2. cables
  3. 1069022016

equal cable length?


Need some advice from all you cable gurus out there..
I'm upgrading my 2 channel system, going with ACI Sapphires and Force Sub, powered by a Rotel RB 980. One cable run will be 12'-15' to one speaker and the other speaker will be approx 4'- 6' ft from the amp. I have heard it's better to have cables of equal length and I have also heard that you should not coil extra cable. Will cables of unequal length be a no-no? I can't imagine the difference will be audible. I'm in a catch 22, either cables of different lengths or having to coil one cable.
Advice is appreciated.......also any suggestions on cable choices under $350 for this set-up?
generalturgidson
sbachman
41 posts
 
Look at Sumiko Ocos speaker cable. I am not sure who else qualifies, but the Ocos cable is not length specific so you can actually get 2 separate runs.

Good Listening,

Steve
rsuminsby
152 posts
 
Coiling the cable makes it a crude inductor. If it's a well shielded cable, it's probably less of an issue, but it's one of those audiophile no-nos.

I use Transparent Super cables of differing lengths...I've been told the networks "tune" the resistence, capacitance and inductance of the cable to be identical regardless of cable length, and I sure don't note any problems. I'd be inclined to use the two different lengths....just try not to obsess about it.
bomarc
501 posts
 
Stop fretting. Unequal cables do not matter (within reason), and coiling speaker cables doesn't matter either.
cosmic_void
142 posts
 
Electricity travels about 9 to 11 inches (memory?) in a nanosecond. This would equate to a time shift so far beyond your ability to hear (unequal length)that it is of no consequence. Do what you need to do. An exception would be to get equal length cables in case you ever swithch your system around and center the amp.
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