Are there any issues with connecting speaker wire in this manner?
I'm considering purchasing some 14 awg solid core wire to use as speaker cable. I will be doubling this up to make 11 awg speaker cable. My amplifiers, Red Dragon S-500, have binding posts which DO NOT have a hole drilled in the center of the shaft for inserting wire (they are hollowed out for banana plugs but that's not what I am referring to here nor do I need). I'll be connecting the speaker wire without attachments, no spades, bananas, nor pins. To get a good connection, it would be ideal if I could take the wire and, at the half way point, wrap it around the amplifier binding post, then run the two ends out to the speakers. Will this work or will connecting the wire in this manner be problematic? Do I need to cut the wire into 2 runs? Thanks!
Did you replace all the copper wire inside your amp and speaker cabinets? If not, you might be appreciating an interaction effect of copper x ______. 😜
If you trial these blind, I’ll admit it will be interesting. If you go it alone and all is sighted comparison, the value in this thread will be for all the practical advice others weighed in with, IM(blunt)O.
If you don’t use connectors, do color-code tape the end of each solid core before you start wrapping them - it’s a definite time saver when those wires invariable slip out of yourslipped out of my hands during assembly! 😉
benanders: I haven't messed with amps at all. They're still 100% stock except the fuses. I did internally rewire my speakers with doubled runs of solid core 18 awg silver plated copper and some of the crossover parts were upgraded a few years back but the main wire is solid core copper. Perhaps if this experiment goes well, I'll be replacing that wire as well. And regarding your second paragraph, I hope I haven't come across as unappreciative. I am grateful when folks are kind enough to share their knowledge and experience. Truly.
And regarding your second paragraph, I hope I haven't come across as unappreciative. I am grateful when folks are kind enough to share their knowledge and experience. Truly.
Not at all! I meant that if there is any real world difference between the wires (for sound), then readers will only know if you try to nix expectation bias from your evaluations. Which would be interesting.
I’m doubtful of much if any difference between wire like this because while I also perceived differences in wires, if I do it blindly I suddenly start failing at predicting anything better than what chance alone would accomplish. Our minds can be funny like that. Or maybe just mine… grin.
Without an unsighted (= predicting = expectation bias) approach (i.e., someone’s help changing wires while you don’t peek, to try to keep you honest with yourself 😉), you may well still hear differences, but whether they’re real and induced by chemical properties or just imaginary, they’ll only be meaningful to your setup.
But, obviously, that’s a fair bit of trouble and if it’s not of interest to you, then who really cares, right? Cheap harmless experiments should be more fun than perfect, I suppose.
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