Speaker cable lengths - Same length on each speaker or not?

[admin_exported]

Hi,

I am hearing contrasting advice in magazines and shops. I will be installing silver anniversary cable soon. Should i keep the cable run for each speaker the same size or is it ok to keep the front speaker cable lengths the same and then the rear speaker runs the same? Its a costly setup so i do not wish to have extra metres of cable gone to waste if its not required. But if it effects performance then i WILL! Many thanks in advance

 

[matengawhat]

i'm a firm believer in keeping lengths the same for pairs - so the front two sohuld be same length and the back to the same but front to back doesn't matter

 

[Anonymous]

matengawhat:i'm a firm believer in keeping lengths the same for pairs - so the front two sohuld be same length and the back to the same but front to back doesn't matter

Agreed plus I kept the centre speaker length the same, I think...........
R

 

[professorhat]

Indeed, there is no need to ensure the front leads are the same length as the rear leads. You just want to make sure the left and right fronts are the same length (e.g. 2 metres each) and the left and right rears are the same length (e.g. 10 metres each). This is also why people quite often go for cheaper cables on the rears as it saves a substantial amount of money considering the lengths required.

 

[Anonymous]

One thing you're always certain of on here is a consistent answer...

See here - only a matter of days ago:

http://whathifi.com/forums/t/104782.aspx

 

[professorhat]

Obviously all of us who think you should have the same length were away that day!!

 

[Gerrardasnails]

professorhat:

Obviously all of us who think you should have the same length were away that day!!

It really is a myth that you need to keep the same lengths.

 

[Anonymous]

Gerrardasnails:professorhat:

Obviously all of us who think you should have the same length were away that day!!

It really is a myth that you need to keep the same lengths.

Possibly but it just seems to make sense to keep 'pairs' the same.

R

 

[Anonymous]

Yeh, like the Prof said. I have done this too.
On a more interesting note...My dad had his system wired up with some uneven lengths in it and so I got behind there and sorted it out one weekend and we both noticed that the sound was much more cohesive and intergrated as a whole and therefore much better to listen too.

 

[matengawhat]

any cable provides a resistance - the longer the cable the more resistance and more loss of detail through degredation of single although we are talking over massive lengths but i strongly believe you should always run matched pairs - for example try using different length interconnect say a .5m to a 3m on the l and r channel and you'll soon see the timings screwed

 

[fr0g]

Gerrardasnails:professorhat:

Obviously all of us who think you should have the same length were away that day!!

It really is a myth that you need to keep the same lengths.

I pretty much agree...to a point. But it is only the same myth as different (decent) cables sounding particularly different.
The main difference in any cable is the differing electrical properties... Impedance, Capacitance, and inductance.
If you half a cables lengths, then those values all change by a factor of 2.

My opinion, is it doesn't matter so much, as long as it's not a crazy difference like 1m and 10m, and that there WILL be a difference, but that it is probably inaudible...

Personally I keep them the same length, but I wouldn't care so much for rear effects.

I have different cable now for main stereo pair, centre, and rears... Has it affected the system...nope.

I upgraded my fronts recently on a trial basis, and felt there was a smidgen more detail...But that is with hyper critical music listening... For AV I simply could not tell the difference.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

fr0g:Gerrardasnails:professorhat:

Obviously all of us who think you should have the same length were away that day!!

It really is a myth that you need to keep the same lengths.

I pretty much agree...to a point. But it is only the same myth as different (decent) cables sounding particularly different.
The main difference in any cable is the differing electrical properties... Impedance, Capacitance, and inductance.
If you half a cables lengths, then those values all change by a factor of 2.

My opinion, is it doesn't matter so much, as long as it's not a crazy difference like 1m and 10m, and that there WILL be a difference, but that it is probably inaudible...

Personally I keep them the same length, but I wouldn't care so much for rear effects.

I have different cable now for main stereo pair, centre, and rears... Has it affected the system...nope.

I upgraded my fronts recently on a trial basis, and felt there was a smidgen more detail...But that is with hyper critical music listening... For AV I simply could not tell the difference.

From Townsend's website:

The Townshend Audio EDCT Analogue and Digital Interconnect and Speaker cables are rapidly acquiring a reputation as being the best cables one can buy. They are simply natural and satisfying components for the discerning listener. They neither add nor take away from the sound and are never fatiguing or irritating; they are just right! We even recommend the use of our Isolda speaker cables in un-equal lengths, as there is no change in the sound as the cable gets longer!

