Skin effect is not an issue for audio freqs = I started out in electronics as a teenager building a Heathkit 101 ham radio, worked as an electronics tech in the US Navy, earned a BSEE after return to civilian life and spent two decades working in the field. Skin effect is a big issue at radio freqs but the effect on low freqs (and audio comprises relatively low freqs) just is not an issue. As with a lot of snake oil, there is always a kernal of truth - the push to sell cables based on ideas like skin effect is a classic in this regard - take some scientific principle and then expand its reach - it is not whether skin effect has affects audio freqs- rather it is the magnitude of the effect that matters. The only thing that really matters as far as speaker wire (assuming that your runs are relatively short (50 ft or less) - is the awg - small awg - big wire - low resistance - less IIR losses. stranded vs solid - the stranded will be more flexible.
Stranded vs singal core conductors and skin effect
Yea, Yea, I did a search. I did find similar topics, but I still don't know which solution is preferable. Many mega-buck cables utilize solid core. Is solid core a better solution (conductor, etc.)? Isn't it the geometry (twisting, braiding, etc.) that addresses the skin effect issues? Are there other scientific reasons for utilizing stranded wire vs singal core? I am really considering making some DIY speaker cables. If for no other reason, than just for kicks - sounds kind of fun. I have read up on so many different theories. I realize that inductance and resistance are extremely important factors, as well as capitance, and for whatever reason, it must be a challange to design a cable with extreamly low measurments in all three categories?? I don't really fully understand why. HOLD ON - I don't want a complete lesson here. I'm just seeking some input from the engineering-minded or the knowledgeable DIY community as to which type of wire offers the best conductivity (and other factors??) for designing a DIY speaker cable. Additionally, which geometry is the preferred method?