Cable Length Optimization...Speaker vs Interconnect, etc.


Component placement constraints have me trying to decide the best compromise between amp to speaker and preamp to amp cabling. I'm on a limited budget, so probably looking at Blue Jean cables or similar (in cost). With a Freya+ I can use balanced or unbalanced outputs, but amp is unbalanced only, so have to use an interface at the amp end if I go balanced. 

Choices are

(1) pre to amp about 5 ft, amp to furthest speaker about 20 feet

(2) pre to amp about 18 feet, amp to speakers about 7 ft.

I lean toward option 1, but that isn't based on anything empirical. If option 2, even though it means adding an interface (Rolls MB15b, Rolls HE18, or similar), I think balanced might be the better pre to amp connection.

Thoughts? 

Paul



paulf3rd

Showing 1 response by millercarbon

Always love the "separates on a limited budget".  Anyway, surprise, no one needs XLR for length. That stuff is made for professional use where the runs are tens of meters, not ten feet. Another one audiophiles completely misunderstand. So save yourself some money. (And if you really want to save money: integrated amp.) 

That's all. No one even thinking of running 20 ft of wire gonna listen to me anyway. But at least maybe someone will get that XLR is a total waste and misapplication of money and technology.