A Guide to Optical, Digital Coaxial (Interconnect & Sub), and Speaker Cables

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Goldensuitcase

I'm seeing most of them around $1,000. Should I be finding the 07's cheaper? And if so....WHERE!?

Thats about right. If you see one for $1000, I would pick one up next time. I love my SC-05!

[Hammie]

I tried Googling the answer but came up with a bolo.

Will I get any EMI if I coil my excess speaker wire? I'm debating on whether I should just shorten my speaker wires or coil them neatly between my speaker and cabinet.

Any thoughts on this?

Are other cables affected by EMI and should be avoided to be coiled, as well?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

I tried Googling the answer but came up with a bolo.

Will I get any EMI if I coil my excess speaker wire? I'm debating on whether I should just shorten my speaker wires or coil them neatly between my speaker and cabinet.

Any thoughts on this?

Are other cables affected by EMI and should be avoided to be coiled, as well?

Don't coil the excess speaker wires. When a wire is coiled up, it will act as an inductor. You may lose some high frequency. Lay them randomly on the floor.

http://www.lovetriacoustics.com/inde...peakerWire.htm

Don’t coil up excess cable as this could create inductance causing high frequencies to be lost. If you do have extra cable on one side, which is inevitable to happen, it would be better to lay it randomly on the floor.

http://www.1388.com/columnists/jon_faq_cable.htm#2

Not recommended because coiling the cable greatly increases the inductance, and other interaction effects that may cause more than just an extra amount of high frequency roll-off. A snaking "S" pattern will avoid the worst of any interaction problems.

What is an Inductor?
An inductor is a passive electrical component that can store energy in a magnetic field created by the electric current passing through it. The following diagram demonstrates some basic inductors.

[Hammie]

Thanks, BD.

Just as I suspected, but wasn't sure if there was enough "juice" running through the wire.

BTW, that second link has a TON of great information. You must have the most organized bookmarks on the Internet.

[dvdwatcher]

What is oxygen free and what are the benefits?

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by dvdwatcher

What is oxygen free and what are the benefits?

AFAIK, it has something to do with the manufacturing process for the copper wire. IMO it's just worthless Monster hype, though even that's a bit more relevant to analog wire (like speaker wire) than HDMI. Extreme audiophiles might want it if they buy into all that Monster hype; for the rest of us, high-quality cheap wire is the way to go.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by dvdwatcher

What is oxygen free and what are the benefits?

The inexpensive industrial copper used for production of wire has an oxygen content of approximately 0.04%. For most applications the oxygen in copper is an insignificant impurity. However, when the copper is heated such as when using a solder, the hydrogen found in air can diffuse into the copper and make the copper brittle.

Oxygen free copper (OFC) was not invented because of the needs of the audio industry. It was originally made because the very long standard copper windings around electrical generators would become brittle and fail due to their exposure to high tempratures and vibrations.

Normally, you want the resistance of the speaker wires to be low. In the process of removing oxygen from copper, other impurities that can increase the resistance of the wire are also removed. However, the difference in resistance between regular wire and oxygen free wire is negligible.

In summary, OFC is more marketing and its benefits in audio have not been proven either scientifically or in double blind tests.

http://www.audioholics.com/education...e-construction

Oxygen-Free Copper
Many cables today are advertised as using "oxygen-free copper," copper which has been annealed in an oxygen-free atmosphere. OFC is popular in audio cables, and has begun to make inroads into the video cable market as well.

We all know, of course, that oxygen is bad for things made from copper. Copper oxidizes and turns green and flaky; in so doing, it loses its high conductivity and begins to fall apart. But the amount of oxygen present in conventionally annealed, non-OFC copper is so tiny that it simply isn't a factor in cable quality. We have cut into pieces of Belden coaxial cable twenty-five years old that have been used in radio transmission applications--and found them clean and bright, completely lacking any sign of oxidation. Modern coax is better still, with nitrogen-injected foam dielectrics that keep oxygen entirely away from the center conductor.

As it is with silver, there's nothing wrong with OFC; but electrically speaking, OFC wire is indistinguishable in audio and video applications from ordinary annealed copper wire.

[dvdwatcher]

Thanks Big Daddy

[dvdwatcher]

I don't plan to bi amp my speakers but is it recommended to run 4 conductor anyway because its an in wall installation?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by dvdwatcher

I don't plan to bi amp my speakers but is it recommended to run 4 conductor anyway because its an in wall installation?

Nobody can stop you from doing it, but it is a waste of time and money, particularly for surround speakers. Run good 12 gauge in-wall speaker wires and you should be ok. Spend the money on things that can have a major effect like better speakers, amplifiers, room treatment, insulation, etc.

[dvdwatcher]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Nobody can stop you from doing it, but it is a waste of time and money, particularly for surround speakers. Run good 12 gauge in-wall speaker wires and you should be ok. Spend the money on things that can have a major effect like better speakers, amplifiers, room treatment, insulation, etc.

there is no concern for degradation or damage down the road from old wire..what I mean is its going to last right? As long as there are no staples or anything of that sort puncturing the wire 2 conductor should be ok then.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by dvdwatcher

there is no concern for degradation or damage down the road from old wire..what I mean is its going to last right? As long as there are no staples or anything of that sort puncturing the wire 2 conductor should be ok then.

