Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Comparing speaker cables

Hello Everyone! First time writing here but have been reading for quite some time. Some very interesting commentary. Here's a suggestion for those still questioning the merits of one speaker cable brand or type, over another. Don't mean to open the "can of worms" here again; I recognize we'll all think what we will about this, and that's fine! But here's something to try, if just for fun... Connect your speakers normally, with your usual cables, whatever they are. Assuming you have a Spkr. A and a Spkr. B output option on your receiver / amp, connect to Spkr. A, us usual. Then, connect the cable you'd like to compare to the Spkr. B output terminals. Both cable are connected to speakers in the normal way; if possible e.g., spades and bananas, but BOTH cables hooked up to the speakers. (Observing polarity, of course.) Then, playing whatever source material you like, simply toggle between "Spkr. A" and "Spkr. B' with your remote, but BEING CAREFUL NOT TO ENGAGE BOTH SPKRS. A AND B! In this way, you can instantly compare the two cables without even the slightest time-lag or change of any other variables; everything but the cables stays the same. I've yet to hear any difference in any cables I've connected, but that's not to say you won't! A fun experiment though and could save some serious $$! Have fun!

Hey Dlow, that’s a clever way to do it, nice. Yeah the whole cable thing is a bit elusive to actually hear any results. If it is real I’ve never been able to hear any differences but there’s probably other things in my audio chain that could bring bigger improvements over cables. I just use OFC 12 gauge of equal lengths left and right of reasonable quality cable. Most of it I’ve got from axiom actually. If it’s good enough for them it’s good enough for me. Besides, what I hear from my speakers and systems sounds pretty great. On a rainy day I could see giving the ab a try though with some other cables , just because.

Another point I didn't make is that even if we can hear...or think we can hear...a slight difference, is it actually better? Or just different? And if so, is it anywhere near worth what it would cost to buy into the new cables? Are we really "hearing," not to mention enjoying, a several hundred dollar (or more) investment? I really think speakers are the main key to the sound in our rooms, assuming reasonable electronics, etc. Other factors can, and often do, make a (slight) difference in the sound, too, like temperature / humidity, ambient sounds, seating position, time of day, frame of mind! Not to mention recordings. Ugh. Such variation, so why obsess over minutia that we're not even sure is real?! Just my opinion, so....

As JohnK used to say, God only made one copper.

SirQuack, sorry, I don't know who JohnK is but that almost sounds like 'Try as we might, only God can make a speaker cable!" But yeah, I guess that's the idea!