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long speaker cable run or long balanced IC ??

I am setting up a new system and deciding on placement of equipment. I will have most of my equipment (source, preamp) in a rack on the side wall. I will be using balanced interconnects. I am wondering what is better: keep amps on the stand on the side wall and have longer speaker runs or put the amp closer to the speakers on the front wall and have longer IC runs. Also, is it critical/important to have all cables the same length ?
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Showing 1 response by joeabrams

joeabrams
132 posts
 
If there were just one kind of amp, there would be only one answer, but tube amps and SS amps have completely different output characteristics. Generally speaking:
Tube amps are more comfortable with short speaker cables.
Solid state amps don't mind long speaker cables as long as those cables are not overly capacitive.
Yes, of course there are exceptions, but these guidelines work with a high percentage of the amplifiers out there.
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