Testing speaker cables

[PaulJunior]

Hey guys,

I rented two different speaker cables for my new B&W 683 speakers. The Chord Carnival SilverScreen, and the Chord Rumor 2. I was just wondering if the method I figured out is ok. I plugged one cable to "Front A" and the other cable to "Front B" on the amplifier and both cables are connected to the speakers at once. Now I'm just switching between Front A & B on the remote. I'm not quite sure if that's alright because - 1. I don't hear a difference and 2. as I'm swtiching between fronts it goes as OFF-> Speaker A -> Speaker B -> Speakers A+B (that's what I'm worried about). Is it ok if the signal from A & B (two different cables) goes to the same speaker at once?

Sorry if my questions are complicated I have to return both cables tomorrow.

btw, my amplifier is Marantz SR5004

Thanks, Paul

[kingofgrills]

Interesting idea.. My only suggestion would be to calibrate the output levels for the speakers, so they are identical on A and B. You'd need an SPL meter in order to do that.

[PaulJunior]

Thanks for the reply kingofgrills. Seems like the volume is the same, and after switching from A to B several, several times, I just don't hear any difference :| Is it just me or are both cables simply identical? I'm probably gonna go with the twice cheaper Carnival SilverScreen, unless I'll find a difference between Audioquest Type-8 which I'll try to rent tomorrow.

Regards, Paul

[Johnny Vinyl]

The cables may very well sound very similar, which is why you perhaps don't hear a difference. However, let me ask you this. Have you compared them to your current cables and did you notice a difference?

Also, it is my firm belief that cables can't be judged on a one or two-night listening session. It takes a lot longer than that. If a cable is far superior, then you should be able to notice a difference coming right out of the gate, but you won't hear that improvement to its fullest until you've gotten used to them. It's not an easy thing to explain, but that is what happens.

John

[PaulJunior]

Well John, what I used so far were worthless cables that came in with some small Sony speakers, and I haven't hooked them up to my B&Ws. Thanks for the idea though! I'll have to give it a try and see how they compare

Thanks,

[Intamin]

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articl...ou-pay-for.htm

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php...9789#msg539789

I think you're finding no difference in the sound because there is no difference in the sound.

[PaulJunior]

So I've compared the Chord Carnival Silverscreen to the worthless from-the-box one and there's a big difference! What gauge should I use to obtain the best sound?

Thanks,

edit: I can't find what gauge the Chord cable is :/

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by PaulJunior

So I've compared the Chord Carnival Silverscreen to the worthless from-the-box one and there's a big difference! What gauge should I use to obtain the best sound?

Thanks,

edit: I can't find what gauge the Chord cable is :/

Everywhere I've looked they only refer to this cable as having 1.8mm strands and on overall thinkness of 10mm. I have no idea how that translates into AWG measurments, but I wouldn't be too concerned about that.

Your test bore out the fact that the Chord Cable was better than your existing cables, so the thickness as such as immaterial.

John

[mywxrld]

Originally Posted by John72953

Everywhere I've looked they only refer to this cable as having 1.8mm strands and on overall thinkness of 10mm. I have no idea how that translates into AWG measurments, but I wouldn't be too concerned about that.

Your test bore out the fact that the Chord Cable was better than your existing cables, so the thickness as such as immaterial.

John

FWIW 10mm is between an 8 AWG and a 6 AWG so let's call it a "7 AWG".

[richteer]

Originally Posted by PaulJunior

So I've compared the Chord Carnival Silverscreen to the worthless from-the-box one and there's a big difference! What gauge should I use to obtain the best sound?

Thanks,

edit: I can't find what gauge the Chord cable is :/

A cable's gauge is no indicator of its quality, so provided that it is "sufficient", it doen't matter. In other words, the differences between the stock cable and the Chord cables are attributable to things other than the difference in gauge.

BTW, I applaud you for taking the time to experiment with cables!