Do speaker cables make even a tiny difference in sound?

[yepimonfire]

due to so many people on a different forum and a yahoo group i belong to saying they do i decided to just do a simple test to disprove their claims. using the exact same speaker and exact same amplifier i hooked it up using two completely different wires in A+B mode. first set of wires was decent 12ga wire specifically built for speakers and had a catchy "studiophile grade OFC" label, second, a random set of 22ga wires that came out of a busted component. so i started playing some music in pure direct mode as to bypass my subwoofer and send a full range signal through to my mains. i listened for a bit, then switched to the other set of wire, nothing happens, i go back and forth several times and still absolutely no difference whatsoever at all, not even an increase in output (or atleast not audibly) the only thing that told me i was actually switching between the wires was the sound of the electronic switch in the amplifier.

so no, there is absolutely no difference in sound whatsoever in speaker cables. just thought i would share this.

 

[selden]

Yes, they do.
But in most cases it's at a low enough level that you can't hear the difference. If you can, then the cables are seriously distorting the sound.

"Effects of Cable, Loudspeaker,and Amplifier Interactions" by
Fred E. Davis, J.AudioEng.Soc., Vol.39, No.6, 1991 June

According to the paper, all of the cables tested introduced a measurable roll-off in high frequencies above 1KHz, but differed by a maximum of only 1/4 of a dbV at 20KHz. Traditional 12 gauge was roughly in the middle of the pack, while flat multiwire cables introduced the least loss. Cable inductance was primarily responsible. Whether anybody can actually distinguish a 0.25 dbV difference at 20KHz is another matter entirely.

 

[darien87]

In before the inevitable flame-war and eventual thread lock.

 

[lsiberian]

LOL you've put too much time into this bud. Don't waste your energy on this stuff. I suggest you try out room treatment experiments instead.

 

[gmichael]

12 gage vs 22 gage?
Huge difference. Listen for the bass, or lack there of.

12 gage ($30/100' roll) vs 12 gage ($25/foot)
This is where the debate begins.

 

[lsiberian]

12 gage vs 22 gage?
Huge difference. Listen for the bass, or lack there of.

12 gage ($30/100' roll) vs 12 gage ($25/foot)
This is where the debate begins.

especially if you are being hung by them.

 

[yepimonfire]

actually, i have noticed bass differences in wires before when it comes to size, strangely enough, i did not notice that on this test

 

[j_garcia]

The only time you should notice a real difference is if the wire you were previously using was too small for the load, and that would mean a pretty small AWG. In the grand scheme of things, speaker wires make the least difference of anything in your system in my experience.

 

[AJinFLA]

Yeponfire

Listen to a track with a strong center image, like a sax player that you can pinpoint spatially.
Now swap wire on one channel only, so you have different gauges on each side. Listen to the track again. Tell us what you hear.

 

[gmichael]

especially if you are being hung by them.

HA HA HA..... You said hung. HAHA HA HAHA HA....

 

[zhimbo]

How long were the lengths of 22 gauge wire?

 

[gene]

12 gage vs 22 gage?
Huge difference. Listen for the bass, or lack there of.

Actually I suspect most people would hear MORE bass with 22AWG wire compared to 12AWG. The more loop resistance the wire has, the worse the system damping will be. The result will likely be more boomy bass and slightly decreased overall output level if wire resistance negatively affects system response.

 

[yepimonfire]

yes in the mid-bass range specifically, but it sounds bloated

 

[mtrycrafts]

...i hooked it up using two completely different wires in A+B mode. first set of wires was decent 12ga wire... second, a random set of 22ga wires that came out of a busted component. ....

Actually, many years ago Greenhill published a test of such cable differences and also a 16ga cable.
Greenhill, Larry 'Speaker Cables: Can you Hear the Difference?' Stereo Review, Aug 83, pg 46-51.

Yes, between such cables, 22ga vs 12ga, a number of people could hear differences under DBT. More so with test signals and some with music.

 

[gmichael]

12 gage vs 22 gage?
Huge difference. Listen for the bass, or lack there of.

12 gage ($30/100' roll) vs 12 gage ($25/foot)
This is where the debate begins.

To whoever gave me a negative for this post and didn't sign it. Wrong or not, I'm entitled to my opinion.

 

[yepimonfire]

actually they should not have given you one because you aren't wrong.

 

[Matt34]

I think you've started a thread on about every conceivable controversy in Audio-Video now.

 

[Alex2507]

To whoever gave me a negative for this post and didn't sign it. Wrong or not, I'm entitled to my opinion.

It's whomever ... at least if Jamie got it right in this post:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=723733&postcount=104

He is our go to guy on grammar.

It's been demonstrated that we hear what we expect to hear. I know a guy who says he heard a difference from something like 16 to 12 gauge wire on a 6' run. He's still a good guy and so are you. Now be a good sport and tell us what was said in the comment. That's always my favorite part.

I think you've started a thread on about every conceivable controversy in Audio-Video now.

It's not easy earning those little red badges of shame. Ask gmichael.

 

[gmichael]

It's whomever ... at least if Jamie got it right in this post:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=723733&postcount=104

He is our go to guy on grammar.

It's been demonstrated that we hear what we expect to hear. I know a guy who says he heard a difference from something like 16 to 12 gauge wire on a 6' run. He's still a good guy and so are you. Now be a good sport and tell us what was said in the comment. That's always my favorite part.



It's not easy earning those little red badges of shame. Ask gmichael.

Whatmever...

 

[Shock]

I really like this Imonfire guy.