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Advice for Speaker Cable
https://forum.lddb.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=9136		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  mimylovesjapan [ 20 Jun 2020, 14:27 ]
Post subject:  Advice for Speaker Cable
Hi everyone !
I need to buy new cables for my speakers.
I will need 7 m of cables, and my wallet can go up to 7$/m.
I am hesitating between two cables from audio technica :
one is thick and OFC but not so much protected (one layer of PVC) : https://www.audio-technica.co.jp/product/AT6159
The other is thinner, but seems well protected : https://www.audio-technica.co.jp/product/AT-ES1200
Both are the same price, same brand, and quite affordable, but not cheap neither.
What would be the best choice ?
Author:  substance [ 20 Jun 2020, 16:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Advice for Speaker Cable
Go lower gauge. Shielding less important on speaker cables.
Author:  rein-o [ 20 Jun 2020, 17:13 ]
Post subject:  Re: Advice for Speaker Cable
I posted a website I found years ago about what wires to use.

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

If you have time to read you will find out a lot of great info.

I bought a really thick copper wire from the hardware store, very thick and works great.

I think at the time copper was high after the crash in 2009 and I paid around .50 cents a foot.
Look into it. I got some shrink tubing to make the red on one side so I know when I connect the speakers.
Author:  mimylovesjapan [ 20 Jun 2020, 23:18 ]
Post subject:  Re: Advice for Speaker Cable
Thank you !
Then the answer is buying the thicker one : https://www.audio-technica.co.jp/product/AT6159
I was afraid of noise interference for cable up to 7m.
Thank you again !

Edit
I saw the sheet on rein-o article, and a thiner cable would be good also for 7m ?
For exemple :https://www.audio-technica.co.jp/product/AT6157

My amp is
https://kakaku.com/item/K0000376679/spec/#tab
My speaker is :
https://www.whathifi.com/dali/2-mk2/overview
They also accepts bi-wiring.
Is it worth to get thiner cables (AT6157), to bi-wire it ?
HAs bi-wire any signifiant result ?
Author:  substance [ 21 Jun 2020, 01:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Advice for Speaker Cable
mimylovesjapan wrote:
Thank you !
Then the answer is buying the thicker one : https://www.audio-technica.co.jp/product/AT6159
I was afraid of noise interference for cable up to 7m.
Thank you again !

Edit
I saw the sheet on rein-o article, and a thiner cable would be good also for 7m ?
For exemple :https://www.audio-technica.co.jp/product/AT6157

My amp is
https://kakaku.com/item/K0000376679/spec/#tab
My speaker is :
https://www.whathifi.com/dali/2-mk2/overview
They also accepts bi-wiring.
Is it worth to get thiner cables (AT6157), to bi-wire it ?
HAs bi-wire any signifiant result ?



You want the shielding for low level signal cables which are to be later amplified. Speaker wires carry high level already amplified signals. Some rf noise at less than nano watts will not be heard. Keep your speakers wires as short as possible and the same length for both.
Author:  mimylovesjapan [ 21 Jun 2020, 04:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Advice for Speaker Cable
OK, thanks !
What about bi-wiring ? is it worth ?
Author:  substance [ 21 Jun 2020, 08:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Advice for Speaker Cable
mimylovesjapan wrote:
OK, thanks !
What about bi-wiring ? is it worth ?



Bi-wiring with in conjunction with bi-amping produce sonic improvements only when an active crossover before the amplifiers are used and the internal passive crossovers of the speakers are by-passed. Even then the idea is to use tube or class a amps for the mid/highs and class a/b or class d high power amps to use for the bass.

Spend your time extra money on room treatment where you will get much better results for your buck. You likely want to diffuse low energy highs and trap high energy bass. You can start with a relatively inexpensive microphone and the free analyzing software rew. After that you could technically make your own diffusers and traps.
Author:  mimylovesjapan [ 21 Jun 2020, 09:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: Advice for Speaker Cable
thank you substance !
Author:  mimylovesjapan [ 26 Jun 2020, 09:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Advice for Speaker Cable
I bought the thick cable and I will install it today !

