Speaker cable size

mikedup2003

It can be solid, stranded, copper, oxygen free copper, silver, etc.--or even "magic" wire--as long as the resistance is kept to be less than 5% of the speaker impedance. There is no listening difference as long as the wire is of adequate size.

quoted directly from roger-russell.com

F1nut

It can be solid, stranded, copper, oxygen free copper, silver, etc.--or even "magic" wire--as long as the resistance is kept to be less than 5% of the speaker impedance. There is no listening difference as long as the wire is of adequate size.

You couldn't be more wrong.

quoted directly from roger-russell.com

Don't drink the Kool-Aid.

NotaSuv

mikedup2003 wrote: »

It can be solid, stranded, copper, oxygen free copper, silver, etc.--or even "magic" wire--as long as the resistance is kept to be less than 5% of the speaker impedance. There is no listening difference as long as the wire is of adequate size.

quoted directly from roger-russell.com

hahahahahahhaa thank you so much for a much needed laugh after a long Monday.....roger russell hahahahahaha thats some funny chit right there LOL:D:D:D

agfrost

mikedup2003 wrote: »

It can be solid, stranded, copper, oxygen free copper, silver, etc.--or even "magic" wire--as long as the resistance is kept to be less than 5% of the speaker impedance. There is no listening difference as long as the wire is of adequate size.

quoted directly from roger-russell.com

You're going to make some friends here!

Zitro

I smell the ban-hammer...

shack

Oh great. :rolleyes: More experts at surfing the internet coming here to let us know about all about cable voodoo and snake oil.

How have we ever survived so long in this audio endeavor without these sage saviors coming here to set us straight?

If we will only worship at the feet of the omnipresent audio god roger-russell we will hear the error of our ears.

I for one am prepared to burn my cables at the altar of rr and say 30 hail rogers as penance.

Then again...maybe not.

heiney9

mikedup2003 wrote: »

It can be solid, stranded, copper, oxygen free copper, silver, etc.--or even "magic" wire--as long as the resistance is kept to be less than 5% of the speaker impedance. There is no listening difference as long as the wire is of adequate size.

quoted directly from roger-russell.com

What cables have you extensively auditioned? What higher resolution gear other than a receiver have you owned to extensively audition speaker cables, power cords and I/C's?

I think I know the answer.

H9

Hillbilly61

Isn't this thread is going south real fast, eh?

I only read the last page of posts. Inferior Chinese made cable will oxidize (go green) very quickly. It is because (one, the other or a combination thereof) A) the insulation is of inferior quality and lets air & moisture in, the copper is of such inferior quality that it self oxidizes from electrolytic reactions by the impurities or C) both "A" and "B."

It does not matter who is selling the cable. What matters is whom the cable seller is buying the cable from. I do not mind names being mentioned concerning the seller, provided the experience is 1st hand.

About the "fancy" high tech cables, verses runs of copper in good insulation, well, let's just leave that discussion alone for another day... provided that both are of their expected quality and of the same run length.

shack

Personally I could care less about what anyone wants to use in their rig...they can use a corroded coat hanger if they like.

On the flip side…I could care less about their unsolicited opinion about what I use.

I'm outta this one as it is pointless.

nooshinjohn

mikedup2003 wrote: »

It can be solid, stranded, copper, oxygen free copper, silver, etc.--or even "magic" wire--as long as the resistance is kept to be less than 5% of the speaker impedance. There is no listening difference as long as the wire is of adequate size.

quoted directly from roger-russell.com

Quoting RR is your first mistake. Would you like me to keep a scorecard for you?:rolleyes:

lightman1

In the 2012, no cables will make a difference. With the aligning of the planets with that really nasty Black Hole, all gravity and the poles will cease to exist. Thus negating any polarity and conductivity of speaker wires coming from ANY type of amplifier. If you should somehow succeed in firing up your gear at the end of time, all the electrons will fly out of the circuitry and hit you directly in the ear and render you deaf as a post (or at least in the 2500hz to 9000hz range).
So for the next year and a half or so, buy the cheap stuff.

fbm211

Right on.No more upgrades for me till 2013.Maybe we will still be here.Or maybe not.
Club polk forever....

Knucklehead

shack wrote: »

Personally I could care less about what anyone wants to use in their rig...they can use a corroded coat hanger if they like.

On the flip side…I could care less about their unsolicited opinion about what I use.

I'm outta this one as it is pointless.

Well said Shack!

