# Hi-fi Loudspeaker Cable **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 17, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541 "2003-06-17T20:54:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pantom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/34f0e0/32.png) [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/21 "2003-06-18T03:04:43Z")
Anyone who’s a true audiophile is not going to be able to hear the difference past the age of 25, anyway, assuming any of this stuff makes the slightest diff. As a half-deaf over 40, I speak from personal experience. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/22 "2003-06-18T04:13:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rob V \* > **… AND a similarly priced POWER cable for his amp. When he installed the expensive intercon, he said it was like a veil had been lifted off the music. Installing the power cable lifted another veil off the music giving another level of improved clarity.** So far, the discussion here has been mostly about the speaker cable. I’m interested in the story behind the expensive power cables. How do they justify that? ---
**Author:** ![tastycorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@tastycorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tastycorn)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/23 "2003-06-18T05:25:44Z")
Have an audiophile nut for a roommate right now. Short list of things he admits to wasting money on (and swears they all work) 1. Demagnetizer for CD’s 2. Solid gold replacement wall outlet 3. Inverted solid brass cones to reduce vibration 4. $1000/ft Interconnects 5. Very expensive 8 gauge (I think) power cable 6. $100/ft solid core speaker cable that can’t be bigger than 18 gauge 7. Component “Burn In” CDs 8. Absurdly expensive rack with special isolation shelves 9. Vortex intake airflow improver for his Hyundai (not audio, but come on….) The cable wars are some of the longest running and most vehement in the hi-fi world. I have done extensive research looking for any scientific evidence whatsoever that ANYONE can reliably hear the difference (in ABX or similar testing) between grades or brands of cables. After a year on and off of looking, I found absolutely nothing. I did, however, find a great many tests that supported the opposite. There are a few factors to be aware of. First, for interconnects (fancy name for RCA cables) you have to worry about corrosion. Luckily, Radio Shack gold cables are only like 6 bucks. Second, with Speakers, you do have to consider gauge. I have high current speakers, so I go with 14 gauge home depot speaker cable. ($12 for 24 feet) IMHO, the most important factors in home audio are (in order) 1. Speaker Quality 2. Speaker Placement 3. Quality of Recording 4. Room Design 5. Listening Position 6. Clean Ears 7. Amp that wont clip at high volume 8. Good CD Player (SACD does sound a bit better) 9. Room Isolation 10. Speaker wire gauge 11. Phase of the moon 12. State of the union 13. Butterfly flapping in India 14. Humidity 15. Speaker Wire Brand 16. Interconnect Brand 17. Type of Power Cable 18. Magnetization of CDs ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/24 "2003-06-18T05:49:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tastycorn \* > \*\*Have an audiophile nut for a roommate right now. Short list of things he admits to wasting money on (and swears they all work) > > 1. Demagnetizer for CD’s **No,** > 2. Solid gold replacement wall outlet **No** > 3. Inverted solid brass cones to reduce vibration **No** > 4. $1000/ft Interconnects **No** > 5. Very expensive 8 gauge (I think) power cable **Maybe** > 6. $100/ft solid core speaker cable that can’t be bigger than 18 gauge **No** > 7. Component “Burn In” CDs **No** > 8. Absurdly expensive rack with special isolation shelves **No** > 9. Vortex intake airflow improver for his Hyundai (not audio, but come on….) **No** \*\* ---
**Author:** ![tastycorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@tastycorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tastycorn)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/25 "2003-06-18T05:54:34Z")
Sorry, **Q.E.D.**. Should have been more explicit. I believe that all of these are complete BS, including the power cable. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/26 "2003-06-18T06:10:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tastycorn \* > \*\*Sorry, **Q.E.D.**. Should have been more explicit. I believe that all of these are complete BS, including the power cable. \*\* Yes, I believe you understand this too. I was mostly pointing it out for the more credible folks out there. ---
**Author:** ![tastycorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@tastycorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tastycorn)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/27 "2003-06-18T06:12:25Z")
Credible? Not Credulous? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/28 "2003-06-18T06:17:56Z")
Errr…yes, credulous. Shush. ---
**Author:** ![askol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@askol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askol)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/29 "2003-06-18T07:06:33Z")
A guitar cable may be directional, so that the outer-most conductor (the one that, I assume, picks up radio interference) is only grounded at one end. I should be able to tell you why that reduces noise in the system, but I’m sure someone more clever than I would be able to. ---
**Author:** ![tastycorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@tastycorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tastycorn)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/30 "2003-06-18T07:10:57Z")
Hmmm, never actually examined a guitar cable close up. Are the connectors themselves any different? Has anyone tried swapping ends (don’t get naughty) and tested the effect? ---