My builder used ordinary 12 gauge bulk speaker wires from Home Depot inside the walls in 1998 and the wires still perform wonderfully for my surround speakers. They were not even in-wall speaker wires. Stop worrying so much and get to action and finish the room.

[dvdwatcher]

Originally Posted by big daddy

my builder used ordinary 12 gauge bulk speaker wires from home depot inside the walls in 1998 and the wires still perform wonderfully for my surround speakers. They were not even in-wall speaker wires. Stop worrying so much and get to action and finish the room. :d

lol

[Big Daddy]

I added a significant amount of information to post #1 on topics such as EMI/RFI interference, shielding, resistance, inductance, and capacitance. Unfortunately (or fortunately for you ), I ran out of space and could not add anything else. It may be worthwhile for all of you to read the entire post so that we have less misunderstandings about cables.

One of the most important and convenient facts is that not only can coaxial cables be used for digital connection of CD/DVD/BD players to receivers/processors, but they are also excellent cables for subwoofers and all analog applications. A coaxial cable with solid or stranded conductor with two layers of copper braid shielding (95% coverage) and one layer of aluminum foil/mylar shieding (100% coverage) is one of the best interconnect cables for all applications. Stranded cables are more flexible and cables with solid conductors are more rigid. Some claim that solid conductors have a slight advantage, but it probably is very difficult or impossible to hear the difference. Silver-plated copper conductor would be nice, but not necessary.

[dvdwatcher]

Im getting ready to purchase my in wall CL-2 rated speaker wire and was recommended 12AWG, but Im guessing my wiring will only be about 35-40 feet so will 16AWG be sufficient? Or should I go with a higher AWG to be safe maybe 14?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by dvdwatcher

Im getting ready to purchase my in wall CL-2 rated speaker wire and was recommended 12AWG, but Im guessing my wiring will only be about 35-40 feet so will 16AWG be sufficient? Or should I go with a higher AWG to be safe maybe 14?

The difference in price is insignificant in the long run. Buy 12 or 14 gauge from Monoprice. They make very good CL2 rated speaker wires.

[selkec]

RG6 cable has aluminum foil and aluminum braid shielding. RG59 has copper braid shielding. Aluminum is better for blocking ultra high frequency RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) noise. Copper braid shielding is better for blocking lower frequency interference. RG6 is more appropriate for digital TV appclications. It also has a thicker center conductor than RG59 and is preferred for longer lengths. An RG59 with two layers of copper braid shieldings may be more appropriate for subwoofer applications.

I may be being picky but you said rg59 has copper braid shielding. It is usually only the cheap and generic rg59 that has copper braid. But the majority of rg59 I see is aluminum braid. I have been a dish and cable installer for 8 years and rarely see that cheap copper braid rg59. That being said. If I run across it on an install it must be removed for cable tv. It allows ingress of radio frequencies.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by selkec

I may be being picky but you said rg59 has copper braid shielding. It is usually only the cheap and generic rg59 that has copper braid. But the majority of rg59 I see is aluminum braid. I have been a dish and cable installer for 8 years and rarely see that cheap copper braid rg59. That being said. If I run across it on an install it must be removed for cable tv. It allows ingress of radio frequencies.

I was not referring to the generic cables used in Cable TV and Satellite installations. I meant coaxial cables that have double copper braid shielding with more than 94%-95% effective coverage that are used in high-end audio. Unfortunately, most installers do not have much experience with these coaxial cables. I have listed some examples in the following:

Belden 1505A RG59 Cable:
1st Layer - Aluminum Foil with 100% coverage
2nd Layer - Tinned Copper Braid with 95% coverage

Belden 1505F RG59 Cable:
Two Tinned Copper Braid with 94% coverage

Belden 1694A RG6U Cable:
1st Layer - Aluminum Foil with 100% coverage
2nd Layer - Tinned Copper Braid with 95% coverage

Belden 1595F RG6U Cable:
1st Layer - Aluminum Foil with 100% coverage
2nd Layer - Tinned Copper Braid with 95% coverage

Canare LV-77S RG59 Cable:
Shield Type: 95% Braid over 92% Braid Bare Copper

Proprietary Blue Jean LC-1 RG6 Type Coaxial Cable:
Shield Type - Braid/Braid, 98% coverage, bare copper

Belden 8281F RG59U Cable:
1st Layer - Tinned Copper with 98% coverage
2nd Layer - Tinned Copper Braid with 98% coverage

None of the cables mentioned above are low quality or cheap.

[selkec]

I wonder if those cables are made by my dads house in Richmond Indiana. He lives like 3 miles from the Belden plant there.

[SlaughterX]

Good read... regarding banana plugs, are they supposed to be connected how they are in the pic? Looks like it could cause problems... I put my wire through the bottom and then screw in the bottom piece, made things much easier for me.