speaker cables- same length only?

[knacker]

I have a question about speaker cables. Do you have to keep both cables the same length as my new system setup will have the left speaker approx 2m away from amp but thr right speaker approx 6-8m away

 

[VoodooDoctor]

Your dealer may advise you that they should be the same length. However, I read a calculation somewhere that showed the cables would have to be very, very long for any delay to be noticed.

 

[fatboyslimfast]

It's not only about delay - the difference in impedance between the two may mean that the frequency response is not uniform across both speakers. This depends on how the crossover inside the speaker reacts to the impedance and capacitance of the cable - both of which change with length.

I'm in roughly the same boat - 1.5m and 3.5m respectively, but use 3.5m on both.

 

[Anonymous]

I am also with the skeptics. A difference of a few meters should not make a difference.

 

[VoodooDoctor]

http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/speaker-cable-length-differences-do-they-matter

 

[fatboyslimfast]

Try it and listen for yourself - for me it made enough difference (it just didn't sound right with unqeual lengths) to warrant spending the extra.

 

[cheyworth]

Aslong as the cable is good quality and not a very thin one it should make no difference.

as some cables have an impedance of 0.6 Ohms for 100m the difference between 2m and 8m is 0.036 Ohms.

and capacitance of 32 pf/m gives 96 pf/m for the difference.

 

[Anonymous]

My amp manufacturer states that the speaker cables should be of equal length and at least 3.5 mtrs long, so I guess there is a reason for it............

 

[Anonymous]

If you are worried you can try the Townshend Isolda speaker cable which are impedance matched no matter the length.

I use 3m and 5m lengths. The only problem is the price if you can't find any second hand as a new 2m and 6m cable would probably cost £600 or more. Although it does sound great imo.

 

[Anonymous]

Grimaldi:If you are worried you can try the Townshend Isolda speaker cable which are impedance matched no matter the length.

I use 3m and 5m lengths. The only problem is the price if you can't find any second hand as a new 2m and 6m cable would probably cost £600 or more. Although it does sound great imo.

I should bloody well think so for that price.......................

 

[Anonymous]

I use Kimber cable and they recommend keeping them the same length, and that's what I do.

 

[moonfly]

I always find htis debate a funny one. All the manufacturers suggest equal cable lengths to ensure playback is optimal, but then the advice is always not to bundle cables up as this can affect performance. So what do you so with 4 meters of extra cable if you cant coil it up, I dont know. To be honest I dont think you can win either way if all the advice is true.

As it is Ive kept my cables equal lengths but my speakers are 1 meter and 3 meters apart. It does mean Ive had to wrap one length up a little.ÿ

 

[kena]

Naim certainly specified no shorter than 2 equal 3.5 metre lengths for my amp tho is a good few years old now. Used to have the extra coiled but with builders in recently took the opportunity to uncoil and put extra under floor

 

[up the music]

so far as I understand (which isn't very far) Naim amps (and Exposure and NVA) lack a Zobell filter on their output stages. The minimum cable lengths and specific high inductance, low capacitance cable recommendation from these manufacturers are in order to stop the amp oscillating.

I tend to just run equal lengths. I run the shorter length past the speaker and fold it back once to avoid coils.