Speaker Cable Length

[incurablegeek]

I have the following components:

1) Denon surround sound amp
2) 2 Polk Audio Floor Standing Speakers - Rear
3) 2 Sony bookshelf speakers - wall-mounted - Front
4) Using Monster cable

Question: Since I want to arrange these speakers in an L-R Stereo configuration (listen to jazz while working on my computer) and the speaker placement is awkward to say the least, does it matter if the cable lengths are different??

Now I know this question has been asked and answered ad nauseum, I would really like a practical answer - and not one based on obscure electronics theory (which says that each pair of speakers must use identical cable and identical cable lengths).

Suggestions??

 

[markw]

OK, here goes:

No.

I'm surprised since, as you say, "I know this question has been asked and answered ad nauseum", this answer didn't come up even once.

Of course, the next answer to follow this post might be "yes". What will you do then?

 

[Swerd]

I have the following components:

1) Denon surround sound amp
2) 2 Polk Audio Floor Standing Speakers - Rear
3) 2 Sony bookshelf speakers - wall-mounted - Front
4) Using Monster cable

Question: Since I want to arrange these speakers in an L-R Stereo configuration (listen to jazz while working on my computer) and the speaker placement is awkward to say the least, does it matter if the cable lengths are different??

Now I know this question has been asked and answered ad nauseum, I would really like a practical answer - and not one based on obscure electronics theory (which says that each pair of speakers must use identical cable and identical cable lengths).

Suggestions??

Practical answer – NO it makes no difference.

Long winded theoretical answer – NO it makes no difference.

Speaker wires must be long enough to reach from the amplifier to the speakers. Other than that, there is no valid electronics theory that says speakers wires should be longer or shorter.

 

[tcarcio]

Lots of info here...http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=roger russell speaker wire&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFYQFjAA&url=http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm&ei=EAADUOa8MobY6wG0_sSDBw&usg=AFQjCNH27AvLo4UgdnjI0N9au6LXRWebMA

 

[njedpx3]

I have the following components:

1) Denon surround sound amp
2) 2 Polk Audio Floor Standing Speakers - Rear
3) 2 Sony bookshelf speakers - wall-mounted - Front
4) Using Monster cable

Question: Since I want to arrange these speakers in an L-R Stereo configuration (listen to jazz while working on my computer) and the speaker placement is awkward to say the least, does it matter if the cable lengths are different??

Now I know this question has been asked and answered ad nauseum, I would really like a practical answer - and not one based on obscure electronics theory (which says that each pair of speakers must use identical cable and identical cable lengths).

Suggestions??

Speaker wire length is really insignificant, upgrade your speakers. If you really want to go into lectronic theroery of wire length let me know, I will be glad to accomodete you. Again, your best bet, set up a budget and then evaluate and listen to better speakers in that budget.

Okay you don't want to hear about new speakers, we will talk wire theory. If you make the cable look bigger by adding a plastic center core it doesn't really improve the sound quality; it is base on the wire gauge size. Gauge 14 is normally good enough, but let's asume you are an audiophile and use gauge 12 ( bigger than 14).; Your speakers are 8 ohm. The copper wire resistence for 12 gauge is 1.6215 Ohms /1000 ft or 0.0016215 ohms per foot. So for a typical 15 foot run that is .0243225 ohms this is 0.30 percent diffrence between the speaker ohmage. Now if one of your runs is 13 foot and he other run is 17 foot; a whole 4 foot difference. the the total ohmage of the 13 foot run is 8.0210795 ohms and the total ohmage of the 17 foot run is
8.0275655 so the difference to worry about is 0.006486 ohms or %0.081075 percent of the 8 ohm speaker ressistance. Not worth a hill of beans

Get some Cambridge Audio S-30s and you will notce a 1000 percent difference
Oh and by the way, Monster is overrated and overprices.

 

[incurablegeek]

Swerd, Tcarcio, Njedpx3 --

Thanks so much for your helpful, no B.S. responses. You have relieved my OCD considerably.

What I don't need at this point in my life is to try to become an expert in yet another area. So thanks. One gets tired of feeling like Sisyphus.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Some added advice which may have been missed:

Don't buy Monster Cable if you can avoid it. Plenty of lower priced options with the same quality. Plenty of similarly priced options with less screwage.

 

[BusterBrown]

Ok sorry to jump in here incurable geek but I have a question for you guys. I am ordering a HSU STF-2 sub and the site is asking me if I would like to buy 20ft of sub interconnect for 10.00. I am guessing I will need some type of cable to hook it up. But 20ft? It will sitting just below my TV and AVR.

 

[Adam]

Ok sorry to jump in here incurable geek but I have a question for you guys. I am ordering a HSU STF-2 sub and the site is asking me if I would like to buy 20ft of sub interconnect for 10.00. I am guessing I will need some type of cable to hook it up. But 20ft? It will sitting just below my TV and AVR.

How long of a cable do you need? I don't think that 20' will make any sonic difference, and $10 isn't a bad price. You could order one for less on Monoprice...but the shipping might push it over $10.

 

[BusterBrown]

Adam thanks, I will go with 20ft.