REL subwoofer cable

Xti16 -- Yes, I respect what you are saying, and conventional, accepted specs certainly often don't tell the whole story.

But I would submit that theorizing that better matching of the cable lengths between the subwoofers and the main speakers is the reason for what you heard is in itself defining a spec. And defining a spec without sufficient testing to establish that it is the reason for what you are hearing.

I can readily envision that a longer cable length to the subwoofers would result in inadequate bass damping, due to increased resistance in the cable. Inadequate bass damping by definition results in less well controlled bass and increased settling time and overhang of bass transients. That would correspond exactly to what you described hearing.

Please take a look at the following paper by Bill Whitlock, an extremely well respected authority who is the head of Jensen Transformers. I happened to just read it today, after it was called to my attention by someone else in another thread here. He explains why and how cables can and do sound different, while at the same time putting into proper perspective the hype and nonsense that tends to pervade their marketing, and what the reasons are that make it possible for that hype to persist. I found it to be one of the best papers I've ever read concerning cable effects, and I think you'll find it of interest as well.

http://wiring.svconline.com/ar/avinstall_designer_cables_critical/index.htm

Best,
-- Al

I am using 2 RELs with not only two different lengths but two different cables. One is a standard REL and the other is one from Signal Cable. Both are longer than I need but I have never seriously considered cutting them. I save my obsessing for other parts of the system. The whole question of cables is murky in the extreme and highly system [and listener] dependent. I wouldn't worry about it.

I have found the technical reasoning is thrown out the window in this hobby. I am an IEEE and there is no reason for why pc's ic's and speaker cables sound so different (better and worse than others).

There are plenty of technical reasons that they sound different - an equipment problem, poorly matched gear, poorly designed equipment, ground loops, contact resistance on a mechanical quick connect and many other mundane things. No need to resort to new undiscovered science. Indeed some cables have networks in them and undoubtedly they shoudl sound different. Some ic's have high capacitance and will not perfom well, particularly in long lengths, when used with an underpowered preamp (changing the ic or getting a better built preamp is a valid solution)

I agree that to throw technical reasoning out the window and fiddle around until you get things to work is often the most practical and sensible approach - I use it myself! Sometimes it so difficult to get to the root cause of a problem that is is not worth the effort or expense: often electronic test gear costing much more than the hi-fi system itself may be required and a simple connector contact problem is not always easily reproduced.