Different length speaker cables?

pugs · « **on:** 17 Jun 2006, 05:58 pm »

I am thinking about buying new speaker cables. I need 12' length for one channel, and only about 5' for the other. Is it best to get the same length for both channels (12') even though one cable will be way too long for one channel?

jeffreybehr · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 10:41 pm »

pugs, altho some will disagree with me, I believe that each speaker cable should be as short as possible. Absolutely use a 5' and a 12' length.

SET Man · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 10:52 pm »

Hey!

Go with a pair of 12'. Better to have the same lenght on both spakers.

With that much difference this will show if you measure them. True that you are unlikely to hear any different with 5' + 12'.

But than why not have them the same length?

Take care,
Buddy

JoshK · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 11:04 pm »

Do you run balanced or SE ICs? I think you should put the amps by the speakers and run the IC's to the amps.

pugs · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 Jun 2006, 02:27 am »

Quote from: JoshK

Do you run balanced or SE ICs? I think you should put the amps by the speakers and run the IC's to the amps.

I run SE IC's. Having an amp near each speaker doesn't really work in my configuration. I have a short rack of equipment on both sides of my big screen TV. One side is the video equipment, and on the other side is for 2ch. I don't have much space at all in my 12' wide room.

I think I will just get a 12' pair. If I have to sell them down the road, it will be a lot easier. I don't know what to do with all of the extra length on the one side. I guess I will just coil it up.

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #5 on:** 18 Jun 2006, 02:33 am »

It has been suggested that you should not coil them up due to the electric effect that it will cause in the coiled end. But then, some will argue that this is snake oil. I say even the smallest electrical difference between the channel will show up in the sound. One needs to wonder why certain purists believe that equipment should have the least components and wires possible. If this philosophy was to be followed, one could easily get the 5 and 12 ft for the speakers, but the unbalance that it produces would throw back any gains in minimal component philosophy.

gerchin · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 Jun 2006, 03:37 am »

Twelve gauge copper wire has resistance of 0.00187 Ohm per foot. That means that the 12 foot cable will have 0.026 Ohm more resistance than the 5 foot cable. You probably get more difference than that just from unequal torque on the binding posts for one channel vs. the other. If you use smaller gauge (larger diameter) wire, the difference is even less. Similar arguments can be made for the inductance and capacitance of the wire.

Oh, and in case anybody brings up the idea of propagation delay through the wire; the signal passes through the wire at a significant fraction of the speed of light. Even at 1/10 the speed of light, that extra 7 feet will be traversed in 0.000000071 seconds. I don't think you'll hear any phase difference from that time delay, but if you do you can compensate by moving your head about 1/2000 inch toward the side with the longer cable.