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Cables Galore Speaker cables, Interconnects & Power cords |
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#1
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If a cable HAS to be long(er); do you believe it should be the Speaker Cable or IC
So we have all been exposed to several ideas...
1) That the component stack should not be between the speakers, because it harms the soundstage. 2) That cables can introduce interference and/or become a bottleneck for the system performance if not of superior make and design. 3) That the shorter the run of cables, the better. Etc... So here is a scenario. You have a pair of speakers (dont we all?), and you set them up carefully so they are optimized for reproducing sound. You can either... A) Put the amplifier between the speakers, resulting in a necessary LONG(er) IC running from the Pre/Pro... Or... B) Put nothing between the speakers, resulting in a necessary LONG(er) speaker cable run from the amplifier. (I have been by some that one desires to keep speaker cables as short as possible, but then the amp is plopped in the middle of the floor. A layout compromise that is willing to be made if necessary, but will this affect soundstage?) The question is...which one is prefered. Long(er) IC (balanced in this scenario) or Long(er) speaker cables? Which one will yield a greater performance from the gear? Ub |
#2
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Longer speaker cables only if you are willing to pay for the better speaker cables. If you look at the specs, you will often see that the resistance can be 7 to 10x as much with the different levels of cables and that is per each meter. Capacitance will also vary. Some network box cables can compensate for the length but in any case, it will cost you...
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#3
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So would you agree that short runs are always preferred, but long runs are allowed if the cable is of a certain quality?
In other Words... Will a short run with primo cable still trump a long run with primo cable? |
#4
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As with most cable related topics, there is no consensus as to the answer. I will give you my opinion. If possible use long balanced interconnects running from your pre located off to the side to your amps located close to your speakers. Use shorter speaker cables from the amps to your speakers. This may be less expensive too as speaker cable usually costs more too and especially if it is bi-wire.
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#5
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Shorter runs are preferred all things considered. In the recording industry, it is not unlikely to see very long runs of balanced cables to microphones and if you think about it, you are listening to a recording made with long balanced cables. I would keep the speaker cable short and use the balance cables if possible. This option will be best unless you want to pay out the wazoo for speaker cables that will truly perform while being very long.
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#6
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Bravo...
Very helpful!... I am just in my head and on paper going through the possible configurations, and how that may or may not translate in a house down the line. I am thinking to stay in the 2m-3m range with the cables. Sound OK? Then I suppose the IC (Balanced) would be in the 5+ meter range if needed. |
#7
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I concur with Serge on this one too!
Long high-end speaker cables can get insanely expensive!
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Ivan FLORIDA MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES CAPE COD MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES |
#8
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And long high-end balanced interconnect can get insanely expensive, too. As an example, a one meter pair of balanced Transparent Reference XL interconnects run around $8K. What would that look like at five meters?
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
#9
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I would qualify that by saying it does not apply to dipolar speakers, which have an hourglass or figure-8 type radiation pattern with nulls on each side of the loudspeaker. I have Magnepan MG3.6s and my rack and plasma are between the speakers. Due to the null there is no splash off the plasma and the soundstage and imaging in my room is pretty sweet, with a rock solid center image.
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Pass XP-20, Oppo BDP-103, PS Audio DSD DAC, PS Audio P5 Powerplant, ATC SCM 19A speakers, Aurender N100H, ACI Force XL sub, Transparent, Wireworld |
#10
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Some charge you much more for every .5 meters, some don't, Transparent's bulk of cost is the first meter, after that you get a break.
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