!
    Waxy Hears :)
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,767
    edited January 2010
    You might not always have the same exact layout and you might want longer lengths at some point. Pay for an extra 7 feet now or you might end up needing a whole set later.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited January 2010
    Shorter the better for the fronts, surround will have to be longer of coarse but if one run is a couple feet longer than the other, no, you will not hear a difference. That said, what you don't want is 20ft of cable coiled up on the floor to a speaker 8 ft apart.
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  • MLZ
    MLZ Posts: 214
    edited January 2010
    186,000 miles per second: It is not just a good idea, it is the law.
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