Speaker Cable Faceoff 2: Introduction & Measurements

[inmypjs]

Stay tuned for our detailed analysis, conclusions and recommendations....

Is this ever going to happen? I have been waiting so patiently!

[Wyngdh]

I read both face-offs (1 & 2). Currently I have 4 different types of cables running to my speakers (don't ask my what gauge, I'm still an audiophyte). All bi-wired - my impression, it provides better clarity in the sound, but I am a novice and use my ears to measure. The best of the lot are those wired to my front speakers (CableTalk bi-wire). Speaker configuration B&W 610i, 602S3, LCR60. Those in the know will immediately realise my migration from analogue to digital has been very recent. Being a bit of a geek, all my banana plus are about 7 years old, as is the CableTalk. The unknowns are the recent additions. Then I found Audioholics!

On reading the face-off and your $12K cable recommendations, I have decided to replace all my banana plugs with Dayton Audio and 12 GA Sound King Speaker wire. I am hoping that the migration will be audible. Shipping will take at least 3 weeks, so expect my take on the change then.

Anyone out there whose done the same?

[ht_addict]

In the article it stated that the AR Master 10AWG speaker wire has the highest Inductance due to the spacer. Would their be any benefit to removing the spacer or just folding the speaker wire so the two strands are closer together. Then use some of that poly sleeve to make everything neat.

ht_addict

[jaxvon]

Or you could just buy a different 10awg speaker cable that is made properly and save yourself the trouble, like the Belden 5T00UP or a roll of Sound King from Parts Express.

[ht_addict]

Or you could just buy a different 10awg speaker cable that is made properly and save yourself the trouble, like the Belden 5T00UP or a roll of Sound King from Parts Express.

And why would I want too when the poly sleeve would be cheaper? As far as specs go it seems to me that other than the inductance the AR are in the pack?

ht_addict

[Wyngdh]

Last week I told you guys that I had decided to order sound King cable plus a fresh set of Dayton banana plugs to go with it.

From Parts Express. After all, their site states '5 easy steps to complete your web purchase'. Oh, and that despatch of the order is the 'same day'.

So I figured my order had left the premises Friday, 11 April. Wrong! Today I received an e-mail. They can't do international deliveries using credit cards if the bank is non-US. Hello! I thought the basic premise of a credit card was that it had its own 'clearing house' (Mastercard, Visa, Diners Club etc.)

Hey Audioholics. How many of you live outside of the USA?

Maybe it's time the Audioholics site chose advertisers who are willing to do so? I'm taking my business elsewhere.

[cem-bsee]

It is likely that the biggest influence is physical. eg: the distance between conductors, whether the individual insulated wires are parallel or stranded.

The Cat5 cables consist of 24awg solid copper wires insulated with pvc in twisted pairs, so the conductors are close together.

The Lowe’s cables seem to be 300v cord type which has the insulated conductors twisted | cabled together. The Lowe’s conductors are probably stranded, typically 19strands, of 0.0234inch diameter copper for 10awg, 0.0185 for 12awg; insulation thickness is probably 0.031 inches.

Computing the mutual inductance is based upon Maxwell’s equations of the late 1890s. The influence between cables ( mainly in duct banks ) was done by Miller in the 1930s. Mutual inductance is greatly influenced by physical geometry.

Capacitance will vary because of humidity, temperature, dielectrics, physical spacing: between conductors, conductors to a grounded plane, etc. try placing the cable on concrete, then on carpet on concrete, on a grounded metal table or plate, on a board on a plate, sandwiched under a board to hold the cable flat, sandwiched between 2 metal plates -- immerse part of the cable in grounded water--

All of the cords sold at retail have UL labels, especially if they are voltage rated. The manufacturer is identified by “ E________ number”. Cables will have embossed or printed ledgends with the cable type, maximum conductor temperature rating, usage code, eg: SOJ = service cord, oil resistant, junior. the junior designation equates to 300 volt rating due to the insulation thickness.

Cords, cables, and building wires are built for mechanical strength, as opposed to having good electrical characteristics. Remember that 3M Scotch 33+ pvc tape has 33 000 volt insulating strength since it is about 0.003 inches thick.

It would be interesting to have a cable made of cabled | twisted magnet wire which has thin insulation. If this looks promising, try shielding with conducting tape as used in making medium voltage cable splices -- from electrical distirbutor, maybe WWGrainger.

It would be interesting to have another cable made of coax cable with the shield connected as a conductor.

It would be interesting to have a cable made of small twisted pairs having shielding, then with the overall assembly having shielding= Belden1411R= 12pr or Belden1217B =12awg, low capacitance. Belden9718= zip style, 12awg, =65#30awg strands. This configuration would have more consistant conducting surfaces which should give more consistent capacitance. Perhaps the ultimate would be to have the individual conductors with a shield as well.

Re: one can strip phone wires with tough thumbnails. But there are many stripping tools available -- WWGranger has many, as does HOLSFELT.com.

[nibhaz]

Nerd humor.

When was the last time you were on a date with someone that weighs less than you?

Why don't you crawl back into the hole you came from! Your use of language suggests that you have at least risen above the primate level of evolution; there is even a hint of education. However your logic and reasoning skills place you some where in the dark ages of human history. Do you believe that rotting meat spontaneously produces maggots? I’m sorry if you spent a large sum of money on cables, and you want to justify your choices. You don’t want to feel like a dolt that has been fooled by clever marketing and years of disinformation no one does. But that doesn’t mean that you need to find every post in the forums that refer to cables and proceed to expunge your drivel.

I said good day sir…I SAID GOOD DAY!

[saint michael]

http://cygnus.ipal.org/mirror/www.pa...m/spkrcabl.htm

[buzzy]

On this page:
http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/...rCablesp4.html

Shouldn't this read higher instead of lower? Both the rankings and the tests (R,L,C) seem to suggest that higher is better. For example, compare the Monster cable to the top line.

Editorial Note

The 1-10 scale ranks the overall score of the cable regarding technical and final rankings. The lower the #, the better the cable scored with respect to the test criteria, where the technical ranking is based solely on performance and the Final ranking also factors in value.

In any case, if it's meant to be helpful some editing might be useful. Something more like:

Editorial Note

With respect to the 1-10 scale used for the test criteria and the Ranking Numbers, the higher the #, the better the cable scored. With respect to the technical and final rankings, the lower the ranking, the better the cable scored. The technical ranking is based solely on performance; the Final ranking also factors in cost.

Also, I doubt it needs to be on that page twice.