Speaker Wire

[Jarden]

Hey, I was wondering if there is any really good reason as to why I shouldnt use the high end home audio speaker wire to go to all of my speakers from my amps.... I am looking for some major SQ and so I want to use the finest of products, but I dont know if there is a reason as to why this shouldnt be done. Any input would be nice... later

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[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

You will not hear the difference. If you think you must spend a ton of money, get the least expensive wire you can find (cause it will work just fine) and send me the rest of the money you would have spent on the expensive snob wire.

The home audio guys have one thing to worry about that we don't, induced noise from 120V 60hz AC. That is why they shield the crap out of all their signal wires or use balanced signal cables. Noise in car audio usually comes from bad grounds or defective components, not from genuinely induced noise.

The only benefit to buying a level above the absolute cheapest speaker and power wire is the more expensive stuff usually has a more flexible jacket and it easier to work with. Makes the install a bit easier but there is no difference in sound.

 

[Jarden]

Maybe then you can help me clear up this theory that I have read about...

Audioquest a rather heavy name in home audio connectors has this theory that the multiple strands of speaker wire tend to distort the signal as the current jumps from strand to strand and so on. This was all new to me, for I was used to the monster cable theory that more strands and higher conductor content and so on is better.

I must confess I have at my house some THX certified Monster cable (multiple strands) that made a definate audiable difference in the upper and mid frequencies from the 16 gauge radio shack wire that I used before that to have them hooked up with. And up in my dorm I have a Cerwin-Vega surround sound speaker set up, and had it all hooked up with more radio shack 16 gauge wire. I came across this Audioquest and decided to see what it was all about because all I could think was "bullshit" when I read about it and looked it over. It did however make an audiable difference in the mid and high frequency ranges (single set of solid wires).

Tell me what you can about this... later

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

I have yet to see measurable proof of differing strand counts of the same gauge wire making a difference. If audioquest was correct, then the Radio Shack stuff should be the best sounding out there because it has some of the lowest strand counts possible. Most wire does not have inductance or capacitance qualities that will make a difference at audible frequencies. Most of the stuff you see from the wire companies is pure marketing.

Hearing is very much influenced by the subconscious. You hear what you want to hear. In a double blind test, I can almost guarantee that you will not hear the difference. The size of the cable is important, but not the strand count.

For your reading pleasure. http://www.rwonline.com/reference-room/wired-4-sound/rwf-lampen-July18.shtml

 

[Jarden]

I do have to say, I went back and read over the information on the wire at http://www.audioquest.com/ (enter, go to speaker cables, click on "quad helix series" and select "type 4" too see the audioquest wire that we are dealing with)and didnt find any numbers or figures to back up what they were saying, but I wanted some outside input on these guys before I make up my mind on them so thank you.

And I did indeed do the blind test on my Monster Cable at home that consisted of not just me beeing blindfolded, but 2 of my friends, my dad, and my mom (who doesnt understand audio at all) we all sat in the same chair, in the same position and listend to 3 different tracks on one wire, then on the other... then we repeated the process. All of this came down to the first time everyone but one of my friends liked the sound of speaker wire B (the Monster Cable) better, but on the second test my other friend and mom chose the 12 gauge, and the friend that selected 12 gauge in the first test chose the M.C. Sooooooo that is really all I have backing my statement of audiable difference with the Monster Cable, but the Audioquest im really thinking is full of phooey. Ah well.

Thanks man, I apprecieate you being straight up and not basing everything you say on personal preference, you have given me information that I couldnt decide, or research by myself.

later...