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Are unequal length speaker cables really bad?

Ok, I've been into audio since the 70's and always have used equal length speaker cables to the right and left channels. Considering the electrical signal flows through the cable at a significant fraction of the speed if light, it seems that speaker placement that is unequal by as little as a 1/4 inch would have a far greater negative impact on channel balance, soundstage, etc than would unequal cable length as the speed of sound is very slow compared to the flow in the cables.

What do the people that really know say?
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Showing 2 responses by rlwainwright

rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
Unless your cable runs are significantly different, and by that I mean more than 100 feet in difference, the length of the cables will make absolutely no sonic difference provided the cables are of sufficient diameter, 14 ga. or larger.

Do not sweat this, it is a total non-issue...

-RW-
rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
#1 - if the equipment is so sensitive to minute capacitance differences between say an 8 ft. cable and a 15 ft. cable it is very poorly engineered equipment indeed.

#2 - the fact that your head is not locked in a vice when you listen means that the small differences in your position when seated translate into audible differences in your listening experience. Worrying about the difference in a signal traversing an 8 ft. cable vs. a 15 ft. cable is the textbook definition of audiophile nervosa. Get over it.

-RW-
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