Thick cables sound better?

[SEAWOLF97]

Funny thing is that you can clearly hear the difference just by connecting one speaker with the MIT and the other one with normal cable and by turning the balance knob left and right.

left & right channels are often different sounding.

set the receiver/preamp to MONO , so the same thing is coming out both sides, then do the individual speaker assessments.

[pyonc]

I've got the same 12ga. running to the A & B speakers ...4 foot run & 22 foot runs. Don't detect any difference once I've satisfied a minimum current requirement.

Thanks for your observation and the useful link.
After having tried out 12g cables, I've decided to stay with them for the LF woofers.
As for the mid/high cones, I feel my current 16g wires sound better, crisper to my ears.

[Ducatista47]

There are electrical engineering types of answers, there are "if it makes you happy" types of answers,
there are "personal testimony" type answers, there are snake-oil answers, there are bullshit physics answers...

I personally like the first two.

Total agreement. A corollary would be, "It's your money." That's English for "You really believe that BS?"

I think it was Scott Fitlin ...

Steve Schell was using magnet wire for his horn system; the power requirement was milliwatts. Thusly inspired, I frequently use it so I am the other guy. My speakers are very efficient - about 100dB/watt - so I use it when flexiblilty is not required. That includes the inside the speaker wiring. The stuff is high quality, cheap in long rolls and needs no additional insulation. Heat can't touch it; it is used in motor and transformer windings. Use the double coated variety. For both equipment choice and musical taste, I should come with a warning. I am an iconoclast to the bone.

[Ian Mackenzie]

I would followup JBLs wire guide recomendation concerning distance and wire gauge.

A useful non bs concept is something as only as strong as its weakest link.

Sometime back we discovered that depending on the vintage and system, ie 4343, 4345 etc the factory stock crossover networks that used biamp switched had significant losses.

If you are able to bypasses these bi amp switches an audible improvement will result. This has also been discussed by Greg Timbers.

Greg also suggests CC the networks

So, if you have doubles about cables it might be wise to inspect your networks for switches or other contacts that have losses.

Losses can in theory also be present in cables but losses in contacts and switches completely swamps all other electrical losses.
4345 network pictorial

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...work+pictorial

Project - Outcomes

All the exisiting wiring loom has been left intact. The terminations of the unused looms have been careful taped up. It was discovered that significant resistive losses are experienced in the operation of biamp switch. The action of the switch effects both the active signal and ground so it had to be completely bypassed (heavy white wires)

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...769#post178769

[ivica]

Hi guys,

I know speaker cable topic has been covered in this forum before, but want to double check with your opinion and feedback.
Do thicker speaker wires, say, 10 or 12 awg, sound better than thin ones such as 16 or 18 awg?
Googling on this shows mixed opinion, with some going for thick cables (usually audiophiles), but others showing skeptic response.

Personally I've used 16g wires for my bi-amped 4343 with good results in my basement listening room.
Depending on your opinion, however, I'm thinking of switching to thicker cables, at least for for the woofers.
I hear thicker cables work especially better for sub-woofers.

Any feedback and comments would be welcome.

Hi,

We have to be aware of some physical cable properties

10ft - 18awg - 0.064 Ohms

http://www.cirris.com/testing/resistance/wire.html

so for usually used 15ft - two wire cable, total resistance would be 3 * 0.064 about 0.2 Ohms, and if 8 Ohms speaker is used (neglecting amplifier output impedance) we can get 8/0.2 = 40 damping factor.

regards
ivica

[martin2395]

Ian, are those switches so bad even when the're cleaned?

I replaced the stock binding posts and immideately noticed a big improvement in clarity!

[Ian Mackenzie]

Yes unfortunately.

Recommend bypass

[martin2395]

That's a pity. I prefer to replace them since I sometimes switch from bi-amp to single amp but are there any suitable high quality switches to replace the old ones?

[Dave_72]

The best cables for hi fi are Neotech, imo. http://www.neotechcable.com/

[gferrell]

Thicker would not nessarily give more bass...but your tone control would,,,, people talk about difference,,,when they should be talking about accurate compered to live scource,, i use barbed wire for a sharper sound

It also helps keep the cows in!

[hjames]

Thicker would not necessarily give more bass...but your tone control would,,,,
people talk about difference,,,when they should be talking about accurate compered to live source,,
i use barbed wire for a sharper sound

It also helps keep the cows in![

Cows like that Moozart concerto, hey?

[JuniorJBL]

That's a pity. I prefer to replace them since I sometimes switch from bi-amp to single amp but are there any suitable high quality switches to replace the old ones?

Put 2 more sets of binding posts on the back and make jumpers.

[pyonc]

The best cables for hi fi are Neotech, imo. http://www.neotechcable.com/

I've checked them on its website, and found they're bi-wire cables.
Can you use these bi-wire cables for vintage speakers like 4343?

[hjames]

I've checked them on its website, and found they're bi-wire cables.
Can you use these bi-wire cables for vintage speakers like 4343?

No need for biwires on the usual 4343 speakers, unless you rebuild the crossover to use them.

[Ian Mackenzie]

That's a pity. I prefer to replace them since I sometimes switch from bi-amp to single amp but are there any suitable high quality switches to replace the old ones?

Switches in speaker lines are never a good idea