Speaker cables are wirings used for attaching sources like speakers & amplifiers to electric connections. The wires have 3 main electrical properties including resistance, capacitance, and inductance. Some manufacturers offer speaker wires that claim warm sound, better tonality, and rich melodic sound.
Are you wondering whether casual listeners and audiophiles can enhance their stereo system switching their speaker wires with the cables that claim better performance? The majority of these claims are a sham and have created myths regarding speaker wires.
How the manufacturer’s false claims have created myths surrounding speaker wires?
‘Thick means better’
For long runs, thicker is better because it reduces resistance effects. For speakers placed within 100 to 200 feet of the amplifier choose a 14-gauge wires, whereas, for 200 to 400 feet, 12-gauge wires are recommended. The use of very thick wire for the short-run will not enhance audible effects.
Look for speaker wire solutions on Primecables.ca. You get to choose a wire gauge with 12, 14, 16, and 18 AWG. With an increase in the gauge number, its resistance doubles. The 18-gauge speaker cable is 4X high per foot when compared to 12-gauge wire.
‘Solve skin effect’
Manufacturers claim that intricately braided speaker wires are safe for the skin. High-frequency signals travel along the perimeters of wire, whereas low-frequency signals move across the center. Nevertheless, your skin does get affected when you deal with high frequencies and miles of cables that are not used for audio-outputs. So, don’t waste money to solve skin effect, as claimed.
‘Break-in is crucial’
According to several audio experts, a small electric current that passes through wires physically changes the cables over time and creates an audible variation. It is wrong but still, company’s makes bucks selling break-in services.
‘Length of speaker wires must be same’
It is sensible to have identical speaker wires to remove the phase shift. However, electrical signals travel across the speaker cables at speed of light. To hear the difference in sound, it can take miles of speaker cables, so having wires a little different is irrelevant.
‘Splices degrade sound effect’
It is determined that accurately spliced and soldered cables don’t degrade or alter the sound heard from the speakers. An oscilloscope helps to identify a tiniest spike or drop in voltages. During normal use, regular fluctuations occur because of frequency and program but the splices don’t generate adverse audible effects.
