15.1 Do speaker cables matter?
Description
This article is from the rec.audio.* FAQ, by with numerous contributions by Bob Neidorff others.
15.1 Do speaker cables matter?
To avoid confusion and repetition, here is some terminology,
thanks to Steve Lampen of Belden Wire & Cable Co.
A wire is a single conductor made up of one or more conducting
elements, but all configured (as in a stranded design) to act
as a single conductor. Mostly, this is coated or covered by
plastic, rubber, enamel or similar insulators.
Groups of wires are called cables. So zip cord is a cable,
because it contains more than one insulated conducting
element. Coaxial cable is also cable.
Cables can introduce noise into the signal, act as a filter
(and thus change the frequency response of the system),
attenuate the signal (change the amplitude), and provide
nonlinearities from oxidized or otherwise poor connections.
Nonlinearities can distort the signal which add harmonics.
Nonlinearities can also rectify or demodulate higher frequency
signals into audible signals.
It is quite scientifically conceivable that some cables do
cause a difference in sound, because of the differences in DC
resistance, interconductor capacitance, and connector attachment
alone. The effects of exotic conductor weaving and materials
are not so well established. In general, these effects (once
we eliminate DC resistance), seem to be small. However, if your
system is at least fairly good, then some folks have observed
(although not in an experimental, double-blind sense)
significant differences in system performance with different
cables. The effects are said to be quite system specific; the
only real guideline is to try them and see which ones seem to
sound better in your system.
Roughly speaking, the price ranges for speaker cables is low
(under $1/ft), medium (under $6-8/ft), and high (up to $100/ft
and more). Try to arrange it so you can trial such cables; at
several hundred dollars per set, experiments can be expensive.
In any system or experiment, it is essential that the
differences between cables be separated from the
differences between connectors.
You should have an EXTREMELY solid connection between cable and
speaker. Speakers operate at very low impedances, so that bad
connections will create significant artifacts or signal losses
at any power level. For example, if the connection has a linear
resistance of just 1 ohm, the speaker damping factor may be
changed, and the bass may suffer. If the connection contains
imperfect metal oxides, then a slightly rectifying junction will
block the signal, producing compression, distortion, and other
non-linear effects.
There are many magazine articles on cables with various
perspectives which are worth reading, including:
"Speaker Cables: Testing for Audibility"
Fred E. Davis
Audio, July 1993, pgs. 34-43
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