2. cables
  3. 184733-96626

Why Do Cables Matter?

To me, all you need is low L, C, and R. I run Mogami W3104 bi-wire from my McIntosh MAC7200 to my Martin Logan Theos. We all know that a chain is only as strong as its' weakest link - so I am honestly confused by all this cable discussion. 

What kind of wiring goes from the transistor or tube to the amplifier speaker binding post inside the amplifier? It is usually plain old 16 ga or 14 ga copper. Then we are supposed to install 5 - 10' or so of wallet-emptying, pipe-sized pure CU or AG with "special configurations" to the speaker terminals?

What kind of wiring is inside the speaker from the terminals to the crossover, and from the crossover to the drivers? Usually plain old 16 ga or 14 ga copper.

So you have "weak links" inside the amplifier, and inside the speaker, so why bother with mega expensive cabling between the two? It doesn't make logical sense to me. It makes more sense to match the quality of your speaker wires with the existing wires in the signal path [inside the amplifier and inside the speaker].

 

 

kinarow1
webking185's avatar
webking185
191 posts
 

To each is own, if you have a 100k system, you'll buy a $10k cable, if you have a 200k system, you'll buy a $50k cable.  I've aways stuck by 10awg copper cables and they have sound no different than others. Open any amp or speaker and tell me what kind of wires do they use to connect them with? Copper AWG

jl35
3,942 posts
 

yes, probably many speakers would sound better if they used better internal wire... some speaker companies like Dali does that on their higher end speakers...and offer that cable to their customers only...

thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 

This is pretty simple. Two “rules”:

 

1) Buy only what you can afford

2) Buy what you prefer (after personal experience, listening for yourself)

 

But I have to say: whoever says a cheap box store $50 pair of speakers sounds just like a $50,000 pair of speakers, or some cheap headphones for 50 years ago… I want to have what you are smoking. Please share. It will save me a bunch of money (maybe for a super duper bike, which I obviously don’t ride 😉🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️)

grossman616
123 posts
 

Because they effect the sound.

rodman99999
6,032 posts
 

 Open any amp or speaker and tell me what kind of wires do they use to connect them with? Copper AWG

                         The usual ignorance (willful, or otherwise).

                                         A FIRST PAGE replay:

        Many upscale equipment designers do use better wire within their products*, or: offer such as an upgrade.

         Even companies that manufacture PC boards take into account the dielectric constants of the material used and their effects on signal speed, among other factors.

               *ie: David Manley (of VTL) was already using George Cardas' wire, internally, back in the Eighties.      Emerald Physics offers WireWorld, OCC internal wiring, as an option/upgrade.

 

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