When is unequal, equal?


Due to an awkward room configuration,the speaker placement in relation to the amps must lay out as follows: Speaker #1 is approximately 6' from the power source, and Speaker # 2 is spaced at 14" away. My question is as follows. If I choose to run unequal lengths of cable will this create any sonic problems, or will I be safe?... The ideal of having so much extra unused cable spooled up around the system is rather unsightly.
Please advise, and thanks.
mang53

Showing 8 responses by inpepinnovations1e75

Nsgarch, all that talk about back EMF might be true, but even a doubling of cable length would not result in an audible difference or a difference larger than simply moving one's head a few inches closer to one speaker. Keeping speaker cable lengths as short as possible is always a good thing, however, especially with tube amps.

BTW, electrostatic speakers might not suffer from reactance effects, but are affected by capacitance effects inherent in their design.

Bob P.
Yes Nsgarch, image balance will not be affected by unequal cable lengths if the difference in length is less than about 10000000:1 ratio! Bass, however, will be affected because of the reduction in damping due to the higher resistance of the longer cable, especially with amps of higher output resistance, read tubes.
Salut, Bob P.
Nsgarch, oh I think that he would agree with me, but my way of stating these things doesn't help sell cables, while his version of these same effects (or non-effects) and claim that these are audible and his solution to this 'problem' does sell cables. We are in fact saying the same thing, just disputing if the effects are audible in practice or not. Sufficiently different impedances can be heard, however.
Salut, Bob P.
Also, Pabelson, the 'moving head' effect applies to all of the other tweaks that seemingly change the sound. All of those 'differences' if even true, are swamped by moving one's head (ears) by millimetres!
Bob P.
Which brings us back to the original question - will unequal lengths of cables cause problems? The answer is NO in practice, yes in theory, but even then, can one hear the difference?
Bob P.
Nsgarch, you are correct in saying that different frequency voltages changes travel at different speeds in different cable compositions, BUT, the differences are only apparent (even theoretically) at RF levels, i.e. a signal at 10 megahz might be delayed vis a vis a 1khz by some very small amount, but would be inaudible anyway.
Frequency variations and Phase problems due to capacitance and inductance are however more detectable at listening frequecies, but then, again, the difference in lengths of the same cable would have to be large indeed.
'Smearing' if there is such a thing, is not caused by the construction of the cable or materials used, but by the inherent electrical properties of the cable, IMO.

Bob P.
Nsgarch, I find the notion that cables should have a direction or that the 'positive' and 'negative' conductors should be of different construction or material to be pseudo science, since signals transmitted over cables (IC, speaker etc) are AC, thus flow in both directions (not at the same time of course!).
IC's can sound different if they are designed to do so, that is work with the impedance characteristics of the cable to get the frequencty response one wants and voila, a cable that sounds 'faster' 'sharper' etc.. Of course the same cable will sound different with different equipment, depending on their contributiuon to the circuit impedence characteristics (people call that synergism). Just make sure that the marketing quotes all sorts of pseudoscience to explain and justify those attributes and not the real reason (frequency response variations) why that cable sounds as such.
Salut, Bob P.
Nsgarch, are you saying that signals in cables (IC or speaker)are not AC?
I understand perfectly well the concept of using a shield independent of the signal carrying conductors and the need to connect it in a 'star' ground configuration. That was not my point. My point was that some people are actually saying that the 'negative' conductor should be of different material than the 'positive' conductor or that installing cables in a different direction necessitates another break- in period because the material needs to be 're-oriented', since the current is flowing in the opposite direction. That is pseudo-science. They are implying that the signal current flows in only one direction, which is wrong. The voltage signal varies from positive to negative with reference to the 'ground' and thus the current changes strength and direction accordingly. I suggest that you look at some amplifier output configurations. The ground or 0 potential is a reference point and usually at 0 volts. When the potential or Voltage goes negative with reference to the ground the current flows from the 'ground' towards the 'negative'. Now that isn't pseudo-science.
May I respectfully suggest that you look into the basics of electricity and signal conduction before making assumptions as to my age or knowledge?
Bob P.