2 questions about cable length and sub placement??

[Soopafly49]

1) Am i right in thinking that even if the left and right speakers front and rear are different distances from the amp the cable should be the same lenght for both sides?

2) Does the sub use the same speaker cable not sure how it is set up and, on what hifi there is a video about sub placement. Something about monving the sub around while playing a bassy track with all other speakers not wired to find the sweet spot. Dont i need cable in order to do this? If so how should i know what cable lenght to buy if i don't know where the sub is going to be placed?

 

[roger06]

1) Am i right in thinking that even if the left and right speakers front and rear are different distances from the amp the cable should be the same lenght for both sides?

Yes, that's the traditional wisdom. I've always gone for equal lengths despite needing £15 pm Naim cable where physically I'd get away with a 1m run and a 5m run. I guess in theory if cable lengths are unequal the signal will arrive at each speaker at a different time (fractions of milliseconds I guess). However, like most cable issues, other say this is nonsense and just to use cable lengths as required.

2) Does the sub use the same speaker cable not sure how it is set up and, on what hifi there is a video about sub placement. Something about monving the sub around while playing a bassy track with all other speakers not wired to find the sweet spot. Dont i need cable in order to do this? If so how should i know what cable lenght to buy if i don't know where the sub is going to be placed?

Well yes, a dilemma. Get a cheap, long sub woofer cable from eB@y then get a better quality one of the length you need once decided.

 

[Soopafly49]

Thanks for the reply. Can you tell me what cable i need for the subwoofer please.

 

[strapped for cash]

Thanks for the reply. Can you tell me what cable i need for the subwoofer please.

You need a long enough run of a standard phono cable (one channel, hence the 1 in 5.1).

Have a look on Amazon, or simply google "subwoofer cable." You can pick up, say, a Belkin subwoofer cable for around £5, which will be perfectly adequate. Of course, there are more expensive options.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Just ensure the sub cable is of a well-shielded design, since the longer length can make it more prone to picking up hum than yer normal 1m run, and any hum is likely to be in just the frequency range where the sub operates.

 

[Anonymous]

Agreed regarding sub cable. Bit there are plenty of good, sheilded cables at good prices. I got a couple of long ones given to me with my new sub (BK XXLS400). It's working perfectly, no inteference.

The cable lengths, in my opinion are irrelevant within reason. There will be an insignificant (read 100ths of a cm) timing difference (speed of light) in terms of positioning. If the lengths are massively different then the difference in electrical properties (resistance, capacitance, inductance) "may" cause a small change in presentation.

I personally have about 10 metres and 15 metres long surround cables, with no apparent problem.

Someone else may have experienced differently.