Wiring Stereo Speakers

chrisbitz said:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/03/audiophiles-cant-tell-the-difference-between-monster-cable-and/
Audio experts cant tell the difference between a rip-off piece of wire, and a coathanger.

is there too much emphasis being placed on the cables?
Considering we don't know which speakers, and the molecular composition of the soundstage? (some bloke's boat)

personally, I use bell wire on my speakers. :-)
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Me - I'd back the coathanger :)

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that solid conductors sound better than multi-stranded ones - and several people say that conventional 1.5mm solid core house wiring cable matches mid-range hi-fi stranded cable.

Of course the truth is that while some cables undoubtedly sound different, what sounds better is a very subjective thing and will differ from system to system and often it is more about matching the strengths and weaknesses of the individual parts than about having the best of everything.
 
Hi Fi as already observed is a fascinating subject. Not the technical details but the way humans respond to the technology.
Oxygen free cables IMHO were a complete con to those who simply want to spend money.
I in responding to the OP and suggesting Cat 6 cable was trying to imply that any cable will do. Preferably what is on hand or cheap. The old cat 6 cable I have here has multi strand wires so very flexible.
The resistance of the wiring is IMHO an absurd consideration. The speakers are presumably nominally 8 ohm or 4 ohm characteristic impedance. So one ohm of speaker resistance and that is a lot is not going to waste much power to a pair of cheap speakers used for occasional outside listening. Certainly for Public Address work or for a formal Hi Fi installation one might make sure speaker wiring resistance is low compared to speaker impedance. Certainly skin effect on wires is not significant until we get into radio frequencies. So yes any old wire that seems physically appropriate will do. good luck olewill
 
William_H said:
The resistance of the wiring is IMHO an absurd consideration. The speakers are presumably nominally 8 ohm or 4 ohm characteristic impedance. So one ohm of speaker resistance and that is a lot is not going to waste much power to a pair of cheap speakers used for occasional outside listening...
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It is nothing to do with the power loss, it is due to the loss of the damping effect of the output impedance of the amplifier on the speaker cone.
 
William_H said:
....
The resistance of the wiring is IMHO an absurd consideration..........So yes any old wire that seems physically appropriate will do............
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So how do you determine if it is "physically appropriate" without knowing the "resistance of the wiring"?

Most people would follow a rule of thumb but that is simply based on experience or someone else's calculations. You may not think you're taking cable resistance into account but it is the most important of all the characteristics and your wire that is "physically appropriate" must have a suitable resistance by definition.

BTW. It seems to me that the OP has sorted the wheat from the chaff in this thread and is going in the right direction:D

Blimey; sailing and audio - what a fantastic source for disagreement and heated argument;)
 
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