Speaker Cable Advice

[PeteB]

Hi,
I'm buying a Yamaha R-N800A network receiver together with a pair of Oberon 5 floor standing speakers. Could someone advise me on which cable I need for the speakers please? They will be 8 metres from that amp. They actually come with 5 metres of QED Micro Speaker Cable, should I ask them for an extra 11 metres or buy something else? Thanks.

 

[Al ears]

Hi,
I'm buying a Yamaha R-N800A network receiver together with a pair of Oberon 5 floor standing speakers. Could someone advise me on which cable I need for the speakers please? They will be 8 metres from that amp. They actually come with 5 metres of QED Micro Speaker Cable, should I ask them for an extra 11 metres or buy something else? Thanks.

Any cable will do but I would ask where the heck are you going to use those speakers that have to be that far from the amp.?
And where dies this 5 metres of cable come from, is this being thrown in?

 

[PeteB]

Any cable will do but I would ask where the heck are you going to use those speakers that have to be that far from the amp.?
And where dies this 5 metres of cable come from, is this being thrown in?

Yes, the 5 metres are thrown in. The speakers aren't 8 metres from the amp but I want to hide the cables under the window sill. Also, the first speaker is 2 metres closer but I believe the cables have to be the same length

 

[giggsy1977]

Any 2.5mm copper cable (van damme or kabel are both reliable) will be fine and make little difference to the sound quality.

 

[PeteB]

Any 2.5mm copper cable (van damme or kabel are both reliable) will be fine and make little difference to the sound quality.

Nice one, thanks Giggsy

 

[gasolin]

Tellurium Q Blue II

Even when theres ypao, qed micro can sound thin and bright

 

[Al ears]

Yes, the 5 metres are thrown in. The speakers aren't 8 metres from the amp but I want to hide the cables under the window sill. Also, the first speaker is 2 metres closer but I believe the cables have to be the same length

No, they don't have to be the same length.
any decent cable will do I don't necessarily mean any major manufacturers like those that have been mentioned.

 

[Fandango Andy]

Hi,
I'm buying a Yamaha R-N800A network receiver together with a pair of Oberon 5 floor standing speakers. Could someone advise me on which cable I need for the speakers please? They will be 8 metres from that amp. They actually come with 5 metres of QED Micro Speaker Cable, should I ask them for an extra 11 metres or buy something else? Thanks.

You will get a range of opinions on this. Beyond all the opinions, there is some science. You need wire suitable to carry the electrical current. Copper wire is the best compromise between cost an conductivity.

The length of the wire, and the impedance of your speakers will determine what gauge you need. With your 6Ω speakers, 16AWG/1.3mm should be good for 10 or 11m. 14AWG/1.6mm is better in theory, but you probably won't notice any difference.

 

[twinkletoes]

Hi,
I'm buying a Yamaha R-N800A network receiver together with a pair of Oberon 5 floor standing speakers. Could someone advise me on which cable I need for the speakers please? They will be 8 metres from that amp. They actually come with 5 metres of QED Micro Speaker Cable, should I ask them for an extra 11 metres or buy something else? Thanks.

straight from the horses mouth

“The QED Micro cable is 17 AWG, so the maximum length is 32 feet (9 or so meters) for an 8 ohm load and 16 feet (4 or so meters)for a 4 ohm load”

Seeing as most speakers drop to 4ohm you need a different gauge cable if you intend to use those lengths.

 

[nopiano]

straight from the horses mouth

“The QED Micro cable is 17 AWG, so the maximum length is 32 feet (9 or so meters) for an 8 ohm load and 16 feet (4 or so meters)for a 4 ohm load”

Seeing as most speakers drop to 4ohm you need a different gauge cable if you intend to use those lengths.

I wouldn’t rely on somebody who thinks 16 feet is four or so metres! I make it 13.12 feet!

However, I agree with the sentiment that a slightly heavier gauge would be my preference for an 8 metre length. Given the OP wants to route it in a particular way then the layout - twin, sleeved, ribbon, etc - and its flexibility will be key considerations too.

 

[Fandango Andy]

I wouldn’t rely on somebody who thinks 16 feet is four or so metres! I make it 13.12 metres!

However, I agree with the sentiment that a slightly heavier gauge would be my preference for an 8 metre length. Given the OP wants to route it in a particular way then the layout - twin, sleeved, ribbon, etc - and its flexibility will be key considerations too.

I think something is getting lost in translation here. Not sure where 16feet came into the conversation, but it is equal to 4.88m (give or take a few mm).

 

[nopiano]

I think something is getting lost in translation here. Not sure where 16feet came into the conversation, but it is equal to 4.88m (give or take a few mm).

Apologies, I meant to write 13.12 feet, rather than 16, is four metres! I’m guessing the quote came from QED’s blurb.

