Allen: very interesting... You have used the "Mike VansEvers dedicated power-circuit cable construction technique" which I first posted here a few years back (forgive me for forgetting if we've exchanged any emails in that regard -- I can't recall -- I've communicated with so many of the fine members here).
That construction technique was intended for AC power cable: I've never fabricated any speaker cables using that architecture, yet it certainly seems worth trying! I believe that Mapleshade uses a similar approach for their 'double-helix' cable configurations?
Mike: regarding your question about conductor-size, my personal opinion is that #14awg would be an absolute minimum gauge. #6 I think may be a bit too much though; wire is typically not very flexible at that large size & is fairly cumbersome to work with & to terminate. Having said that: when I used to use 'lamp cord' as speaker cable I used #14awg for quite awhile, then when I changed it to #10awg I experienced significantly better sound. However, even that old original Monster Cable did a better job for me than similar gauged lamp cord, possibly because they used higher purity copper and the OFC's (oxygen-free-copper) awareness idea was beginning to actually be taken seriously.
That construction technique was intended for AC power cable: I've never fabricated any speaker cables using that architecture, yet it certainly seems worth trying! I believe that Mapleshade uses a similar approach for their 'double-helix' cable configurations?
Mike: regarding your question about conductor-size, my personal opinion is that #14awg would be an absolute minimum gauge. #6 I think may be a bit too much though; wire is typically not very flexible at that large size & is fairly cumbersome to work with & to terminate. Having said that: when I used to use 'lamp cord' as speaker cable I used #14awg for quite awhile, then when I changed it to #10awg I experienced significantly better sound. However, even that old original Monster Cable did a better job for me than similar gauged lamp cord, possibly because they used higher purity copper and the OFC's (oxygen-free-copper) awareness idea was beginning to actually be taken seriously.