NotaSuv

I love wearing tin foil hats...............

greyford1979

After reading and debating about new wires for some time now, mostly here on Polk, I finally pulled the trigger and bought new wires for my entire system. And all I can say is that I'm a believer. I'm not gonna go into what wires I bought, but they are definitely better quality than the ones I had for the past 10 yrs(I know:o). The biggest improvement I noticed is the bass sounded so much tighter and the highs so much clearer:eek: It really brought my center to life, especially with male voices, they seem so full now. Even my fiance noticed the improvement. She asked with a raised brow if I had bought new speakers again since the ones I bought a couple weeks ago lol. Even she couldn't believe the difference in sound. I don't have a dedicated 2 channel rig(yet, someday:rolleyes:) but again the same results. So even if someone told me my system sounds like crap, I'm finally happy now, and so is my fiance lol and that's all I care about:p Just my 2 cents and first hand experience with better quality wires.

Trenchant

Is 12 gauge wire too big for shorter runs? I just put an order in with monoprice the other day and didn't realize I purchased 12 gauge instead of 14. My shortest run is about 10 feet and longest is about 20.

I do plan on amplifying my front towers(monitor 70's)

lightman1

Trenchant wrote: »

Is 12 gauge wire too big for shorter runs? I just put an order in with monoprice the other day and didn't realize I purchased 12 gauge instead of 14. My shortest run is about 10 feet and longest is about 20.

I do plan on amplifying my front towers(monitor 70's)

Nope. You're good. You will have no problems running 12ga on the short runs. Keep on rockin' and hide your wallet!:D



...and wear your tin foil hat around these parts.......

wutadumsn23

lightman1 wrote: »

...and wear your tin foil hat around these parts.......

LOL, speaking of which Russ, where is mine at?

-Jeff

concealer404

mikedup2003 wrote: »

It can be solid, stranded, copper, oxygen free copper, silver, etc.--or even "magic" wire--as long as the resistance is kept to be less than 5% of the speaker impedance. There is no listening difference as long as the wire is of adequate size.

quoted directly from roger-russell.com

Have you come to your own conclusions via your own ears?

concealer404

Trenchant wrote: »

Is 12 gauge wire too big for shorter runs? I just put an order in with monoprice the other day and didn't realize I purchased 12 gauge instead of 14. My shortest run is about 10 feet and longest is about 20.

I do plan on amplifying my front towers(monitor 70's)

Nah, it's fine. I use 10awg for something like 8 feet. Just because i'm stupid.

acmf74

I guess my post digressed a little bit.

It is kinda weird after spending good money on my set up and have the choice to by some cheaply priced wire to several hundred bux..

Great hobby....

lightman1

wutadumsn23 wrote: »

LOL, speaking of which Russ, where is mine at?

-Jeff

I'll make you a special one. The magneto waves on the west coast flow in reverse phase. I'll have to tweak it a bit to fit on that big ol' mellon of yours!:p

Hillbilly61

The evil "Spearker Cables Fact or Fiction" thread has managed to procreate its devil spawn and it is here. This thread. As threads go, the devil and the anticrist are now among us. The end times are near. :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

ikolbyi

concealer404 wrote: »

My quality of life plummets when people tell me that i wasted money on my brand-name speaker wire. Please think of what impact your comments have on a person's self-esteem.

Unless your system is 'professional grade', another words you could purchase an automobile or a stereo system (AVR+speakers/sub), then purchasing the "high-end" wiring will make a difference because in that setup, the equipment are so fine tuned that your ear will actually hear the difference. If your system is not 'professional grade', then "in-wall" or plenum 14 gauge wire will carry a full signal and your ear most likely will never hear the difference since the equipment is not designed to be that precise.

concealer404

kolbtod wrote: »

Unless your system is 'professional grade', another words you could purchase an automobile or a stereo system (AVR+speakers/sub), then purchasing the "high-end" wiring will make a difference because in that setup, the equipment are so fine tuned that your ear will actually hear the difference. If your system is not 'professional grade', then "in-wall" or plenum 14 gauge wire will carry a full signal and your ear most likely will never hear the difference since the equipment is not designed to be that precise.

Ah... so myself and the majority of this forum's membership are the exceptions and not the norm.

Got it.

