How to select a good Speaker Cable


Speaker cables do have a significant role in how our system sounds. Different cables sound different. 

So which one is the right one for you?

The Speaker Cable is an extension of the Amp. and not an addition to the speaker's load. It shall have a certain resistance (low) not to spoil the Amp's DF figure. As so, it can be calculated and there is a formula to do it.

The higher the Amp's DF, the lower the Speaker Cable's resistance shall be. As today SS power Amp's get DFs of 400 and above (Digital Amps go by thousands) the cable of 10 ft (3m) long, gets as thick as 0 AWG.

I can see your eyebrows elevates, when that thick cable is to be deal with. Most Speaker Cable makers skip it because of that. So most cables on the market (regardless of the look or price) are of 14-12 AWG. Way less that supposed to be.

Worst! no Speaker Cable maker, dealer or seller knows the answer, of what is the correct cable for your system. 

So most of us ended up, with a cables too thin for the task.

A conducted test, on this site, about a year ago as well as with some closer friends, shows a significant improvement with a calculated size cable over their previous cable. The results were all positive and preferred the calculated cable.

So, instead of asking: which of two brands, or two prices or two colors of Speaker Cable do I need, you should ask how thick of a Speaker Cable do I need.

I'll be happy to provide you the calculation, for who request it. All you need to provide is:

1). Length (Ft. or meter)

2). The Amp's DF figure.

Thanks


b4icu

Showing 2 responses by cakyol

Follow the flowchart:

1) If your amp is more than 200 Watts/channel use a 10 gauge or less copper only wire.
    If power is less than that, use a 12 gauge copper only wire.

2) If the wire length is less than about 8-10 feet, stop.  You are done.

3) If you here, verify that your wire is longer than 10 feet.  If not, go back to step 2.

4) Choose a wire based on 1 and 2 above and in addition...

5) Pick a wire with low stray inductance and capacitance.



b4icu

a gauge LESS THAN means the wire is THİCKER.   The LOWER the gauge THE THICKER the wire

that is why in my flowchart  i said LESS than 10 gauge meaning the wire is THİCKER.