Specialists > Audiologists
Speaker Cable Gauge
steve:
--- Quote from: Guy 13 on September 26, 2019, 05:25:46 AM ---Hi Steve.
If I want to build myself the ideal 10' speaker cables
(low Ohms, industance, etc...),
what (In simple words) should I do.
Wire size, twisted, solid, starnded, how many strand ? ? ?
I am ready to experiment.
Guy 13
--- End quote ---
Hi Guy,
I have been super busy, so a little late in response. Best to use my example and work from it.
I should first asked what is the amplifier and speakers you are using, what output Z and speaker Z.
Cheers
steve
S Clark:
Steve, how does one know the amp output impedance without a bench of electronic tools? Is there a way with just a VOM?
Guy 13:
--- Quote from: steve on September 30, 2019, 06:46:19 PM ---
--- Quote from: Guy 13 on September 26, 2019, 05:25:46 AM ---Hi Steve.
If I want to build myself the ideal 10' speaker cables
(low Ohms, industance, etc...),
what (In simple words) should I do.
Wire size, twisted, solid, starnded, how many strand ? ? ?
I am ready to experiment.
Guy 13
--- End quote ---
Hi Guy,
I have been super busy, so a little late in response. Best to use my example and work from it.
I should first asked what is the amplifier and speakers you are using, what output Z and speaker Z.
Cheers
steve
--- End quote ---
Hi Steve.
Better late, then never !
The amplifier is a Decware SE84C+ and the speakers are Audio Nirvana 8 Ohms Open Baffle.
The distance from - to is maximum 10 feet and the end at the speakers are soldered to the terminals
and the other end at the amplifier connected to the amplifier's binding post.
I now use a Signal Cable 14ga. copper.
In the past, I've tried some copper 12ga. copper electrical extension cable with rubber exterior enveloppe.
Didn'r hear any difference between the two.
I have some 14ga, OFC solid wire purchased from Danny Rithchie, but I,ve not
tired it, because they are too ridgid.
Guy 13
steve:
--- Quote from: S Clark on September 30, 2019, 07:33:29 PM ---Steve, how does one know the amp output impedance without a bench of electronic tools? Is there a way with just a VOM?
--- End quote ---
Hi Scott,
There is a way which involves measuring a sine wave (usually 400 or 1khz, but any lower F is ok for our purposes, say 60hz) with out a load. In triode mode the SE amp only puts out ~1.8 watts. For that amp, a 10 watt 2 to 5 ohm rheostat, or 2 watt 2 to 5 ohm resistor should work.
I would not worry about the voltage meter loading the amplifier's output.
Now adjust the rheostat until the output voltage measures 1/2 the no load voltage. At such point the output impedance (Z) equals the load/pot Z.
One probably won't have a rheostat, so one could measure the No load output voltage, and then place a low ohmage fixed resistor, as mentioned above, across the output.
Now measure the voltage with the load connected. Just as before, a voltage divider, a voltage ratio is created, so a resistance ratio is created.
In general, for any newbies out there, this example.
Say we measure 3 volts no load. Now we add a fixed 1.5 ohm load resistor, and measure 2 volts output.
We now know that 2 volts is across the 1.5 ohm load, so 1 volt is across the output impedance of the amplifier, to equal 3 total volts.
1 volt across the amplifier output Z and 2 volts across the load. That is a 1 to 2 ratio. We know the value of the load resistance, 1.5 ohms. So 1/2 of that is 0,75 ohms. That is the approximate value of the amplifier output Z.
The last question is, how do we know the amplifier is not clipping, which could influence the reading? I would listen to a tone (say from YouTube) that is loud but not clipping. That should be close enough.
I hope this helps Scott.
steve
steve:
--- Quote ---Hi Steve.
Better late, then never !
The amplifier is a Decware SE84C+ and the speakers are Audio Nirvana 8 Ohms Open Baffle.
The distance from - to is maximum 10 feet and the end at the speakers are soldered to the terminals
and the other end at the amplifier connected to the amplifier's binding post.
I now use a Signal Cable 14ga. copper.
In the past, I've tried some copper 12ga. copper electrical extension cable with rubber exterior enveloppe.
Didn'r hear any difference between the two.
I have some 14ga, OFC solid wire purchased from Danny Rithchie, but I,ve not
tired it, because they are too ridgid.
Guy 13
--- End quote ---
Hi Guy,
This should be interesting since an "8" ohm speaker divided by the amp's output Z (damping factor) is probably different than my setup. Your previous values of wire may be too large for one to perceive any difference. It could also be optimum as well. We just don't know.
Are you up for an experiment Guy? If so, try installing just one solid 18 gauge wire in each speaker leg. Sounds extreme, but it should tell us if the "sound" can be altered in your particular setup. If it does, has the sound become thin, what about increased and/or bloated bass? How about the lower midrange/upper bass?
If you notice a sonic difference and it sounded worse than your larger wires, try two 18 gauge wires in parallel for ~15 gauge. Does it sound better, worse, or no difference? If it sounds better than one 18 gauge wire, try a 3rd for ~13.5 total gauge. A 4th will be ~12 total gauge. Keep adding on until the sound starts to become worse. (You may end up purchasing many inexpensive twin banana plugs, and chaining them together for larger and larger cable. Eventually, you want to rid of the banana plugs and just connect using the wire.)
For paralleling wire, here is a calculator.
https://www.wirebarn.com/Combined-Wire-Gauge-Calculator_ep_42.html
I think ACE hardware might have something in stock for testing purposes.
Just a thought Guy. If you decide not to experiment, no sweat, as it does become time consuming, and price does go up.
Cheers
steve
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