Have you yourself done any first hand comparisons with cables?

nooshinjohn

kolbtod wrote: »

Unless your system is 'professional grade', another words you could purchase an automobile or a stereo system (AVR+speakers/sub), then purchasing the "high-end" wiring will make a difference because in that setup, the equipment are so fine tuned that your ear will actually hear the difference. If your system is not 'professional grade', then "in-wall" or plenum 14 gauge wire will carry a full signal and your ear most likely will never hear the difference since the equipment is not designed to be that precise.

If I install my Fisher Price rig in the back of my GMC pickup would that count as 'Professional Grade"?

You clearly don't have a clue about which you speak. Once you get away from a Soundesign all-in-one or a HTIB type setup, cables become as important as any component of your system. If you have not tried better cables for yourself then you cannot possibly know.

Have you tried better cables in your rig? If so, which ones? (RatShack/Monster and the like do NOT count) I eagerly await your response.

ikolbyi

nooshinjohn wrote: »

If I install my Fisher Price rig in the back of my GMC pickup would that count as 'Professional Grade"?

You clearly don't have a clue about which you speak. Once you get away from a Soundesign all-in-one or a HTIB type setup, cables become as important as any component of your system. If you have not tried better cables for yourself then you cannot possibly know.

Have you tried better cables in your rig? If so, which ones? (RatShack/Monster and the like do NOT count) I eagerly await your response.

I have tried different grade wire (18 - 12 gauge) using single-to-double shielded wiring for my speakers with my system and I found slightly - very slightly improvement. So slightly that nobody else in my house hold or a family friend could hear when I asked for their input. When I use to work for a night club, that setup with Crown amps mattered because your ear could distinguish the difference immediately.

concealer404

kolbtod wrote: »

I have tried different grade wire (18 - 12 gauge) using single-to-double shielded wiring for my speakers with my system and I found slightly - very slightly improvement. So slightly that nobody else in my house hold or a family friend could hear when I asked for their input. When I use to work for a night club, that setup with Crown amps mattered because your ear could distinguish the difference immediately.

Forget the guage for a minute...

What kind of wire, what terminations, etc etc etc..

nooshinjohn

kolbtod wrote: »

I have tried different grade wire (18 - 12 gauge) using single-to-double shielded wiring for my speakers with my system and I found slightly - very slightly improvement. So slightly that nobody else in my house hold or a family friend could hear when I asked for their input. When I use to work for a night club, that setup with Crown amps mattered because your ear could distinguish the difference immediately.

So the essence of your answer is "NO"... You have never tried anything better than what you could get off the shelf at a Ratshack or Home Depot for that matter. Nightclubs by the way, are the best example of the finest quality sound reproduction on the planet!:eek::eek::rolleyes: I do hope you were joking with that one.

I guess this would tend to render useless any statement you would have on the matter then... Thanks for Playing. Do we have any Parting Gifts for him?

ikolbyi

nooshinjohn wrote: »

So the essence of your answer is "NO"... You have never tried anything better than what you could get off the shelf at a Ratshack or Home Depot for that matter. Nightclubs by the way, are the best example of the finest quality sound reproduction on the planet!:eek::eek::rolleyes: I do hope you were joking with that one.

I guess this would tend to render useless any statement you would have on the matter then... Thanks for Playing. Do we have any Parting Gifts for him?

All wiring is a factor in 4 elements:
-gauge size
- shielding (single or multi-layered)
- wire type (copper/gold/silver)
- solid or stranded

Distance and placement of speakers to unit producing the sound (AVR, power amp, etc..) is a key contributor to the sound quality. The further your speakers are away from the sound source the more noise that can be introduced into the wire (such as a power source near the wire), the faster the quality of the signal degrades. If your speakers are close to the sound source, then lower quality wire vs higher quality wire is all relative.

In my situation, my speakers are only 4 feet away from the sound source so I have no signal leakage and no power source is near it neither so I don't have to worry about that distorting the signal neither. This is why I only have a slight improvement.

Now at the former club, the speaker runs are far away (100+ feet) and the wiring was ran on top of the dance floor lights. In this application you have to contend with the heat of the lamps and the electrical field from the 220v electrical wiring. Solid 12 guage, 3 layer insulated cable with banana plugs was required to prevent signal loss to the speakers in that setup, not to mention the speaker sound quality could produce sounds most lower-end models can not.

Concerning brands and brand names - That's a personal choice and in these forums more like a religion. Check the specs of the wire, that is the most important attribute of a wire, not the marketing name slapped on the packaging.

For the average user, using 14 gauge "in-wall" is good enough to get the full spectrum of sound to your speakers.