I posted a reply on Audio Circle and my forum, and thought the information might be useful here.
just was wondering if anyone has ever taken two pairs of speakers cables and "piggybacked" them from single binding posts on amp output to single pair of binding posts on the back of a speaker, basically running 2 pairs of speaker cables in "parallel" from single binding (L & R) post amp output to single binding (L & R) posts speaker input? Why, you ask? Is because I am really liking the sound of two different sets of speaker cables and would like to combine them at the same time to see what improvement/difference happens...
Thanx, Jeff "MOONCRIKIT"
Not surprising to me, Jeff, as the inductance is significantly reduced. I am currently using (5) 18 gauge wires in parallel. Two are solid wires and three are Jenalabs 18 gauge wires. I think you have done a nice job with components and setup.
The advantages are clear in my setup. I was using 3 Jenalabs 18 gauge wires in parallel, which DC resistance equates to about 13 gauge wire. DC resistance is independent of frequency. I then added two more 18 gauge solid wires to make 5 in parallel. I have now reduced the DC resistance to about the same level as an 11 gauge wire.
However, the inductance of a straight wire is a different story. Inductance is frequency dependent. For comparison, the inductance and impedance, for 5 feet of single wire and parallel wires at 20khz are:
Single Single Single 5 parallel
18 gauge wire 13 ga. 11 ga. 18 ga.
2410 nh 2232 nh 2162 nh 482 nh
.0325 .0104 .0066 .0065 DC resistance
.30 ohms .28 ohms .27 ohms .06 ohms Inductive reactance
I kept the capacitance to minimal, near zero which is almost always good (never say always). So while the 5 parallel 18 gauge wires equate to an 11 gauge wire in DC resistance, the inductive reactance is only 1/4.5th that of the 11 gauge wire.
(You may have heard the past arguments over the small wire parallel with the large wire improving the highs. The highs were increased because the inductance of the two wires was about 1/2 that of a single wire, thus more highs.)
Now for general consumption.
First, though, all instruments have harmonics. Usually many harmonics, such as 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th etc etc. A harmonic is a multiple of the fundamental signal. If a trumpet produces a fundamental of 200hz, the 2nd harmonic is 400hz, the 3rd is 600hz, the 5th harmonic is 1000hz (1khz) etc.
What gives an instrument its distinctive sound is the harmonic structure that instrument creates. A trumpet has a different harmonic structure than a violin. The 2nd harmonics on up are different amplitude and phase with a trumpet than with the violin.
The inductive reactance of the speaker wire will alter both the phase and the amplitude because each higher harmonic is at a higher frequency by definition. And harmonic changes will alter our perception of the note/instrument being played. Ever hear an instrument sound tinny, or bass heavy? That is because of fundamental, harmonic reproduction problems.
What is interesting is that Olsen's research demonstrated that the higher the harmonic number of a note, the more sensitive our perception is to that harmonic change. Instruments won't sound natural.
For example, if we alter the 2nd harmonic and 3rd harmonic the same amount, the alteration of the 3rd will be more noticeable than the 2nd. In this case, the 3rd is "weighted" more than 2nd harmonic. The 4th will be more "weighted" than the 3rd harmonic, the 10th more than the 2nd etc.
Back to Jeff. I can understand why you noticed a difference in your stereo system by paralleling speaker wires. In essence, you significantly lowered the inductive reactance of your speaker wires. Interesting to see what the speaker wire capacitance now measures.
Let me add, venue and component quality will also affect masking and thus one's ability to perceive differences. It appears evident to me that Jeff did a nice job with his system and setup.
Cheers and all the best.
Steve