Is a speaker cable a commodity item

[Bluemoon]

Are all speaker cables the same--other one brand perhaps having more robust connectors, etc., than another brand. But the cable itself...just a commodity item? I mean, there is no shielding right? Can one cable really be that much better?

 

Me thinks not.

[L5Larry]

A speaker cable is nothing more than a heavy duty lamp cord, two conductors, no sheilding. Unlike a guitar cable that carries very low voltage (millivolts) at a very high impedence (700K or so), an amplifier is pushing relatively high voltage at low impedence.

 

Voltage is defined as Electromotive Force ("E" in a electrical equation), and the higher the voltage the harder the signal is pushing down the conductor. The only real consideration in buying/making speaker cables is wire guage. Too large and it will cause accessive resistance (blow up the amp), too small will cause excessive heat build up (melt, short, catch fire).

 

12-16 guage wire is sufficient for most normal applications. I use "zip cord" (flat two conductor lamp type cable) for all my speaker cables. The fact that it is flat cable instantly identifies it as a speaker cable versus any other cable type (guitar, mic, line, fx, etc). Obviously you don't ever want to use a sheilded cable for speakers or a non-sheilded for guitar or any other "audio" type applications.

[Mark]

Well said Larry, And please don't buy into the Monster Cable Hype.

[Riffster]

I use the brand Live Wire, they use Neutrik plugs, pretty solid. These cables are a good deal.

 

I mean buying 2 switchcraft 1/4 plugs would cost $10 or so, I rather just buy the cable already made.

[Mark]

Are we talking about instrument cable or speaker wire?

[Riffster]

We are talking about speaker wire.

 

Guitarest is just making an unrelated comment on the instrument cable.

[tazzboy]

I think they are important if want to connect your guitar amp head to the speaker cabinet. Because using the wrong one will destroy your amp head and speaker.