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Can speaker cables be too thick?

Hi folks, I've tried several speaker cables in the past, like the MIT MH-750, Wireworld Gold Eclipse, Ridge Street Audio, Pure Note Paragon and Cardas Golden Eclipse. I've been using these expensive cables until I replace them with ordinary 2x6mm2 OFC copper cables consisting of multiple small gauge solid conductors. These cables have the best tonal balance and they match very well with the speakers (Dunlavy SC-V). I use them in biwire fashion (each cable is 5 ft in length). What would happen if I replace them with even larger gauge copper cables, like 2x8mm2 or 2x10mm2? Would the sound improve further with the larger gauge cables? What sonic characteristics can be heard when the speaker wire is "too thick"?

Chris
dazzdax

Showing 6 responses by muralman1

muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Thick speaker cables are horrible on my system. I don;t care what shape they come in. I have tried the MIT and Cardas you mention. Pick your poison. I cannot believe the trash heavy insulation randomly inserts into the signal path does not deteriorate all systems. I think in most you can't hear it particularly.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Oh, I didn't know the copper conductor was the issue. When Dazdax mentions Cardas and MIT in the same line, I naturally thought he was talking about the visual size.

I do not have an opinion on thick cables. I will try that on my bass panels. I found very thin works wonders on the mids and highs.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Flat - very thin- should be kept very short. That gives you the best worlds in mids and highs. Even 1 ohm benefits.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Dave is echoing what I said about dielectrics. There are a number of cable makers that have addressed that concern. The Anti-Cable, a cable I championed, is very good in regards to noise suppression.

The mids of round solid wire are fine, but the highs are rolled off. That affects the mids as well making them overly warm. A very thin flat cable, if kept short, opens the highs significantly, significantly changing the overall character of some music.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Yes, Dave, dielectrics in fine source open systems benefit with air dielectric for just the reason you are describing.

As for round vs, flat I am talking solid wire vs. flat ribbon at 12 gauge. For small wires, I like solid just fine. I use such an interconnect. The highs are everything you want them to be.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
The proof is in the listening, musical instruments and voices gained a normalcy with decidedly more detail over the round wire. If there are radio signals getting through then I do not hear as well as I thought. The painter that is working in my room now, somewhat younger, says the same.
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