View Full Version : Cables & Leads Behind Your System
RobbieGong
22-09-2013, 19:38
Hi guys, Looking at the rear of my system, the excess speaker cable and one or two leads look a bit, lets say untidy hanging on the floor. I've heard that excess speaker cable should be folded up and over in a figure of eight type of configuration to avoid it acting like an attena ? What is the best way to keep the wires, leads, cables etc at the back there ?
realysm42
22-09-2013, 20:48
As short as possible.
And nothing touching if possible.
Wakefield Turntables
22-09-2013, 20:57
just keep the cables seperated, else, life is too short to be worrying about stuff like this!
Preferably as short as possible. But if they are of good quality with good shielding, it won't matter if they are all jumbled up. Or even if they are touching the walls, floor, ceiling or anywhere else!
Unshielded speaker leads can, under some circumstances, act as antennae to RFI. But you will only be troubled if you live close to an airport or radio transmitter (or repeater). Speaker cables should not be coiled up (figure-of-eight, or otherwise), the excess length should be folded up as a 'zig zag' (or boustropheidon - look it up, if you don't know what it means!).
Audio Al
23-09-2013, 05:50
boustropheidon
That sounds like something you get on a prescription :)
That sounds like something you get on a prescription :)
Either that or some newly discovered Dinosaur... hehe
jollyfix
23-09-2013, 11:22
That sounds like something you get on a prescription :)
:lol:
Hi Rob,
Hi guys, Looking at the rear of my system, the excess speaker cable and one or two leads look a bit, lets say untidy hanging on the floor. I've heard that excess speaker cable should be folded up and over in a figure of eight type of configuration to avoid it acting like an attena ? What is the best way to keep the wires, leads, cables etc at the back there ?
As others have said, by keeping your speaker cable as short as possible. After all, there would be no excess to deal with in the first place if you didn't have as much... Didn't you measure what you needed first before buying it, daftee? :eyebrows: ;)
Anyway, the best plan is to measure exactly how much cable you need (taking care if possible to ensure that both speakers are 'fed' by the same amount), leaving a little extra for some 'wiggle room', and then cut off the excess, using the opportunity to bare and expose some nice fresh wire, and then clean the plugs, before re-terminating the cables. You may even perceive an improvement in sound quality, as a result! :)
Marco.
boustropheidon
Sounds like a shot of Penicillin is needed to cure that one.
Near me is a village called "Botus Fleming" and that always sounds like a nasty chest infection to me as well :lol:
icehockeyboy
23-09-2013, 12:09
Hi Rob,
(taking care if possible to ensure that both speakers are 'fed' by the same amount),
Marco.
I thought it had been established here that equal lengths were not important?
RobbieGong
23-09-2013, 12:10
Lol Marco, I'm as fastidious and particular as you are mate (well almost lol !!). Both lengths of speaker cable are the same but because of the limitations for location of my system, the farthest away, speaker (not visible in pic) http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?23278-RobbieGongs-Set-Up left of fire place is 5metres approx. Right speaker cable is therefore same length as left and lays behind my system - See I do listen and learn :)
Hi Rob,
As others have said, by keeping your speaker cable as short as possible. After all, there would be no excess to deal with in the first place if you didn't have as much... Didn't you measure what you needed first before buying it, daftee? :eyebrows: ;)
Anyway, the best plan is to measure exactly how much cable you need (taking care if possible to ensure that both speakers are 'fed' by the same amount of cable), leaving a little extra for some 'wiggle room', and then cut off the excess, using the opportunity to bare and expose some nice fresh wire, and then clean the plugs, before re-terminating the cables. You may even perceive an improvement in sound quality, as a result! :)
Marco.
icehockeyboy
23-09-2013, 12:21
Hello.......?
I thought it had been discussed many times here, and the general consensus was that it didn't matter if speaker cables were odd lengths?
I only wish I could step behind my system rack - life would be so much easier. Dressing my cables can require some bizarre contortions.
As for speaker cables, I have always used equal lengths.
Hello.......?
I thought it had been discussed many times here, and the general consensus was that it didn't matter if speaker cables were odd lengths?
It's very unlikely to matter but it is conceivable that it could matter dependant on the type of loudspeakers, amplifier and the difference in the lengths of the cables.
I like to use equal lengths as do most people but it is really just OCD.
I only wish I could step behind my system rack - life would be so much easier.
As for speaker cables, I have always used equal lengths.
Ditto, but only to eliminate the 'what if?' factor. It would annoy the shite out of me wondering if it's making any difference, so I simply remove that possibility.
Being able to get behind my racks (for reasons stated and also sheer practicality) is a major priority and would come way before things looking 'nice', but then I have a separate room in which to house such 'shenanigans'... ;)
Marco.
Lol Marco, I'm as fastidious and particular as you are mate (well almost lol !!). Both lengths of speaker cable are the same but because of the limitations for location of my system, the farthest away, speaker (not visible in pic) http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?23278-RobbieGongs-Set-Up left of fire place is 5metres approx. Right speaker cable is therefore same length as left and lays behind my system - See I do listen and learn :)
Hi Rob,
No worries - gotcha! As long as the excess cable is not tighly coiled up and clear of any power leads/mains blocks, as you should always keep signal and power leads as far apart as possible, then you should be fine :cool:
Marco.
Just shove them as far behind the rack as they'll go, then forget about them. Out of sight, out of mind.
A bit like soiled underwear?
Marco.
A bit like soiled underwear?
Marco.
I've never tried connecting soiled underwear to my speakers.
Lol - of course I meant tossing yer shreddies behind the system. There's enough dust there to keep 'em company, anyway!
Marco.
Lol - of course I meant tossing yer shreddies behind the system. There's enough dust there to keep 'em company, anyway!
Marco.
Nah, there's none down there, just an empty cassette box and a stylus cleaning brush amongst the tangled web of cables.
realysm42
23-09-2013, 19:54
Ditto, but only to eliminate the 'what if?' factor. It would annoy the shite out of me wondering if it's making any difference, so I simply remove that possibility.
I thought you'd be happy to let your ears decide on that one? You do for every other factor in your system if I'm not mistaken.
Hi Martin,
Yup, but it would be an awkward one to properly assess :)
Marco.
Marco has used his used 'shreddies' to modify the port damping of the Tannoy Lockwood cabinets!
The cabinet Q-value is almost inversely proportional to the amount of time the shreddies have been worn.
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