Brainstorm for speaker cable length

[Sansiiro]

Hello!

I have decided to upgrade my speaker cables, I will buy Audio Quest Rocket 11 cable (13 gauge, 2,63mm2).

The thing is - my amp is very close to one speaker and further away from another.

I have always thought the cables should be of same length, but recently I have heard people doubting that necessity.

If I use similar length (3,4 m) on both channels I will need to coil up the excess cable and my concern is:
which would do more damage to the sound (if at all) - a) the coiled up long cable near the amp, or
b) cables with unequal length (3,4 and 1,4) ??

Thank you!

Veiko

[Firebottle]

I'm using uneven cable lengths, 6.5 and 3.5 metres. Cannot tell any difference.

[Macca]

Electricity conducts almost at the speed of light. So you'd need very unequal runs to be able to tell a difference. I suppose if one cable is several miles longer than the other you might be into problems.


There is the OCD factor of course.

[Bigman80]

Electricity conducts almost at the speed of light. So you'd need very unequal runs to be able to tell a difference. I suppose if one cable is several miles longer than the other you might be into problems.


There is the OCD factor of course.

It's the resistance and capacitance that could prove to be a problem.

The longer the cable, the higher the capacitance which could cause a higher roll off on one channel creating a an imbalance that way.

There are other things too but as you say, it will probably be OK but I'd never recommend unequal lengths. Because I sell cables lmao

[Sansiiro]

Electricity conducts almost at the speed of light. So you'd need very unequal runs to be able to tell a difference. I suppose if one cable is several miles longer than the other you might be into problems.


There is the OCD factor of course.

Yeah, I have read about this speed, but I am more worried about this recommendation for equal impedance.
Again, some people have opinion that this unequal impedance is present already in the amp, since the transistors
are not 100% similar, and that this "problem" with cable length is only a drop in the ocean.
The thing is - I don't know whom to believe :O

The OCD factor of course is real - as is the $$$ factor so this is a battle

[Macca]

The longer the wire the more resistance but you still have to go very, very long before that is an audible issue. A few feet of difference is really not going to be audible in any possible way.

[walpurgis]

The longer the wire the more resistance but you still have to go very, very long before that is an audible issue. A few feet of difference is really not going to be audible in any possible way.

I agree, even though I tailor all my cable lengths to the last millimetre!

[Sansiiro]

The longer the wire the more resistance but you still have to go very, very long before that is an audible issue. A few feet of difference is really not going to be audible in any possible way.

Thanks. Great. That would make my life easier.

If I can overcome this OCD - any thoughts on the effects of this "coiling" the excessive speaker cable?

I understand, that since the signal in the speaker cable is already amplified and very strong, it mostly
is not receptive to outer influences, hence this cables are not even shielded, mostly.

However - one becomes to think, that yes, it is not receptive to OTHER influences, but as it's signal
is strong, it will ITSELF be the threat to other cables, including itself.

I wonder if this logic has any meaning?

[struth]

leccy in copper is 95% of the SoL which is 300,000 km/s, so a few yards isnt gonna make any odds

[Macca]

Thanks. Great. That would make my life easier.

If I can overcome this OCD - any thoughts on the effects of this "coiling" the excessive speaker cable?

I understand, that since the signal in the speaker cable is already amplified and very strong, it mostly
is not receptive to outer influences, hence this cables are not even shielded, mostly.

However - one becomes to think, that yes, it is not receptive to OTHER influences, but as it's signal
is strong, it will ITSELF be the threat to other cables, including itself.

I wonder if this logic has any meaning?

Thankfully no. Also you'd have to coil an awful lot of cable to start having problems. It isn't best practice I agree, neither is having signal cables close to power cables but it's easy to avoid doing that. Maybe the speaker cable does threaten itself but if it does (and it probably doesn't) there's not really a lot we can do about that.