Speaker cable length

Long speaker cables are not as bad as you think. Just use a low capacitance design. Otherwise it will be like hanging a capacitor over the speaker leads. The type of cable is more important than the length. The Cardas Neutral Reference remains consistant over long distances for instance. Try to keep the cable at of below 35-50PF/ft. The lower the better.
Long interconnects are better if they are an option. Jallen

I wonder why nobody mentioned inductance of the straight wire. It runs in order of 0.5uH/ft and for 27feet of cable it is 13.5uH. At the frequency of 20kHz it represent impedance of 1.7 ohm. Use even lengths for the left and right speakers.

Resistance of the cable is less important - inductor in series with the woofer has around 0.08 Ohm (limits DF to 100). For that reason don't use gauge 10. It won't help and you run into risk of frequency smear since skin effect in copper, as far as I know, starts at about gauge 20 with 20kHz frequency.

As short as possible. IMO.
Acctualy in my next speakers I am planning to run the wires from driver directly to my amp(s) and keep them under 6' total. Binding posts are a must for commercial products but my believe is: simpler the better as well as less is more. YMMV.

Mariusz

I had the same problem....I purchased monoblocks and had to choose between longer IC's or speaker cables. I use NBS classic series. I called Walter Fields the designer and asked him of his opinion. Without hestitation he said go with the longer speaker cables 6ft to 12ft....and keep the IC's short. Well I can't tell a difference....which is a good thing and I can arrange everything as I please.

all depends on your imput impedance. on your amp and pre amp. sometimes you your bottom end gets weak. just like if your interconnects are two long