What is the lifespan of speaker cable?

[Gmanuk101]

Just wondering if age has anything to do with it. (no, not getting middled aged in us humans).

Does speaker cable deteriorate with age and use or is this just nonsense?

Reason for asking is i've got some Rega speaker cable that i've had (kindly donated by RichB) that is probably 3 years old and has had quite a lot of use.

What are your thoughts?

Cheers
Graeme

[Macca]

I've got speaker cables that are twenty odd years old, nothing wrong with them. The cable I use now is about 5 or 6 years old has had a ton of use again nothing wrong. In term of lifespan I would say until the Sun goes supernova.

[struth]

As long as its been looked after no reason for it to age that I can think of aside of if you have exposed copper that can deteriorate. A simple clip of the ends would cure that

[Gordon Steadman]

I can't see why a lump of copper would stop passing current. Three years old seems new to me.

[YNWaN]

Use doesn't age speaker cable and most decent cable should last, essentially unchanged, pretty much indefinitely (3 years is nothing). However, I have come across cables (speaker cable and others) where the insulation appears to have been slightly hygroscopic and the copper has heavily oxidised over time, even becoming green/black. If you strip a small amount from the end and it is still bright copper then everything is fine :).

[Gmanuk101]

thanks chaps, essentially this was a pub quiz type questions wasn't it.. never fear as I will be back next week with another 'pointless' question. It will not be about a duck's quack and partial phase cancellation. toodles.

[synsei]

If it's mouldy don't eat it... :D

[walpurgis]

Use doesn't age speaker cable and most decent cable should last, essentially unchanged, pretty much indefinitely (3 years is nothing). However, I have come across cables (speaker cable and others) where the insulation appears to have been slightly hygroscopic and the copper has heavily oxidised over time, even becoming green/black. If you strip a small amount from the end and it is still bright copper then everything is fine :).

Yes, I have some pretty old Monster Spiral speaker cable exactly like that. You can find unoxidised metal if you strip the insulation back a few inches. I reterminate them every few years. They are actually quite decent sounding.

[walpurgis]

By the way. Were you laying down when that avatar picture was taken Graeme? :D

[Barry]

My speaker cables are over 35 years old - they haven't run out of electrons and are still working! :lol:

[Andrei]

Every now and then - maybe once every 3 years - you should treat the spades or banana with Caigs Deoxit. Do it more often if you have bare copper wire.

[hifinutt]

Just wondering if age has anything to do with it. (no, not getting middled aged in us humans).

Does speaker cable deteriorate with age and use or is this just nonsense?

Reason for asking is i've got some Rega speaker cable that i've had (kindly donated by RichB) that is probably 3 years old and has had quite a lot of use.

What are your thoughts?

Cheers
Graeme

gosh I am using some 20 year plus cable in a second system and sounds great