 

[twinkletoes]

I wouldn’t rely on somebody who thinks 16 feet is four or so metres! I make it 13.12 feet!

However, I agree with the sentiment that a slightly heavier gauge would be my preference for an 8 metre length. Given the OP wants to route it in a particular way then the layout - twin, sleeved, ribbon, etc - and its flexibility will be key considerations too.

I think you're splitting hairs chap! I didn't write 4 meters, I said "4 meters or there abouts" in an attempt to keep them away from the extremes of use. If you really want to get into the weeds with it, it's 4.8768m, so shall we round up to 5 meters and call it day 🙄 . Either way right on the limit of the 4ohm spec not a place you want to rubbing limits

Either way they need a heavier gauge cable to achieve what they want ie the trusty 79 strand or the Original variant or similar by another brand.

 

[Jasonovich]

Hi,
I'm buying a Yamaha R-N800A network receiver together with a pair of Oberon 5 floor standing speakers. Could someone advise me on which cable I need for the speakers please? They will be 8 metres from that amp. They actually come with 5 metres of QED Micro Speaker Cable, should I ask them for an extra 11 metres or buy something else? Thanks.

I have my cables tucked behind skirting board. I wouldn't advise it but if you don't mind a little DIY, I would use crow bar to gently pull skirting away from the wall and drop behind the cables and gently hammer back in place (use rubber mallet).

I was using Chord C-screen X Speaker Cable, which isn't exactly flat, so I had to gorge out some channels to run the cables, I also had to drill termination holes for banana speaker sockets.

A little bit of work but worth it in the end.

Chord C-screenX Unterminated Speaker Cable (per metre)

C-screenX is a shielded speaker cable aimed at both audio and home cinema systems and is a cost-effective upgrade for anyone who wants the best performance on a budget.

petertyson.co.uk

 

[DougK1]

I have my cables tucked behind skirting board. I wouldn't advise it but if you don't mind a little DIY, I would use crow bar to gently pull skirting away from the wall and drop behind the cables and gently hammer back in place (use rubber mallet).

That's fine, unless someone has used no-nails to glue them on 🙂

 

[Jasonovich]

That's fine, unless someone has used no-nails to glue them on 🙂

Yeah more tricky with that. A bag of plaster might come handy 🙂

 

[nopiano]

I think you're splitting hairs chap! I didn't write 4 meters, I said "4 meters or there abouts" in an attempt to keep them away from the extremes of use. If you really want to get into the weeds with it, it's 4.8768m, so shall we round up to 5 meters and call it day 🙄 . Either way right on the limit of the 4ohm spec not a place you want to rubbing limits

Either way they need a heavier gauge cable to achieve what they want ie the trusty 79 strand or the Original variant or similar by another brand.

On reflection it does look like I was. Somehow 16 feet and 4 metres looked ‘off’ when I read it, but I completely agree that a slightly heavier gauge is desirable here, bearing in mind the routing requirements. I think QED still do the 42 strand, and other brands also have a flexible ‘instal’ cable.

 

[twinkletoes]

I have my cables tucked behind skirting board. I wouldn't advise it but if you don't mind a little DIY, I would use crow bar to gently pull skirting away from the wall and drop behind the cables and gently hammer back in place (use rubber mallet).

I was using Chord C-screen X Speaker Cable, which isn't exactly flat, so I had to gorge out some channels to run the cables, I also had to drill termination holes for banana speaker sockets.

A little bit of work but worth it in the end.

View attachment 8215
View attachment 8216

Chord C-screenX Unterminated Speaker Cable (per metre)

C-screenX is a shielded speaker cable aimed at both audio and home cinema systems and is a cost-effective upgrade for anyone who wants the best performance on a budget.

petertyson.co.uk

very neat and tidy!

 

[singularity6]

All of my cables are Mediabridge. They're solid.

 

[Al ears]

All of my cables are Mediabridge. They're solid.

I prefer flexible ones.

 

[RoA]

I have my cables tucked behind skirting board. I wouldn't advise it but if you don't mind a little DIY, I would use crow bar to gently pull skirting away from the wall and drop behind the cables and gently hammer back in place (use rubber mallet).

I was using Chord C-screen X Speaker Cable, which isn't exactly flat, so I had to gorge out some channels to run the cables, I also had to drill termination holes for banana speaker sockets.

A little bit of work but worth it in the end.

View attachment 8215
View attachment 8216

Chord C-screenX Unterminated Speaker Cable (per metre)

C-screenX is a shielded speaker cable aimed at both audio and home cinema systems and is a cost-effective upgrade for anyone who wants the best performance on a budget.

petertyson.co.uk

Very neat, good job.

 

[singularity6]

I prefer flexible ones.

Touche.