Semisolid Conductors

[BrettMendes]

I deal with Audioquest cabling on a daily basis. From what I gather, the vast majority of what that company claims is pseudoscience at best. I was wondering if anyone had evidence that their solid and semisolid conductors created a lower effective gauge than what they're physically using? I.E. their X2 speaker wire consists of 14 gauge semisolid concentric packed conductors and their Type 2 speaker wire is solid 15 gauge. Would either of those equate to a lower stranded gauge cable? Kinda they way Kimber Kable's 8pr has an effective gauge of 11?

 

[j_garcia]

I've tried the type 2 cable and found no benefit over stranded wire.

 

[BrettMendes]

So have I, but I'm not looking for subjective differences. I'm wondering if anyone has seen resistance tests for semisolid or solid conductors vs their stranded counterparts at equivalent gauges.

 

[j_garcia]

Yeah, I sort of got that, but what difference does it make if it is measurable if it isn't audible? I am sure somewhere there is a chart that details stranded vs solid for effective AWG.

Stranded wire has a slightly larger diameter than a solid wire of the same gauge and current carrying capability.

 

[markw]

For what it's worth, that Kimber 11/8 figure rings a bell. I don't know what the basis is for their model numbers is but I have a theory based on this proven, scientific statement:

If you put two wires of the same gauge in parallel, it effectively drops 3 in the gauge system.

That may be clumsily worded, but what it boils down to is this: Two 11 gauge wires in parallel equals one 8 gauge wire.

 

[Rickster71]

Here is an old AH link talking about that wire:
Audioquest Cable Theories Exposed — Reviews and News from Audioholics

 

[mtrycrafts]

So have I, but I'm not looking for subjective differences. I'm wondering if anyone has seen resistance tests for semisolid or solid conductors vs their stranded counterparts at equivalent gauges.

I haven't seen any. Have you asked them for those numbers? I would think they should have it. Hard to measure short lengths.

But, in the end, besides being curious, what does it really matter unless their cables are around 24ga and compared to 12ga or 16ga.