Speaker Wire - fact or fiction
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
I was about to ask about RCAs. Since they provide the signal, at least SOME shielding is nessicary for clean sound. There's obviously going to be a difference between cheap radioshack RCAs and say Knukoncspts Krystal cables right?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Now while I can easily hear the difference of a *slight* amount of clipping on my tweeter amp, or if they are out of phase. Or a slight time alignment issue. Or even a single bump on the EQ the wrong direction... Or if some physical object gets near the tweeters and there are some reflections.
I could not hear the difference between my $1.99 radio shack rca cables and some pretty expensive shielded/twisted cables I replaced them with. Despite wanting very badly to hear a difference.
...On Focal Utopia speakers with an HX-D10 source.
Maybe some of the folks in this thread could hear a difference. But it's much, much more subtle than any of the things which I mentioned above. Subtle enough I couldn't hear it.
YMMV of course.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 478
Likes: 1
From: Nesquehoning PA
I can assure you guys that based on my extensive (unavailable at the moment) testing that the only time speaker wire size or quality comes into play is at the limits of nearing the range of the amp's power availability and highly inferior types of wire that cause direct problems in the area of driver response. If I can dig up the test results in the near future I'll post graphs for you all to draw your opinions from.
...GO PENS!!!
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
With either RCAs or speaker wire, is there a way to measure numerically any loss associated with "inferior" wiring?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
In a car environment, especially one with limited grounding capabilities (IE vettes) I recommend spending "decent" money on RCA's. IMO it is worth the extra shielding as a preventitive measure against alternator/ground noise. Knuconceptz RCA's and distribution blocks I have personally had good luck with.
We are not talking about $125 Fosgate twisted pairs, but a $25-30 set versus a $5 set from the shack is worth the investment.
Again it all comes back to the "room" you are putting your system in, and by no means is it ideal.
Just try not to buy the hype, as there is very little hard data and fact behind its "improved performance" claims.
G'luck
Fej
We are not talking about $125 Fosgate twisted pairs, but a $25-30 set versus a $5 set from the shack is worth the investment.
Again it all comes back to the "room" you are putting your system in, and by no means is it ideal.
Just try not to buy the hype, as there is very little hard data and fact behind its "improved performance" claims.
G'luck
Fej
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 3
From: Aiea Hi.
Here we go, a decent compromise.... Nice!
Now Kale, to run a $5 set of interconnects between your deck & and your ARC amp to provide signal to a 1k set of components, that is straight blasphemy!
I know, I know, your gonna tell me that you cant hear a difference, but it's kinda like painting your chrome rims with chrome spray paint.... They both look kinda silver, but one is smooth & shiny, but the other looks like $hit.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Oh, I don't know. They are good enough quality they won't break or come apart. So going more expensive would be more like using gold fishing weights when lead would do 
In the future, I'm just going to build my own.]
I probably shouldn't mention I used to run my tweeters on 5 cent a foot 20 gauge "swap meet" wires...
In the future, I'm just going to build my own.]
I probably shouldn't mention I used to run my tweeters on 5 cent a foot 20 gauge "swap meet" wires...
Last edited by Kale; Jul 3, 2009 at 11:48 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 33
Likes: 3
From: Keller TX
I am also and long time audiophile and an electrical engineer. Copper wire is copper wire. Don't waste your $$.
I don't doubt that some people can hear the difference with some of the exotic cables that are out there but that dose not make them better. If you want different sound use your tone controls.
In your house, if you have long speaker wires you will want lower gage (thicker) wire but there is no need for that in our cars.
I don't doubt that some people can hear the difference with some of the exotic cables that are out there but that dose not make them better. If you want different sound use your tone controls.
In your house, if you have long speaker wires you will want lower gage (thicker) wire but there is no need for that in our cars.