If a manufacturer insists on the use of equal lengths of speaker cable, then it is an admission that the cable changes the sound with length and therefore is imperfect!

From Chord's website:

Does speaker cable need to be used in equal lengths?
Different lengths of speaker cable will mean that the amplifier will be driving a different electrical load on each channel. This is extremely unlikely to cause any damage but it would be worth checking with the manufacturer of your amplifier before doing so. Whether or not different lengths of cable will have an audible effect on the sound is much harder to answer. We have carried out listening tests using different lengths of speaker cable and have been unable to notice any difference. The lengths we used were three and five metres and six and ten metres. As long as the lengths are not wildly different there should not be a problem.

 

[Alsone]

Gerrardasnails:professorhat: Obviously all of us who think you should have the same length were away that day!!
It really is a myth that you need to keep the same lengths.

I disagree. If the lengths are different then there's a delay between the signal reaching the right speaker and reaching the left and this puts the sound out of sync.

As others have said, keeping the lengths the same on pairs is important but front to back doesn't matter so much as most amps allow delays to be introduced to slow the signal to the fronts to compensate for the longer run to the back.

 

[fr0g]

Alsone:
Gerrardasnails:professorhat: Obviously all of us who think you should have the same length were away that day!!
It really is a myth that you need to keep the same lengths.

I disagree. If the lengths are different then there's a delay between the signal reaching the right speaker and reaching the left and this puts the sound out of sync.

As others have said, keeping the lengths the same on pairs is important but front to back doesn't matter so much as most amps allow delays to be introduced to slow the signal to the fronts to compensate for the longer run to the back.

Sorry. A delay...Well the signals speed means it would go around the world 7 times in one second, so the chance of you hearing a delay in a few metres, is...guess)

 

[fr0g]

Gerrardasnails:fr0g:Gerrardasnails:professorhat:

Obviously all of us who think you should have the same length were away that day!!

It really is a myth that you need to keep the same lengths.

I pretty much agree...to a point. But it is only the same myth as different (decent) cables sounding particularly different.
The main difference in any cable is the differing electrical properties... Impedance, Capacitance, and inductance.
If you half a cables lengths, then those values all change by a factor of 2.

My opinion, is it doesn't matter so much, as long as it's not a crazy difference like 1m and 10m, and that there WILL be a difference, but that it is probably inaudible...

Personally I keep them the same length, but I wouldn't care so much for rear effects.

I have different cable now for main stereo pair, centre, and rears... Has it affected the system...nope.

I upgraded my fronts recently on a trial basis, and felt there was a smidgen more detail...But that is with hyper critical music listening... For AV I simply could not tell the difference.

From Townsend's website:

The Townshend Audio EDCT Analogue and Digital Interconnect and Speaker cables are rapidly acquiring a reputation as being the best cables one can buy. They are simply natural and satisfying components for the discerning listener. They neither add nor take away from the sound and are never fatiguing or irritating; they are just right! We even recommend the use of our Isolda speaker cables in un-equal lengths, as there is no change in the sound as the cable gets longer!

If a manufacturer insists on the use of equal lengths of speaker cable, then it is an admission that the cable changes the sound with length and therefore is imperfect!

From Chord's website:

Does speaker cable need to be used in equal lengths?
Different lengths of speaker cable will mean that the amplifier will be driving a different electrical load on each channel. This is extremely unlikely to cause any damage but it would be worth checking with the manufacturer of your amplifier before doing so. Whether or not different lengths of cable will have an audible effect on the sound is much harder to answer. We have carried out listening tests using different lengths of speaker cable and have been unable to notice any difference. The lengths we used were three and five metres and six and ten metres. As long as the lengths are not wildly different there should not be a problem.

Eh.
The Townsend quote is pure and utter BS and in fact would put me off using them entirely. I am pleasantly surprised how truthfull Chords quote is...
.

 

[bigblue235]

Alsone:As others have said, keeping the lengths the same on pairs is important but front to back doesn't matter so much as most amps allow delays to be introduced to slow the signal to the fronts to compensate for the longer run to the back.

I think there's maybe a bit of a misunderstanding here. You set delay because of different distances from your lugholes to the speakers, not because of different lengths of speaker cables

You delay the sound to whichever speakers you're closest to. If, as with most folk, your seating position is close to your rear speakers, you'd set a delay to the rear.

