Spkr Cables . Can you use 2 diff brands at once?

Hi, Daryll:

It is not advisable to "mix and match" speaker cables, due to their different electrical characteristics. The likely result is that you will get a different "sound" from one speaker than from the other, and it may also cause instability or feedback problems for your amplifier. A better idea is to buy a longer section of Kimber 4TC for the other side, provided the difference in length between the two sides is not too great.

Since you must apparently do something to resolve this problem, you may want to consider changing your brand of speaker cable for both sides. The Alpha-Core Goertz line of speaker cable is priced somewhat below Kimber 8TC, and due to its physical design and electrical characteristics it can be used in asymmetrical lengths. Hence, having one side longer than the other is not a problem.

So you know, I was using a bi-wire pair of Kimber 8TC in my system until quite recently, when I switched to the Alpha-Core Goertz MI2 cable. I am very pleased with it, although it is bulkier and a bit more complicated to use than the braided Kimber design. The Goertz speaker cable can be ordered directly from the factory if you have no local dealer. For more info about the Alpha-Core Goertz cables, look at their Web site (which has some excellent technical information): http://www.alphacore.com/goertz.htm

Best regards,

Scott C-

Darryl; I can't comment on the electronic effects (if any), but the two speakers will most likely sound different with different brand speakers cables going to each-- maybe even significantly different. I would expect there to be poor musical coherency and maybe a screwed up stereo image. Also, it's generally considered not desireable to have speaker cables of different lengths either. I would strongly recommmend against it. Good Luck. Craig

Good post Scott. It seems we were posting at the same time, and you said it better than I did. Cheers. Craig

Thanks for the info, I will take your advice and scratch that idea. Thanks for the suggestions !

Tie one end of the short cable to a stop sign the other end to the bumper of your vehicle. Now just pull the car forward, problem solved. I'm good :^)

Don't waste your time. I had TARA Labs/XLO Reference on my B+W 802's because a store in SF had the same thing. Stick to one brand.

Not for R-L but you could get away with using different speaker cable for the bass/midrange section. You should have equal lengths on both sides.

Even if they cables are the same type, they really should be the same length. This is so that the loading on the two amplifier channels is the same.

As for mixing and matching: If you are on a budget, then using one for the treble and the other for the bass can be synergistic depending on the system.

There are two philosophies surfing arround this area:
One of them CABLES DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE and
the other CABLES DO NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

If you believe into the second philosophy than it doesn't matter. Zipcord is fine all the way through without any research and spending money for AudioQuest or Kimber.
If you believe in to the first than you should have cables of the same brand preferably even of the same length if such possible or the length difference must be minimal.

As far as I understand to sell just only one speaker cable is much more difficult than to sell a pair of equal-length speaker cables.

P.S. You can use different brands at once per one channel when you biwire or biamp.