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


128x128b4icu
Hi 
I went through a lot of speaker cables 
Mit,Cardas,Audioquest,Etc 
and the best I have heard in my system 
 Is Black Cat.
Interesting thoughts which has me looking to experiment considering the little investment required. Was wondering if you have a source for spade connectors for a 1/0 gauge wire? I could only come up with a connector for welding cables with a 5/16 hole which would then need to be cut to attach to amp and the speakers would need to end up as bananas .
Hello b4icu so the speaker cable deal. Ok so I have an Onkyo M504 power amp damping factor is 140 
The speaker in feet from center is apprx 4-6 ft using a pair of mission 783's and or B&W cdm 1t ty 
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.