Lengths of speaker cable

All general audio posts go here.
Shamanic
Posts: 103
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 1:33 pm
Location: Llanerfyl
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Lengths of speaker cable

Unread post by Shamanic »

What are the opinions about speaker cable lengths?
Most "decent" cables are quite expensive. In my situation the length to one speaker is about six feet different to the other.
So how important is it that they are of equal lengths?
Could save a lot of money if I just had the lengths from the amp to each speaker that is required.
E.G. One length 6 feet the other 12 feet.
Would it have a detrimental affect?

User avatar
Dr Bunsen Honeydew
Posts: 30758
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2012 7:26 pm
Location: Muppet Labs
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 48 times

Re: Lengths of speaker cable

Unread post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew »

None at all. Unless it is very peculiar speaker cable that is more like a component or filter.

User avatar
karatestu
Posts: 5945
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2017 4:40 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Has thanked: 1865 times
Been thanked: 1378 times
Great Britain

Re: Lengths of speaker cable

Unread post by karatestu »

I have 2.5 M of LS6 to one speaker and 5M to the other. Makes not one jot of difference.

I wish the sources and amps were between the speakers so i could have saved some money but hey ho, you gotta live.
DIY FREE ZONE

Geoff.R.G
Posts: 1562
Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2016 2:46 pm
Location: Denham UK
Has thanked: 132 times
Been thanked: 476 times
Great Britain

Re: Lengths of speaker cable

Unread post by Geoff.R.G »

If you want to be terribly picky there is a 2/300000000s delay between the nearer and farther speaker with a 2 metre difference in cable length. If you can detect that...

Simon Hickie
Posts: 580
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2017 1:47 pm
Location: East Staffordshire
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Lengths of speaker cable

Unread post by Simon Hickie »

So no need to agonise then over the fact that one of my cables is possibly 3% longer than the other due to some iffy measuring when I made them up. :grin:

Geoff.R.G
Posts: 1562
Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2016 2:46 pm
Location: Denham UK
Has thanked: 132 times
Been thanked: 476 times
Great Britain

Re: Lengths of speaker cable

Unread post by Geoff.R.G »

Simon Hickie wrote: Fri Jan 05, 2018 9:00 pm So no need to agonise then over the fact that one of my cables is possibly 3% longer than the other due to some iffy measuring when I made them up. :grin:
Probably not

Shamanic
Posts: 103
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 1:33 pm
Location: Llanerfyl
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Lengths of speaker cable

Unread post by Shamanic »

Thanks for your answers.
It's what I always suspected that having equal lengths is another of those hi-fi myths.

User avatar
karatestu
Posts: 5945
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2017 4:40 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Has thanked: 1865 times
Been thanked: 1378 times
Great Britain

Re: Lengths of speaker cable

Unread post by karatestu »

The thing with audiophiles is they are so anal and obsessive. Not saying anyone here is an audiophool. :guiness;
DIY FREE ZONE

User avatar
Dr Bunsen Honeydew
Posts: 30758
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2012 7:26 pm
Location: Muppet Labs
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 48 times

Re: Lengths of speaker cable

Unread post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew »

The worst are those that have to write about it for a living (mags) and / or for their egos (forums). Both have become the source for some of the worst stupidity, I presume just to get something to write about.

Blah blah bullshit blah blah bollocks blah..............

Simon Hickie
Posts: 580
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2017 1:47 pm
Location: East Staffordshire
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Lengths of speaker cable

Unread post by Simon Hickie »

Shamanic, you appear to be directly on the route that we regularly travel from Burton to Machynlleth.

Post Reply