11/10/2014

Facts About High End Speaker Cables

By Etta Bowen


It is not strange walking into a store dealing in audio devices and finding a speaker cable with a five figure price tag. Even the simpler components such as connectors could cost several hundred dollars. With the right speakers in the house, an old collection of music is able to sound vibrant and interesting. The sound quality is to a large extent influenced by the speakers used and the cables connecting them. There are many benefits one can derive from high end speaker cables.

Even before one thinks of doing a purchase of any cable, they should know the speaker type that they are sourcing the cables for. Speakers come in varying sizes and shapes. Some of them include those designed for walls and floor-standing models. The latter are known to have high quality sounds. When it comes to choosing speakers with quality as the consideration, the size should not be used as a parameter to help in making the right decision. Size has no effect on quality.

For choice of the right cable, it is important that one carries out some market research before purchase. It will help a great deal when it comes to actual choice of cables. There is the option of asking for recommendations from friends who may have purchased them and thus could be having relevant knowledge. With the internet, it has become easier to check various online reviews that will give an insight on what to expect. Checking the various reviews also assists with price comparisons.

Properly designed high end cables tend to have lesser phase shift when operating at higher frequencies. This results in clear and more focused sound-stage image of the stereo. Human beings are able to understand small shifts in phase or frequency modulation in the sweet spot of two stereo systems. These tend to be more evident in stereo because the two speakers are expected to recreate one source of sound.

Surround sound enables the placement of audible cues with more ease since more speakers are there. This however does not downplay the importance of precise imaging. If one requires left, right or the front and back pans to have a natural sound, a clear image will be necessary. Top quality cables are able to provide the precise image and thus adding to excitement and realness or surround music. The channel in the center is able to disappear whenever surround program material is being played. Precise imaging is a requirement for the phenomenon to possible, further underlining the need for use of the best cables.

Such cables also use larger gauge conduction material or a sufficient number of litz wires that are equivalent to large gauges. This will result in less inductance and resistance that result in enhanced dynamics. This will however depend on the amp capacity to deliver current when needed, and also the loudspeaker efficiency.

For a cable to serve its purpose effectively there must be a high quality source, preamp and amplification equipment. Failure of these aspects to be qualitative and the system performance will be limited. To the contrary, top quality cables are able to enhance sound in virtually any system.

Insulation is also an important factor. It determines speaker performance. Teflon is among the best insulators. It is costly, which is why polyethylene may be used as a compromise.




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