Speaker cable lengths doe it matter they are not equal???


Hello to all ...
This is my first time on this site so please pardon my "rookieness" at this. I am setting up a new system after being out of audio for years. My current setup demands that one speaker is relatively close to the components and the other not so much. In other words they will not be equidistant forcing me to have one speaker cable longer than the order a rough estimate is that one will be 8 feet and the other 16-20 feet.
The question is what is best:
1. Leave them different lengths
or
2. Make them the same length and hide the excess as best as possible on the closer speaker (would end up being coiled)

i understand that presumably the impedance would differ because of the length difference but would that be noticeable?? As I said I am no expert that’s why I came here to hear feedback from the experts out in audiogon land!
Thanks for your replies lets see what you all think........
qbndds

Showing 6 responses by qbndds

Thanks again to all and specially Almarg for your detailed explanation I think based upon what I see as a concensus of opinion I am leaning towards the best cable possible at different lengths will post here how it turns out!

Thank you all for the responses so far as an update since someone asked I plan to run:

Jeff Rowland Continuum S2 amp (with DAC)
Raidho D1.1 speakers

Looking for a CD transport 


gdnrbob

Thanks, I think you are right. I will start a new discussion re: CD transport
For what its worth I am considering runiing "anti-cables" with this system they specifically ask:
"length of run to left speaker.....length of run to right speaker..."
They state that with their cables (solid copper) as long as the ratio between the cables is no more than 2:1 "with their cables it makes no difference".

So as I prefaced my intro to this thread and being a "rookie" it seems that this is one of those issues to which there seems to be no definitive answer. My original thought/belief was that due to differences in the impedance of the wire they should be kept equal, however, given the necessity to coil the excess wire to the closer speaker that seems to be a greater issue.  So as it stands today I am leaning towards two different lengths as per the manufacturer's (as of this writing Anti-Cables)recommendation.  I am considering Morrow as well and will contact them for their opinion.

Its been fun listening to all your varied opinions as a "greenhorn" ultimately as in art I guess beauty is in the "eye of the beholder" so the proverbial pendulum will continue to swing between equal lengths ..... same length!

Thanks to all!
healthman:

One take-away from all this for me is you can drive yourself nuts with all the "what-ifs" in the hi-fi arena at the end of the day if it works and sounds ok to YOU then DFWI! (you fill in the words)!