Using odd thickness cables.

[icehockeyboy]

Asking for a friend, I have no idea what the answer is, but would there be any difference if, for instance, you used one run of 2.5 mm cable to one speaker, and 4 mm to the other.

I did ask sometime back if it’s advantageous to use the thickest cable available, and the well known around these parts expert said no

[walpurgis]

I doubt anybody would hear any difference with odd cables........until you pointed it out, then they might insist they can detect it. Not that they are really likely to :).

[icehockeyboy]

Thanks Geoff!

He’s now thrown another question at me, ‘What about joining odd thicknesses together?

I personally said don’t do it, but I might be wrong.

[walpurgis]

Tell him to stop messing about and just order the necessary amount of Van Damme 2.5mm. It won't break the bank! :)

[icehockeyboy]

Ha ha!
I’m actually trying to flog him my Van Damme. 2.5mm hifi cable! ��

I was certain that I could hear an improvement when I got the 4mm version over the 2.5mm.
Do you think it was the placebo effect/my imagination etc?

[icehockeyboy]

Decided to invite him round to ‘listen’ to the cable, and at the same time satisfy my own curiosity.
Tried all the variations, and can report there’s no discernible difference in using thicker cable on one side, both Van Damme Hifi, one run 2.5 mm, one 4 mm.

Also not a jot of difference when joining two lengths together.

Probably annoyed all the purists now!

[walpurgis]

I was certain that I could hear an improvement when I got the 4mm version over the 2.5mm.
Do you think it was the placebo effect/my imagination etc?

Probably.

[AJSki2fly]

Ha ha!
I’m actually trying to flog him my Van Damme. 2.5mm hifi cable! ��

I was certain that I could hear an improvement when I got the 4mm version over the 2.5mm.
Do you think it was the placebo effect/my imagination etc?

IMHO probably not a placebo affect. In my experience different cables to speakers make a difference, some working better than others, and will enhance or degrade different aspects of the sound, you don't say what was better with the 4mm version, but I suspect it might have been a better bass and low mids. I have tried at least 6 different speaker cables over the years in my systems, including heavy 35amp mains cable, and sone work well and others don't.\

The best way to see if there is a difference is to sit there blind fold and to do a double blind test. So someone else keeps switching the cables and you listen to several tracks that you know and just score each track out of 10 without knowing which one is which and then review it after.

[Stryder5]

Decided to invite him round to ‘listen’ to the cable, and at the same time satisfy my own curiosity.
Tried all the variations, and can report there’s no discernible difference in using thicker cable on one side, both Van Damme Hifi, one run 2.5 mm, one 4 mm.

Also not a jot of difference when joining two lengths together.

Probably annoyed all the purists now!

Hi,

Sorry this is probably my ignorance, but you say you have a Naim Mu So nothing else?

How did you use speaker cable?

Gary

[Bigman80]

Hi,

Sorry this is probably my ignorance, but you say you have a Naim Mu So nothing else?

How did you use speaker cable?

Gary

:lol:

[walpurgis]

The best way to see if there is a difference is to sit there blind fold and to do a double blind test. So someone else keeps switching the cables and you listen to several tracks that you know and just score each track out of 10 without knowing which one is which and then review it after.

Not sure I agree. I certainly don't need a blindfold to hear if something sounds better or worse.

[Barry]

Not sure I agree. I certainly don't need a blindfold to hear if something sounds better or worse.

+1

[AJSki2fly]

Not sure I agree. I certainly don't need a blindfold to hear if something sounds better or worse.

Yes I agree, I can hear the difference without being blindfolded, but the key to know which is better or worse without being influenced in any way is to not know which you are listening to.


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[Bigman80]

+1

+2

[Bigman80]

[QUOTE=AJSki2fly;1140595][B]I have tried at least 6 different speaker cables over the years in my systems, including heavy 35amp mains cable, and sone work well and others don't. [QUOTE]

Only 6!

I had you down as a cable connoisseur, like moi! ;)

From your signature I can see you have the Chord Epic, which I am hoping are the Epic Twin of old. They started a revolution in my system and highlighted how much I had completely neglected the Speaker cables. Cannot underestimate the value of good cabledge in a system. It doesn't have to be mega money, just high quality.

[YNWaN]

I would personally contest that it is reasonably easy to hear (unless very short runs are used) the difference between 2.5 and 4mm and would always recommend the 4mm. As Van Damme Tour Grade Black 4mm is hardly expensive I would just buy that (which is what I use on the woofer sections of my speakers).

Apologies if this contradicts the opinion of any forum ‘experts’.

