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Post by headshrinker (Marc) on Apr 20, 2019 8:34:26 GMT -7
The funny thing I've noticed is how some guys use those huge head to cab cables, even for short runs, but when you open up their closed back cab the wires from the jack to the speaker are really thin.
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Post by pcns on Apr 20, 2019 9:20:41 GMT -7
if you measure the actual wire on Dr Z amps you will find they are 12 gauge wires.
Our highly dynamic tube amps sound less compressed and a bit better on the top end with the heavier gauge cable despite the shorter distance.
I will add the audiable differences are subtle.
The wire on a combo cab does not have a outer jacket on it so it looks thinner but the wire gauge and strand count is what matters. The outer jacket is protective and is intended to protect the wires and maintain the distance between the wires.
I recomend seoprene jackets for speaker cables. It oil and water resistant, will clean up nice if it gets dirty from laying on the floor or ground and will NOT get lumpy and let the inner conductors get twisted up and break.
me 2 cents, Todd
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Post by DeanG on Apr 20, 2019 9:38:55 GMT -7
Well described Todd, knowing its your wheelhouse and profession. Thanks for the explanation.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Apr 21, 2019 2:11:46 GMT -7
When I see speaker cables from a head to a cab they're usually huge 12AWG or 14AWG cables, but the cables inside a combo that connect the electronics to the speaker is usually smaller 18 AWG. Why? Is there a reason 18 gauge shouldn't be used for head-to-cab connections? If I have a 50 foot run to make from my head in the tracking room to the cab in the live cab room could 18 gauge be used with no negative consequences?
Edit: I found this page that helped give some answers right after posting. Mods can delete this thread if desired. That page is right on spec, Jim. You'll be fine if you use the recommended values. Do try to keep the speaker wire as short as possible.
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Post by helmi on Apr 21, 2019 4:23:42 GMT -7
if you measure the actual wire on Dr Z amps you will find they are 12 gauge wires. Our highly dynamic tube amps sound less compressed and a bit better on the top end with the heavier gauge cable despite the shorter distance. I will add the audiable differences are subtle. The wire on a combo cab does not have a outer jacket on it so it looks thinner but the wire gauge and strand count is what matters. The outer jacket is protective and is intended to protect the wires and maintain the distance between the wires. I recomend seoprene jackets for speaker cables. It oil and water resistant, will clean up nice if it gets dirty from laying on the floor or ground and will NOT get lumpy and let the inner conductors get twisted up and break. me 2 cents, Todd This is why your "TODD THE CABLE GUY"!
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Post by gotmojo on Apr 21, 2019 5:00:03 GMT -7
Yeah but ............ what about Jim’s question: Is there any implication to running a 50 foot run of speaker cable in 18 gauge? Would larger gauge wire be better for a long run, and why?
we need some science here!
jj
enquiring minds want to know
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Post by KeithA on Apr 21, 2019 7:02:42 GMT -7
Yeah but ............ what about Jim’s question: Is there any implication to running a 50 foot run of speaker cable in 18 gauge? Would larger gauge wire be better for a long run, and why? we need some science here! jj enquiring minds want to know I would think for the long run the main thing to watch is that the cable is as low in capacitance as possible. The higher the capacitance, the more treble roll-off will occur over the long run. Keeping the cable length as short as possible keeps the capacitance issue at bay. However, with a long run the the capacitance issue will likely creep in. It may be hard to avoid roll-off at that length of cable and it may required some sort of receovery boost at the end to compensate. In addition, with the long run it may be best served to use a quality, shielded cable. A run of that length will act as a pretty good antennae for any RF or whatever else is airborne
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Post by gotmojo on Apr 21, 2019 19:10:48 GMT -7
Ummm..... I’m a science geek, but will readily admit I don’t know what capacitance is exactly (? building up and holding charge/electrons?), nor what it implies in speaker cables. Can you give us a little extensive lesson here, hopefully leading to a deeper understanding?
Was quite glad Jim Lill brought this timely thread up, as I’m also interested in this discussion. I just last week ran a 10’ cable from our little home studio control room out to the main room so I can keep a head in there to tweak and get the best sound on the monitors. Haven’t actually recorded with it yet. Longest speaker cable I’ve ever used, and we talked about the safety and quality of signal issues. None of us quite knew the answers.
jj
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Post by KeithA on Apr 22, 2019 2:46:28 GMT -7
Ummm..... I’m a science geek, but will readily admit I don’t know what capacitance is exactly (? building up and holding charge/electrons?), nor what it implies in speaker cables. Can you give us a little extensive lesson here, hopefully leading to a deeper understanding? Was quite glad Jim Lill brought this timely thread up, as I’m also interested in this discussion. I just last week ran a 10’ cable from our little home studio control room out to the main room so I can keep a head in there to tweak and get the best sound on the monitors. Haven’t actually recorded with it yet. Longest speaker cable I’ve ever used, and we talked about the safety and quality of signal issues. None of us quite knew the answers. jj It may be resistance is more important for speaker cable. It's all fuzzy to me now as I try to remember my quasi-audiophile days! I think in general, the longer the anticipated run of cable the bigger gauge of cable is required to negate any negative effects. My rule has always been that whenever you are in doubt, go one bigger 😎
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Post by sharkboy on Apr 23, 2019 16:23:46 GMT -7
I am completely in the bigger is better camp, but if one is soldering a thick cable, one finds out very quickly how much the cable acts as a heat sink- robbing the junction of heat and compromising the quality of the solder connection. The truth is that if we use way too thick wire and don’t improve the soldering process, the resulting poor solder joint will defeat the goal of improving throughput.
In a related matter, it is almost comical to look inside many amps to see longer than necessary lengths of narrow 24+ga wires.
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bzl
Junior Member
Posts: 61
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Post by bzl on Apr 25, 2019 14:07:18 GMT -7
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Post by 2Cents on Apr 29, 2019 4:56:27 GMT -7
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