Effect of strand quantity in speaker cable?

[Grubert]

I've seen several retailers say a good speaker cable should consist of many thin threads, instead of fewer and thicker ones.

Cable gauge being the same, does one of the following builds have any real-world advantage (apart from physical flexibility)?

Thanks.

 

[sjdgpt]

The price that the vendor can charge for the cable?

 

[SQ Kid]

nope, just flexibility

 

[mtrycrafts]

I've seen several retailers say a good speaker cable should consist of many thin threads, instead of fewer and thicker ones.

Cable gauge being the same, does one of the following builds have any real-world advantage (apart from physical flexibility)?

Thanks.

ZERO. But that doesn't stop the marketeers from selling hype, bs and voodoo, or audiophiles falling for them

 

[shokhead]

Boy,isnt that the truth but some will buy it,both ways.

 

[mustang_steve]

at least to my hands, it feels like the finer wire cable is easier to cut. I havent tried to prove it, but I think there might be better contact with crimp connectors as well...if that makes any difference, audible or otherwise, I really don't know.


I use the stuff anyways since at least to me, it's easier to work with.

 

[mtrycrafts]

at least to my hands, it feels like the finer wire cable is easier to cut. I havent tried to prove it, but I think there might be better contact with crimp connectors as well...if that makes any difference, audible or otherwise, I really don't know.


I use the stuff anyways since at least to me, it's easier to work with.

Those are all good reason for use.

 

[shokhead]

Most important is the right gauge.

 

[mustang_steve]

i think i'm wrong on this....but if you bundle a bunch of finer copper strands together for say a 10ga cord, would there be more copper in that cable than a 10 ga heavier stranded cord due to the finer wire strands fitting in gaps that would have been left if a heavier gague was used?

I can attribute this to my lack of proper caffeination...i'm out of coffee

 

[mtrycrafts]

Most important is the right gauge.

What if you only have a left gauge

 

[mtrycrafts]

i think i'm wrong on this....but if you bundle a bunch of finer copper strands together for say a 10ga cord, would there be more copper in that cable than a 10 ga heavier stranded cord due to the finer wire strands fitting in gaps that would have been left if a heavier gague was used?

I can attribute this to my lack of proper caffeination...i'm out of coffee

Well, in theory it might be a fraction of a ga different unless they calculate the area, the number of strands to make up the area needed for 10ga. So, if you need a fractional strand, not available, you add one more and you are over They are not very exact in giving you an exact area that is suppoed to be 10ga, in your example.

 

[jneutron]

i think i'm wrong on this....but if you bundle a bunch of finer copper strands together for say a 10ga cord, would there be more copper in that cable than a 10 ga heavier stranded cord due to the finer wire strands fitting in gaps that would have been left if a heavier gague was used?

You are correct....you were indeed wrong on this..

I am sorry, I can't find the belden link anymore for the info..I have it printed right in front of me..

the link at the bottom of the page is:
http://www.belden.com/products/Catalog/help/TechAWGStranded.htm.

But, it doesn't work I can't find it again..oh well

Anyhoo, your example..#10 AWG. They list three types.

105/30...105 wires of #30..

65/28...65 wires of #28

37/26...37 wires of #26..

All, 10380 circular mils..all 31.58 lbs per thousand feet, all 1.08 ohms/1000 feet.

The higher strandcount is more flexible, but they all seem to have the exact same amount of copper, by weight, by resistance, and by cross section.

Cheers, John

 

[mustang_steve]

haha, if I aim to fail and I succeed at this goal...which have I done?

Thanks for clarifying that. Well off to get my slacker butt ready for work...laters!

 

[Grubert]

Thanks guys.

Now one word of caution: if you've got a Yamaha receiver and want to use the Presence/Zone2 speaker outs, use 14ga or very flexible cable. The Belden 5000UE I was using is very stiff, which made insertion a rather painful effort.

 

[shokhead]

I like that kind of talk.