Extending speaker cable. Yes or No?

[admin_exported]

I'm going to move my gear to a differnt part of the room.

Currently I have Arcam CD17/A18 conected by 2 x 3mtr lengths of Cambridge Symphony bi-wire to ProAc Studio 125s.

The new speaker positions will result in one speaker being closer to the amp, probably one at 4mts and the other at 2mts. Can I shorten one length by a metre and add the excess to the other? (twisting, soldering and insulating) Or, do I buy a new 4mtr length?

Or... buy 2 new 4 mtr lengths to keep things even? But then I'll have to 'lose' 2 mts of bi-wire under the carpet on one side. Can a grown up tell me what to do please?

Paul.

 

[MattSPL]

I'd buy two new 4 meter lengths to keep things symetrical, and to avoid joining anything.

 

[Overdose]

+1 for the above, but in the interim you could alwys join the cables, just be sure to insulate the bare connections in each join and make sure the power is off, on all of your hifi.

Maybe obvious to some, but accidents do happen.

 

[SonofSun]

I've extend speaker cable before, I couldn't hear any difference. Your biggest worry is probably making a neat join.

This is probably not for the purist.

 

[Crossie]

I would cut the cable to length. Unequal cable lengths, unless excessive, makes no difference to sound quality in my opinion and is much tidier.

 

[Al ears]

If it were me I would go and buy either one 4 meter length of the cable you are currently using (so you end up with a 3m / 4m setup with no joins) this would save a bit of cash or if you are feeling flush buy 2 new 4m lengths (you never know if you might need to move the speakers / equipment again in the future). Always handy to have cable lengths slightly longer than they actually need be in my opinion. I am not saying you should not join cables ( I have done so myself in the past) but would do this only as a temporary measure.