Braided Speaker Cable

[Dragon Warrior]

<font color='#000000'>Why does a braided design for speaker cable lowers the inductance? &nbsp;Kimber Kable uses the braided design, just want to understand the science behind it.

Thanks in advance.

Drago</font>

 

[gene]

<font color='#000000'>Drago;

Without seeing the specific cable, I will offer my best guess based on the terminology and characterstics of the cable you have described.

If Kimber is employing multiple insulated small conductors in close proximity to each other, this will reduce inductance at the expense of increased pair to pair capacitance.

For more information on cable inductance take a look at an article I wrote at:

Calculating Cable Inductance of Speaker Wire</font>

 

[Eric]

<font color='#000000'>FYI: If Gene is correct in his assumption of the cable your describing it is called “Litz cable”.</font>

 

[Dragon Warrior]

<font color='#000000'>Thank you very much for your replies.

I understand that using a higher gauge cable reduces the inductance, but at a cost of increasing capacitance. &nbsp;For short-run (e.g. less than 10 meters), the increased capacitance should not matter.

Why not just bundle the wires together in a jacket, rather than braiding them. &nbsp;See www.kimber.com for visual image of their design.

BTW, inspired by the Kimber design, I spent all weekend braiding 8 strands of commerical grade 14 gauge wires. &nbsp;I hooked it to me Denon 2802 to the PSB Image 5 towers...it may be the psychological of my fingers going numb from the braiding, but music sounded a lot better (movies sounded roughly the same). &nbsp;Even my wife noticed the difference. &nbsp;Both of us could have anticipated to hear a difference and perceived it.

This is in line with Gene's discussion on snake oil. &nbsp;Can the perceived sonic difference be backed up by science? &nbsp;Or should I not find out, and enjoy the perceived improvements?

Thanks. &nbsp;Drago</font>

 

[Audioholics]

<font color='#000080'>See, this kind of stuff is fun. We encourage people to do experiments like this - there's nothing wrong with it.

As for measurements, we'd simply have to run up the before and after cable configurations to see - something that's usually not possible for the average home user.

You can definitely get cables to affect audio sonically, so it may not be in your head - but the question then becomes: is it better?</font>

 

[Dragon Warrior]

<font color='#000000'>Sorry to add to the thread...

Forgot to mention that I was using Monster 12 gauge wire (forgot the product line). &nbsp;In any case, it cost me about CAD$1.50 per feet. &nbsp;The commercial 14 gauge cost about CAD$0.30 per feet (four wires in a jacket). &nbsp;I have to remove the jacket in order to braid them. &nbsp;I was using the same banana connectors before and after.

If you want, I can braid you 2 ten foot-length cables (exactly in my system) and send them to you for testing. &nbsp;I have become quite efficient at braiding so it would not take me all weekend. &nbsp;Please advise...

Thanks. &nbsp;Drago</font>

 

[gene]

<font color='#000000'>Drago;

Without arranging the + and - conductors in a Litz fashion, you will lose the benefit of reducing mutual inductance. &nbsp;Thus simply bundling all of the wires like you suggest would likely do more harm then good. &nbsp;

If you are hearing an improvment with your cables, Great! &nbsp;Since it sounds like you braided them correctly, you probably did a good job reducing inductance. &nbsp;

FYI, using lower gauge wire doesn't mean your pair to pair capacitance goes up. &nbsp;Capacitance increases as the spacing between conductors decrease.

If you would like to submit a 8-10' sample of your cable design, we would love to add it to our &quot;Speaker Cable Face Off II&quot; article which I am currently working on. &nbsp;Please email me at: gds@audioholics.com

Thanks.</font>