One more question : my last cable became green because of oxydation in 2 or 3 yearts only...
Should I use banana plugs to avoid that ? Or is it useless ? If it s better, any banana plug will work well, or should I buy specific ones ?
Author:  substance [ 26 Jun 2020, 15:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: Advice for Speaker Cable
mimylovesjapan wrote:
I bought the thick cable and I will install it today !

One more question : my last cable became green because of oxydation in 2 or 3 yearts only...
Should I use banana plugs to avoid that ? Or is it useless ? If it s better, any banana plug will work well, or should I buy specific ones ?



You can use banana plugs. They won’t degrade sound. They will delay oxidation significantly.
Author:  mimylovesjapan [ 26 Jun 2020, 22:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Advice for Speaker Cable
Thank you !
Author:  ldfan [ 28 Jun 2020, 02:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Advice for Speaker Cable
I will add that using banana plugs (or even pin connectors) is a good idea to just make it simpler to wire up one's gear.

Especially when it comes to the amplifier side and the way manufacturers space everything so tightly, you really need banana plugs to make it easier to hook up speakers since it's so difficult to screw wires into the binding posts. Here is the back panel of my Denon AVR w/ all banana plugs on the speaker posts (bottom row)...

Image


You don't really need them as much for the speaker end but I have to say it's still nice to have as they look great. Here are banana plugs on my def tech speakers....

Image

.... and pin connectors on my dated Sony speakers w/ spring clips...

Image


And as substance stated, I think they do slow down oxidation simply because they are somewhat sealed inside their respective connectors but also it prevents us from constantly putting our greasy fingers on the bare wire.
Author:  shopkins82 [ 17 Aug 2020, 23:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: Advice for Speaker Cable
Idfan, I have those same banana plugs... either Monster cleared out a ton or their manufacturer went rogue because they're all over eBay for cheap. I don't usually recommend Monster because of their pricing and other corporate practices (trademark intimidation of non-AV related companies) but those bananas are a particular bargain and (hopefully) Monster isn't seen a dime from their purchase. They're sold without the Monster branding and with a couple of other random brand names as well.

As for speaker wire, anything 14awg+ and pure copper (not copper-coated aluminum) is more than sufficient even for long runs (up to 50ft) in terms of power loss, 12awg up to 75ft. Matching cable lengths is silly... electrons move across cable at the speed of light, so 1' or 10' difference isn't going to impact time alignment in the slightest. Same is true for shielding (as mentioned above) as it's a high-level amplified signal and not prone to EMI.

I've used Monoprice CL-rated white/jacket 12awg and 14awg for over 15 years in a dozen different applications (in-wall/ceiling, cabinet speaker, subwoofers... my own system and others I've installed). I've even finished a few short runs with tech-flex, heat-shrink, and boots/pants (purely for aesthetics) and those same bananas Idfan showed. It's known to be pure copper (not copper-coated aluminum), it's priced reasonably, and is always available... basically it's a known quantity and a good value.
Author:  ldfan [ 18 Aug 2020, 03:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: Advice for Speaker Cable
shopkins82 wrote:
Idfan, I have those same banana plugs... either Monster cleared out a ton or their manufacturer went rogue because they're all over eBay for cheap. I don't usually recommend Monster because of their pricing and other corporate practices (trademark intimidation of non-AV related companies) but those bananas are a particular bargain and (hopefully) Monster isn't seen a dime from their purchase. They're sold without the Monster branding and with a couple of other random brand names as well.


They are definitely the bargain deal banana plugs that have been ebay. And they are a great value in respect to price, functionality, and overall look.

And yes... I am extremely anti-Monster for the exact same reasons you mentioned. Hearing how they went about to sue that poor "Monster Miniature Golf" business was frivolous in every way. I never forgot that and basically stopped buying Monster products from that point on. The only exception I make is buying them dirt cheap on ebay or other retailers since I assume they are just selling off dead stock that Monster will not profit from (or I pick some up for free from people posting on Next Door, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist).
Author:  shopkins82 [ 22 Aug 2020, 18:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Advice for Speaker Cable
I felt icky picking up a $1 Monster THX s-video cable from Goodwill the other day to test on a lark... only to find my AVR didn't have S-Video input when I got home anyway :lol:
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