Speaker Cable Lengths - W/ Monos

I'd suggest proceeding with caution, and if possible listen and compare before doing something irreversable to your cables.

I'm certainly no expert, but it seems that each model/brand of cables has it's own unique characteristics. Just because Joe Blow's Kimber, AQs, Cardas, whatever sound good in 5 ft. runs doesn't mean your TARAs will. For example: we don't make our Golden Helix cables shorter than 8 ft. because their good sound is greatly degraded in shorter lengths. But, I'm pretty sure this isn't true for all cables. Hope this is helpful input.

Hi Eldon; your input is certainly useful for Mapleshade cables. BUT, if you want to try out other shorter spkr cables, at some point you've got to "pay the price". I have used 14 ft. Syn. Res. cables for years, but I'm going to bi-amps, and could then use about 3 ft. cables.

The cheapest way for me to try them is to buy a 6-8 ft. pair used and have them cut (for bi-wires) and re-terminated. I intend to keep my 14 ft. cables at least ubtil I find out whether or not the 3 ft. ones sound better. There is a "particle" of financial risk in many things audio. No? You suggest "caution" re cutting speaker cables-- well, how would you do this test cheaper? Note: long (read expensive) ICs will be needed also. At some point, one just has to "bite the bullet" and do it, IMO. Cheers. Craig.

Long interconnects and very short loudspeaker cables sound better than short interconnects and long speaker cables in VERY close to 100% of "all cases"! - and it's not too difficult to explain why: interconencts are
voltage-driven" (almost no current) and there is practically no signal quality degradation in properly made interconencts, but loudspeaker cables carry very considerable current, so there is definitely a signal degradation in long speaker cables - which was confirmed by numerous listening tests on many different systems.

Craig. Your point is well taken. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet.

Audiopman's post seemed to be focused on the preferred cable length when used with Monoblocks. From what I've been taught, it's important to ask "What's the optimum length for my brand of cables".

Actually, Eldon's post confirms a similar statement that another cable manufacturer, now no longer actively making cables, told me a few years ago, which I had not noted earlier because I didn't really believe it. He had found that 8 foot minimum lengths of his cable sounded better than shorter ones, and that some cable manufacturers felt likewise, which was why they demoed with cables of that length. I don't recall his explanation, and I don't know if I would have believed him anyway, but I'd be interested if anyone has a scientific or other explanation.