[Bigman80]

I would personally contest that it is reasonably easy to hear (unless very short runs are used) the difference between 2.5 and 4mm and would always recommend the 4mm. As Van Damme Tour Grade Black 4mm is hardly expensive I would just buy that (which is what I use on the woofer sections of my speakers).

I am curious, Mark

When I experimented with the different colours of Van Damme speaker cables and gauges, I felt the place it let itself down was the LF. Mids and HF were ok.

How do you find it with your subs?

[AJSki2fly]

[QUOTE=AJSki2fly;1140595][B]I have tried at least 6 different speaker cables over the years in my systems, including heavy 35amp mains cable, and sone work well and others don't. [QUOTE]

Only 6!

I had you down as a cable connoisseur, like moi! ;)

From your signature I can see you have the Chord Epic, which I am hoping are the Epic Twin of old. They started a revolution in my system and highlighted how much I had completely neglected the Speaker cables. Cannot underestimate the value of good cabledge in a system. It doesn't have to be mega money, just high quality.

It may have been a few more but it could be embarrassing. I have some high end 1.5m 1.5” sausages from the he who can now be named, [emoji3]they are actually multi-cores and exceptionally clear and open sounding, I was using them for the top end and the Epics for the bass, but since getting the high stand one side does not reach, I am now using some monitor audio silvers to the top end. The MA’s I have had 25 years and would cost £100/m today, they are good but not best for the low end. I have tried Western Electrics and am thinking of bi-wiring with 12g to hi end and 16g to low end.

Imo what you use is very dependant on amp and speaker combo, and there is no such thing as one size fits all in the cable department, and it can also be down to what you like your system to sound like.[emoji3]


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[YNWaN]

I don’t use it with my sub as that is independently active and receives a high level input of its own. I guess you mean the bass drivers of my three way speakers? Honestly, the bass is the best I’ve ever had in my home. But then there is huge amounts of power from the Lab.Gruppen amp which is also directly coupled and then an element of DSP room correction is included. The bass is very easy to pitch though and can be profoundly different in character from one record to the next.

What aspect didn’t you like?

[Bigman80]

I don’t use it with my sub as that is independently active and receives a high level input of its own. I guess you mean the bass drivers of my three way speakers? Honestly, the bass is the best I’ve ever had in my home. But then there is huge amounts of power from the Lab.Gruppen amp which is also directly coupled and then an element of DSP room correction is included. The bass is very easy to pitch though and can be profoundly different in character from one record to the next.

What aspect didn’t you like?

Ah, I'd forgot you don't have quite a "conventional" setup.

I felt it was a bit soft. Lacked a little bit of bass detail but, the system wasn't as refined as it is now. Was just wondering if it was worth another look as a second system cable. Cheap enough to play with isn't it.

[Bigman80]

[QUOTE=Bigman80;1140619][QUOTE=AJSki2fly;1140595][B]I have tried at least 6 different speaker cables over the years in my systems, including heavy 35amp mains cable, and sone work well and others don't.

It may have been a few more but it could be embarrassing. I have some high end 1.5m 1.5” sausages from the he who can now be named, [emoji3]they are actually multi-cores and exceptionally clear and open sounding, I was using them for the top end and the Epics for the bass, but since getting the high stand one side does not reach, I am now using some monitor audio silvers to the top end. The MA’s I have had 25 years and would cost £100/m today, they are good but not best for the low end. I have tried Western Electrics and am thinking of bi-wiring with 12g to hi end and 16g to low end.

Imo what you use is very dependant on amp and speaker combo, and there is no such thing as one size fits all in the cable department, and it can also be down to what you like your system to sound like.[emoji3]


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Ooooh, sausages! Were they a one off build?

Yes I agree that a lot of what cables do is very personal to the listener.

[icehockeyboy]

Hi,

Sorry this is probably my ignorance, but you say you have a Naim Mu So nothing else?

How did you use speakers

Gary

Sorry, couldn’t alter my details!

[Audio Al]

Just use a small stand mount with the thin cable and a big floor stand for the thick cable = sorted ;)

[AJSki2fly]

[QUOTE=AJSki2fly;1140629][QUOTE=Bigman80;1140619]

Ooooh, sausages! Were they a one off build?

Yes I agree that a lot of what cables do is very personal to the listener.

I think the sausages were quite expensive when made, however I acquired them with a 2nd hand amp that had been pxd at a dealers. Later on I realised that they were probably quite special. In fact I think there are one or two very high end cable manufacturers that build cables on a similar principle today. Multiple cores of different metal compositions, tuned to address different frequencies and resistances, and carefully twisted and shielded, then supported in a foam tube.