Un-equal length speaker cable advice??

Somewhere I read a 20% variation in cable length is acceptable. It would depend on the level of your neurosis and the class of your equipment as well. I've read also that coiled wired is a no-no as well. What's a person to do? I perfer equal lengths on expensive cables, resell value, but on inexpensive cables...Recently wired a small/inexpensive system together w/14' and 11' lengths of AQ Type 4 wire. Can't hear any difference.

Thanks Kotta,

Need to say what I am using. I have a BAT VK-300SE with all Audience AU-24 interconnects and, currently, a pair of bi-wire 2.5m Audience AU-24 speaker cables with: Martin Logan ReQuest with a "soon to be modified by Dan Wright" Denon 2900 SACD/CD player, a modified Sansui TU-919 tuner (just great) and a Linn turntable.

The room is 17 by 29.

Thanks, J. D.

Ocos speaker cable is ideal for unequal runs. It's good stuff too.

If using expensive cables, use equal lengths because you'll take a beating trying to sell an un-equal pair. I'd go with equal lengths of the Au24, a very nice cable.

Patrick (Lugnut) offers one suggestion, and I'll follow it with the comment that Alpha-Core Goertz "MI" series cables are also fine for use in unequal lengths. See their web site for details about their cable: www.alphacore.com/goertz

What I did is use Ocos wire. I found two different pairs that suited the right and left channel lengths. I then combined them in a shotgun manner. Really helped widen the soundstage and add a nice boost to the low end. Also, when I go to resell them, I can sell them as two seperate pair or in the application that I designed them for.

Good Listening,

Steve Bachman

MIT and Transparent say their cables can be used in unequal length runs.

I had a similar situation a few years when I was running a 12 foot pair of AP Oval 9 when my equipment rack was on the right side. I never tried unequal lengths, so I can't comment on any sonic differences. I just felt more at ease using equal lengths.

I love the AU24 as well, so far my favorite speaker cable ever. Skinnier than zip cord, but full-sounding. Just beautiful with voices and acoustic instruments. Although they can be purchased in biwired configuration, I understand that Audience recommends using single runs with jumpers. Do you feel the Martin Logans have benfitted from biwiring?

Nice system J.D.!

Depending on the aesthetic appeal (meaning allowed by your s.o. if any) you can instead of coiling lay the cable in a narrow half ellipse that leaves from behind the speaker to it's side and returns to it. You can "fix" the wire to the floor by a proper device i.e. blue tack or removable adhesive to follow the intended path. Got to get creative if a carpet is involved... Just an idea I've been using for some time with good results. Hope this helps!
Luis

Supposedly both of these companies can "tune"
cables of unequal lenghts in their network boxes to perform properly.
I use a pair of 10 foot and 20 foot Transparent Super
Bi-Wires with no issues whatsoever that i can tell.

Hope this helps!

It's a function of speaker impedence and cable electrical properties. If your speakers have a nice high impedence they'll be more resistant to asymmetrical cabling, especially if they're electrical characteristics (LCR) are low, like bigger Nordost, etc. If your speakers drop into the 2-3 ohm range anywhere then I'd be careful NOT to use high capacitance nor skinny cables in general, and especially asymmetrically.