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Speaker cable question

166.102.121.131
Posted on July 1, 2014 at 05:05:29
greg7
Audiophile

Posts: 943
Location: AZ
Joined: January 12, 2003
 Is average wire gauge critical for single ended amps and high efficiency speakers? I know the mainstream vogue is garden hose diameter but is it necessary here? I just built two interconnects using 26 awg twisted pair solid core and I'd like to use the same wire for speaker cables

 

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RE: Speaker cable question, posted on July 1, 2014 at 08:56:49
hottattoo
Audiophile

Posts: 141
Location: New York
Joined: July 30, 2011
 Asking a general question like that could stir up a hornets nest of opinions !!!!

How efficient are your speakers ?
how many watts are your amps ?
How long will the speaker cables be ?

If your speakers are a short distance from the amplifiers you should be OK, however it is cheap enough to use double or tripled up wires to see if you hear any difference. Check out DIY speaker cables( Google ) for some possible ideas. You don't need to spend big bucks on wires / cables IMHO.

 

RE: Speaker cable question, posted on July 1, 2014 at 09:00:13
onemug
Audiophile

Posts: 1276
Location: So. California
Joined: April 19, 2003
 I actually prefer the "non" garden hose diameter with my SET/hi-eff system.

I use a fairly small (16 or 18) gauge silver wire with teflon coating. At the other end of the $ spectrum, I like Radio Shacks 18 ga wire that I bought a spool of. fwiw, I do not like RS's 12 ga wire.

 

RE: Speaker cable question, posted on July 1, 2014 at 13:24:51
Tre'
Industry Professional

Posts: 17298
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 9, 2002
 With .04 ohms per foot (X 2...there and back) the already low damping factor will be even lower.

In the end it might not matter if your speakers don't need damping from the amplifier.

You will lose a little power though.

Tre'

Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"

 

RE: Speaker cable question, posted on July 3, 2014 at 09:00:47
SteveBrown
Audiophile

Posts: 2454
Location: Portland, OR
Joined: November 14, 2002
 It's one of those areas that is easy to experiment with and get very different results. Several years ago a number of people swore that using fairly thin (26 or 28ga) solid copper "magnet" wire was good, then there is the ultra heavy camp with bi-wired and special braiding for the wire, the "anti-cable" crowd swings back to solid copper, but heavier ga (also a PITA to route, but the way). And finally there is the group who says, "I've always used zip cord and it's the best stuff out there". At the end of the day, it's an easy thing to experiment with so let your own ears be the judge.

 

RE: Speaker cable question, posted on July 3, 2014 at 14:46:48
Alpha Al
Industry Professional

Posts: 2958
Location: N. Carolina
Joined: February 16, 2004
Contributor
  Since: December 3, 2015
 Allow me to relate this experience to you.

My system was biamped at one time. I was using runs of 14Ga stranded for LF and HF. Now, I am full range, using passive crossovers that I built. Since then, I have been using just one of the 14Ga lines to each side.

Recently, I tried paralleling the two 14GA lines, since one of them was now unused. I noticed an immediate improvement in the bass. It sounds like the amp is now controlling the speaker better.

 

RE: Speaker cable question, posted on July 4, 2014 at 07:28:44
drlowmu
Manufacturer

Posts: 9730
Location: East of Kansas City
Joined: January 10, 2005
 Hello,

You ask : " Is average wire gauge critical for single ended amps and high efficiency speakers? "

Yes, it most certainly is !!!

The requirements for a speaker level lead's AWG are totally different than that of an interconnect.

Currents, PEAK INSTANTANEOUS currents are much higher to the speaker.

Wire need not be garden sized, or break-the -bank in cost, but it must be done thoughtfully in the SE world, where the demands on efficient energy transmission are greater, losses are more noticeable.

PM me privately and I will be glad to give you some wire and AWG suggestions to try out that work well on SE / HE audio systems, using surplus Mil Spec wire, etc. One gauge does NOT fit all.

Jeff Medwin

 

RE: Speaker cable question, posted on July 14, 2014 at 10:54:53
amioutaline?
 I was once afforded the opportunity, over a 2 year period, to audition amplifiers from 2 to 50 Watts, both SE and Push-Pull. Concurrently, I was able to listen to a variety of cables: Spelz Anti-Cables, MIT AVT 1, Signal, Mapleshade Double Helix, a copy of the Mapleshade using RS magnet wire and DIY White Lightning.

The heavier gauge Spelz and MIT outperformed the lighter Mapleshade and Signal with the MIT showing how deficient the Spelz were in the higher frequencies.

The White Lightning, triple 16 gauge, two for neutral, one for hot, exhibited an even better balance between bass and treble and I've been using them ever since. At the present time my amps are an SE 45 and Triode wired, SE KT-88.

 

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