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How to select a good Speaker Cable

Speaker cables do have a significant role in how our system sounds. Different cables sound different. 

So which one is the right one for you?

The Speaker Cable is an extension of the Amp. and not an addition to the speaker's load. It shall have a certain resistance (low) not to spoil the Amp's DF figure. As so, it can be calculated and there is a formula to do it.

The higher the Amp's DF, the lower the Speaker Cable's resistance shall be. As today SS power Amp's get DFs of 400 and above (Digital Amps go by thousands) the cable of 10 ft (3m) long, gets as thick as 0 AWG.

I can see your eyebrows elevates, when that thick cable is to be deal with. Most Speaker Cable makers skip it because of that. So most cables on the market (regardless of the look or price) are of 14-12 AWG. Way less that supposed to be.

Worst! no Speaker Cable maker, dealer or seller knows the answer, of what is the correct cable for your system. 

So most of us ended up, with a cables too thin for the task.

A conducted test, on this site, about a year ago as well as with some closer friends, shows a significant improvement with a calculated size cable over their previous cable. The results were all positive and preferred the calculated cable.

So, instead of asking: which of two brands, or two prices or two colors of Speaker Cable do I need, you should ask how thick of a Speaker Cable do I need.

I'll be happy to provide you the calculation, for who request it. All you need to provide is:

1). Length (Ft. or meter)

2). The Amp's DF figure.

Thanks


128x128b4icu
b4icu's avatar
b4icu OP
553 posts
 
Mr. djones51

Is this going to be like this forever?
I’m happy you skipped this time the "being rude" part. Thanks.

As per the AWG STD table: https://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
What table do you use? (link!)

The given cable resistance (Ohms per 1000 ft. raw - just "Copy - Paste" on the numbers!):

#16 the resistance per 1000 ft is given as: 4.016 ohms
#12 given as: 1.588 ohms
#8 given as: 0.6282 ohms
#4 given as: 0.2485 ohms

For a 6ft length, you need 12ft cable:
A red (+) of 6tf and a black (-) of 6 ft.
6ft + 6ft = 12 ft.

The calculated resistance for the 4 cables is:

(#16) 4.016 ohms / 1000 x 12 = 0.048 ohms
(#12) 1.588 ohms /1000 x 12 = 0.019 ohms
(# 8) 0.6282 ohms / 1000 x 12 = 0.0075 ohms
(# 4) 0.2485 ohms / 1000 x 12 = 0.003 ohms

Very different from your calculations:

8 awg = .459 Ohm resistance @ 6ft
12 awg = .466 Ohm resistance @ 6ft
16 awg = .480 Ohm resistance @ 6ft

I have no idea from where your numbers are coming from?
You need to check your calculator’s battery, and replace them. :-)

As so, your DF to cable comparations are all errores.

But for the sake of science, this is not accounting (using only addition and subtraction of numbers),
we (Engineers) use also multiplication and divisions and more...
Then we get the ratio: a/b and not only the diff. of a-b.

I think that by this example, we are pretty much done.


djones51
4,947 posts
 
This is where you don’t get it.

What’s the DF of the amplifier for you’re asking these people?

The one I used from above is 105 DF. Why do you forget to add the DF to the cable?

The cables aren’t connected to nothing. So here is the real numbers for that amplifier with a DF of 105

Your numbers
The calculated resistance for the 4 cables is:

(#16) 4.016 ohms / 1000 x 12 = 0.048 ohms
(#12) 1.588 ohms /1000 x 12 = 0.019 ohms
(# 8) 0.6282 ohms / 1000 x 12 = 0.0075 ohms
(# 4) 0.2485 ohms / 1000 x 12 = 0.003 ohms

Numbers for an amplifier with a DF of 105

105DF = 8/105 =.076 Ohms

(#16) 4.016 ohms / 1000 x 12 = 0.048 ohms + .076= .124 Ohms

(#12) 1.588 ohms /1000 x 12 = 0.019 ohms +.076= .095 Ohms

(# 8) 0.6282 ohms / 1000 x 12 = 0.0075 ohms +.076 =.083 Ohms

(# 4) 0.2485 ohms / 1000 x 12 = 0.003 ohms + .076= .079 Ohms

From the smallest guage wire #16 to the highest guage wire #4 the DIFFERENCE in cable resistance for an amplifier with DF of 105 = .045 Ohms in other words INSIGNIFICANT

The resistence of the cable is swamped by the speaker used you don’t even ask for what speakers they use.

Your numbers are accurate as far as they go but they are meaningless in the real world. I’m getting tired of trying to educate you.
sj00884's avatar
sj00884
80 posts
 
Simple really, choose with your ears, and let the calculus and specs be damned. 
b4icu's avatar
b4icu OP
553 posts
 
Mr. djones51

You are tiring me out Mr. djones51.
Consider this answer to be the last !

Haven’t seen any explanations of your source for the AWG table or the errores calc.

A 105 for DF is not that much of a DF. But as this is what it is, let’s do it:

105 DF = 8/105 = 0.076 Ohms as Ro.
If using a #16 awg cable (6 ft) = 0.048 ohms as R cable.
Add the DF (Ro) and the cable (R):

0.076 + 0.048 = 0.124 ohms

0.124 ohms equals to a combined DF of 8 / 0.124 = 64
So, by you using a #16 you are losing 40% of the original DF of that Amp (105).
Is 40% still insignificant?

But why 105?

Do it with a DF of 400 ! (there are guys gere with Amps of 800 and even 4000)

400 DF = 8 / 400 = 0.02 ohms.
With a # 16 awg you lose 70% and so on...
(you claim its insignificant, so I take the liberty of using a #16 awg) .

Is that significant enough for you?

Most of cables out there are of #12 awg, for the convenience of making them,
rather of: being significant for the task...
Would you like that attitude when sitting on the dentist chair, or at a bypass surgery? That would be a first.

With a #12 awg, you about to lose 50%!
I can understand that you can cut your loss in advance, if you go to gamble Vegas or buy some shares.
It's a game with chances to WIN but also to LOSE.

Is 50% loss on the sound is insignificant for you?

Sticking to your thin cables,
you only lose! (unfair)

No WIN !!!

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