Cables from amp to preamp or longer speaker cables…


So today I was in the room that I’m setting up for dedicated listening. Speakers will be at the front of the room and sofa will be at the other end. I dug out a pair of expensive speaker cables I had from many years ago and discovered they are only about six feet long. This would be ok if I had my rig set up behind the speakers but I want to sit on that sofa at the far end of the room (12 feet away) and have my Benchmark DAC 3 HGC beside me so I can plug headphones in occasionally……do I buy long speaker cables (probably expensive), or would I place my amp behind the speakers and run long cable from that to the preamp beside the sofa and if so would this long cable create any issues?

thomastrouble

I have had long runs of interconnects (5 - 7 meters) both balanced and unbalanced for two decades now with really no issues.  Presently, my RCA (unbalanced) interconnects are Audio-Envy and work very well, noise-free and are very articulate, while reasonably priced.  They are low capacitance cables.  The longer your runs, the more capacitance in the cables may have some attenuation in the treble range.  

 

Disclaimer: I am out of my league when talking headphones. I’m just throwing this out there.

From what I understand, you’re currently connecting your Benchmark DAC 3 HGC to your preamp using the RCA connections. That leaves the balanced outputs on your Benchmark DAC 3 HGC unused.  So, here’s my thought.

Why not set your equipment up in the optimum location using shorter RCA connectors and then buy a headphone amp for your couch area, which would be hooked up via the balanced outputs between your DAC and the headphone amp?

I found a headphone amp on Amazon for $289. Just search under:

S.M.S.L SH-9 Headphone Amplifier THX AAA Technology RCA/XLR Input 6.35MM Balanced Headphone Amplifier

I also found a headphone amp (not on Amazon) for $7,000. So, you have choices.

Try posing this question under the headphone section of the forum. You might get some good suggestions there.

Toolbox

…ahhh…keep it simple, I’m with erock79

“Get an extension for your headphone cable. That is much more practical than considering lengthening other cables.”

With few exceptions, it is better to use longer interconnects (RCA or balanced) and shorter loudspeaker cables.

 i value the quality of the XLR cables I use, they make a big difference.  I am not sure they make the ones I like in that length.  

Longer speaker cables are common and for me the cheaper solution for the best sound.