Are Speaker Cables Longer than 6 FT. Superior?


Hello,
I am puzzled!
I have read from a few sources that speaker cables 8 feet or longer are sonically superior to their counterparts that are 6 ft. long or less.
Granted, a couple of the sources that I read the info from were either cable manufacturers and/or companies that sell cables, or have them made for them, such as from the latest Mapleshade catalog, etc.
I do not understand how this could be possible.
Longer cables would have more dielectric coming into contact with the signal conductor, more opportunity for the signal to come into contact with EMI/RFI, and more conductor to degrade the signal, etc.,etc.
If this is indeed true, how is it scientifically possible?
Has anyone out there had any experience comparing an 8 ft. or longer version of a particular speaker cable to a 6 ft. or shorter version of the same cable?
Which was sonically superior?
In what ways?
These same sources do agree that shorter interconnects are sonically better, but they claim speaker cables should be 8 ft. or longer for best sound
Any comments or answers about this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Lanny
daltonlanny

Showing 1 response by ridgestreetaudio

Happy 4th to all us Colonists. Celebrate well, enjoy good friends and family and, stay safe! Happy Sunday to you if you're not celebrating the US independence.

Ridge Street used to be solidly in the Long I/C - Short S/C camp. There was a thread a while back that lead RSAD to revisit that. As a result of further evaluation of what I think makes a good cable and further audition/comparisons, I've firmly concluded you can't take a definitive answer and apply it with a broad brush stroke.

It depends on how well engineered electrically the cable(s) are. A lot of high end cables are not engineered electrically very well, the designer opting instead for a preferred signature of his own, (and hopefully marketable) liking. It's my conclusion that cabling that falls in this camp will perform better as a Longer I/C-Shorter S/C system.

Cabling that has it's electrical parameters more suited for it's given application will perform better as a Shorter I/C-Longer S/C system.

Bottom line I suppose is know what your buying or using. That will most likely get you in the ball park for some kind expectation and whether or not the cabling will facilitate having your preferences met.

When all is to the enthusiast's sonic liking, the system is good and music is an emotional experience...this is good says me. When a system is amiss to one's preferences, music is forever and only an intellectual exercise. I don't think that's what music is intended for and, it seems in most instances, the enthusiast is forever swapping out gear...cables included.

Longer vs. shorter of whatever is not necessarily a right / wrong issue or a ticket to nirvana.

Hope that helps a bit.

Cheers!
Robert