**Author:** ![askol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@askol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askol)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/31 "2003-06-18T07:17:48Z")
After reading [this](http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=316905&highlight=directional+cable) thread on a guitar message board, most of the posters (admittedly, they probably are not all members of [IEEE](http://www.ieee.org) ) seem to think they are used to manage RF interference. Upon preview: I think the only directional guitar cables are the more expensive ones. I can’t imagine a “normal” guitar cable would be any different from any other 1/4" mono audio cable, but I haven’t opened one up either. ---
**Author:** ![tastycorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@tastycorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tastycorn)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/32 "2003-06-18T07:31:37Z")
Did some research on Guitar Cables. Appears as if the “Directional” claim is the exact same they use for normal RCA cables. Basically, the theory is that the copper molecules are aligned in such a way that electrons will flow more freely in one direction. Funny, they never mentioned this in my EE classes. The only difference between guitar cables seems to be balanced and unbalanced. Balanced means you have two sends and a shield, unbalanced means you have one send and a shield. Either way, both ends are identical. ---
**Author:** ![askol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@askol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askol)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/33 "2003-06-18T07:49:51Z")
**tastycorn** , just to nitpick, in a balanced line, both of the sends are used for carying a singal mono signal. Not that I’m making any judgements about your knowledge, this is just for the beneift of our home viewers as you were a bit sparse in your post. Some people might assume from the “two sends” bit that you meant “two channels.” ---
**Author:** ![milk\_milk\_lemonade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@milk\_milk\_lemonade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milk_milk_lemonade)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/34 "2003-06-18T08:04:15Z")
“Boyo Jim” said: “Speaker cables are not marked for direction. The OP’s assumption is wrong” “Tamerlane’s” Audioquest Type 4 most certainly is, as is most cable aimed at audiophiles… ---
**Author:** ![tastycorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@tastycorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tastycorn)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/35 "2003-06-18T08:08:47Z")
**askol** You are absolutely correct. Thank you for clarifying. Stereo guitar cables would be awesome though. Just think of the imaging. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/36 "2003-06-18T10:35:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by milk milk lemonade \* > \*\*“Boyo Jim” said: > > “Speaker cables are not marked for direction. The OP’s assumption is wrong” > > “Tamerlane’s” Audioquest Type 4 most certainly is, as is most cable aimed at audiophiles… \*\* I’m sorry, I should have included the following exception: some cable makers use bullshit pseudoscience to justify marking their speaker cables for direction. There is no basis in reality for doing so, however. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/37 "2003-06-18T11:01:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*What do you mean? One end is marked “Guitar” and the other says “Amp”? That’s silly, unless the plugs at eat end are physically different. If they’re standard 1/4" guitar patch cords, there’s no reason to plug them in in a specific direction. Electrically, that’s nonsense. \*\* Yeah that’s what I mean, exactly. One end is marked “amp” and the other “guitar”. Plugs at each end are 1/4 inch jacks. Specific guitar cable I’m talking about is mid range Fender. It’s high quality directional flow of electrons 🙂 does not seem to be used as a marketing push, so I figured it actually works better that way. If you plug them in the “wrong” way then everything works fine, but then guitarists can be incredibly anal about gear, some may “hear” a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Calladair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Calladair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calladair)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/38 "2003-06-18T11:32:02Z")
[This](http://home.earthlink.net/~rogerr7/) might be the McIntosh engineer’s page to which **something clever** was referring. ---
**Author:** ![bbart4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/51bf81/32.png) [@bbart4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbart4)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/39 "2003-06-18T11:52:58Z")
I used to be an audiophile too until I wised up. There’s just too much BS in the high-end audio world. Honestly, if you spend $300 on speaker cables, _they have to sound good_ just to justify the money you spend. Wonder if anybody knows if there are some double-blind tests conducted on expensive v. cheap cables. For sure, high-end audiophile mags would have done them, _wouldn’t they_ ? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541/40 "2003-06-18T13:33:55Z")
There was an article in Audiophile magazine (I think that was the actual name of the magazine) that asked their staff to describe a “cost is no object” rig. Someone went so far as to specify their own power generator, etc., etc. It seems totally silly to try to spend money on a special power cord, if you understand what the wiring looks like from your wall socket back to the power grid. The path from the wall socket to your equipment is the least of the problems. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-fi-loudspeaker-cable/182541.md?page=3)