Spacing the cables further apart introduces a shift in both the nominal impedance of the cables and the tonal balance of the system. Obviously, most systems are not as "neutral" as we would like to think and / or some end users have very specific sonic preferences. Either way, the bottom line is that one can achieve a good measure of either approach ( neutrality vs cable flavouring ) by simply re-configuring the individual conductors of the speaker cabling.
As far as the interconnects go, these have always intrigued me. From what i can tell by the photo's that i've seen, it looks like the ground side is both quite high in inductance and MUCH longer in signal path length as compared to that of the "hot" conductor. Electrically, this looks like a mess to me, but i have to wonder how it would actually sound.
Given that i'm quite familiar with the interconnects that Bob / Ptm Consulting compared them to ( Jon Risch's SSTP ), i'm pretty certain that my results would echo his. This does not mean that others won't like them / achieve desirable results in their systems though, as we all know how important system synergy / personal preference is.
As a side note, Jon's original SSTP ( Solid / Stranded Twisted Pair ) does pretty well for what it is, but even that can be easily improved upon. Jon used to use all stranded cabling in this design until Thorsten Loesch and i suggested that he try some solid core conductors. Jon incorporated a solid conductor into the equation and sonics improved. The problem is, he used too heavy of a gauge of wire, slightly dulling the top end. He also recommended using the stranded conductor as the "hot" wire whereas i recommended using the solid wire.
While Jon contends that both wires are in the circuit and contribute equally to the sound, therefore negating which wire is used for a given polarity. My listening tests, and those of others that have compared the two designs, contradict this. In our experiences, using the solid conductor for "hot" results in a smoother, more cohesive presentation. Not only is there a difference in tonal balance and transient response, but the entire presentation has much better focus. Since the return path to ground is "shared" between the two interconnects, this conductor is less critical. That's why i recommend using the stranded wiring there, rather than as the lone conductor per channel on the hot side.
Jon later recommended that the solid wire used in this design be swapped from an 18 gauge to that of a 20 gauge, which helped to open up the top end a bit more. Going that route and using the solid for the "hot" conductor can make for a very solid performer for a very reasonable price.
Either way, i'm sure that all of these cables ( both JR's and Paul's ) bring with them certain positive attributes that are hard to find in many other cables. I attribute most of this to the use of solid core wiring.
As most of you know, i'm a BIG fan of solid core conductors and have been quite vocal about this for quite some time. I'm also a big fan of low skin effect, wide bandwidth, short signal paths, etc... The one variable that comes into play is the nominal impedance of interconnects and this is why some cables work better / worse in certain installations. In this regard, interconnects are more of a "trial and error" type of situation than speaker cables are. Sean
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As far as the interconnects go, these have always intrigued me. From what i can tell by the photo's that i've seen, it looks like the ground side is both quite high in inductance and MUCH longer in signal path length as compared to that of the "hot" conductor. Electrically, this looks like a mess to me, but i have to wonder how it would actually sound.
Given that i'm quite familiar with the interconnects that Bob / Ptm Consulting compared them to ( Jon Risch's SSTP ), i'm pretty certain that my results would echo his. This does not mean that others won't like them / achieve desirable results in their systems though, as we all know how important system synergy / personal preference is.
As a side note, Jon's original SSTP ( Solid / Stranded Twisted Pair ) does pretty well for what it is, but even that can be easily improved upon. Jon used to use all stranded cabling in this design until Thorsten Loesch and i suggested that he try some solid core conductors. Jon incorporated a solid conductor into the equation and sonics improved. The problem is, he used too heavy of a gauge of wire, slightly dulling the top end. He also recommended using the stranded conductor as the "hot" wire whereas i recommended using the solid wire.
While Jon contends that both wires are in the circuit and contribute equally to the sound, therefore negating which wire is used for a given polarity. My listening tests, and those of others that have compared the two designs, contradict this. In our experiences, using the solid conductor for "hot" results in a smoother, more cohesive presentation. Not only is there a difference in tonal balance and transient response, but the entire presentation has much better focus. Since the return path to ground is "shared" between the two interconnects, this conductor is less critical. That's why i recommend using the stranded wiring there, rather than as the lone conductor per channel on the hot side.
Jon later recommended that the solid wire used in this design be swapped from an 18 gauge to that of a 20 gauge, which helped to open up the top end a bit more. Going that route and using the solid for the "hot" conductor can make for a very solid performer for a very reasonable price.
Either way, i'm sure that all of these cables ( both JR's and Paul's ) bring with them certain positive attributes that are hard to find in many other cables. I attribute most of this to the use of solid core wiring.
As most of you know, i'm a BIG fan of solid core conductors and have been quite vocal about this for quite some time. I'm also a big fan of low skin effect, wide bandwidth, short signal paths, etc... The one variable that comes into play is the nominal impedance of interconnects and this is why some cables work better / worse in certain installations. In this regard, interconnects are more of a "trial and error" type of situation than speaker cables are. Sean
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