 

[fr0g]

bigblue235:Alsone:As others have said, keeping the lengths the same on pairs is important but front to back doesn't matter so much as most amps allow delays to be introduced to slow the signal to the fronts to compensate for the longer run to the back.

I think there's maybe a bit of a misunderstanding here. You set delay because of different distances from your lugholes to the speakers, not because of different lengths of speaker cables

You delay the sound to whichever speakers you're closest to. If, as with most folk, your seating position is close to your rear speakers, you'd set a delay to the rear.

Well spotted..

Indeed... Speed of sound at sea level is about 340 metres per second... (which is noticable)
Speed of light (pretty much the same as electricity).. approx 300 million metres per second ( almost a million times faster)...so no, you will not notice a "delay" with different cable lengths.

(Ever notice in a thunderstorm, you see a lightning flash... thats ~instantanious...then a second or 2 later... thunder...Thats the delay)

I wish Johnny Ball was here.

 

[Alec]

Meh. I wish zoe ball was here.

 

[professorhat]

No fair enough, I can see all the arguments for and against, mine is more based on the impedence / resistance affecting the sound. For the sake of a few pounds, I keep the same lengths and don't worry about whether it may or may not be affecting the sound

 

[Anonymous]

I made a boo-boo in that I thought my front speaker cable lengths were all 1m when I went down the bi-amping/bi-wiring route. They're not - they're 1.5m. So now, I have 3x1.5m cables and 1x1m cables for my fronts - there is no problem I can detect. If something does go pear-shaped I'll let you know...

 

[fr0g]

professorhat:No fair enough, I can see all the arguments for and against, mine is more based on the impedence / resistance affecting the sound. For the sake of a few pounds, I keep the same lengths and don't worry about whether it may or may not be affecting the sound

And surprisingly, I agree. I have equal lengths and would try always to do so for a front pair.

...and I think all 3 elecrical properties can affect the signal...whether that difference is audible, I dunno...

 

[Gerrardasnails]

fr0g:professorhat:No fair enough, I can see all the arguments for and against, mine is more based on the impedence / resistance affecting the sound. For the sake of a few pounds, I keep the same lengths and don't worry about whether it may or may not be affecting the sound

And surprisingly, I agree. I have equal lengths and would try always to do so for a front pair.

...and I think all 3 elecrical properties can affect the signal...whether that difference is audible, I dunno...

Of course, I would always go for equal lengths as well - especially when upgrading and selling on, with sceptics out there, equals will be easier to sell. However, my amp is on one end of my rack and therefore closer to my right speaker. The Odyssey 4 is thick cable and I did not want an extra 75cm of cable curling up behind my rack. I had one 2m and one 2.75m lengths terminated. As fr0g said, I don't think the mother in law's ears would detect a difference there!

 

[Anonymous]

Interesting duscussion... The argument of having the same lenghts to prevent slight variances in impedance & resistance is a valid one BUT if the cables are 6 metres long and one speaker is just 1 metre away from the amp: what do you do with the remaining 5 metres? Right: you bundle them up or tidy them together in a way that may very well lead to more interference or variances in electrical properties in the cable itself... Seems like a classical "Catch 22"-ish situation...

All my speakers will be run by different lengths of cable and I will probably never notice it. And my guess is: no one ever will

 

[Alsone]

fr0g: Sorry. A delay...Well the signals speed means it would go around the world 7 times in one second, so the chance of you hearing a delay in a few metres, is...guess)

Funny that because call the other side of the world or even the middle east and there's a few seconds of delay. I think the word exageration creeps in here!

Granted in a speaker run its going to be milliseconds at the most but arguably anything out of sync is not going to sound as good as anything in perfect sync even if you can't discernably hear the difference in timing per se. I guess some will believe in even lengths some will not. However, if you want to guarantee something as near perfection as possible then its the only way to do it, at least so far as left to right is concerned.

 

[Alsone]

bigblue235:Alsone:As others have said, keeping the lengths the same on pairs is important but front to back doesn't matter so much as most amps allow delays to be introduced to slow the signal to the fronts to compensate for the longer run to the back.

I think there's maybe a bit of a misunderstanding here. You set delay because of different distances from your lugholes to the speakers, not because of different lengths of speaker cables

I know but having a longer run of cable has a similar effect as it delays the sound to your ears by a few millisecs.