Considering speaker cable upgrade

[byacey]

This is a pet peeve of mine. Some of those 3 foot SpeakOn cables are in excess of $50.00.

Back in the day when I was working in the consumer electronics industry, I had access to a TEF analyzer. It's a pretty high end piece of hardware that measures a variety of audio parameters in the time, energy, and frequency domains. I was giving a product presentation, and my spot was right after the wire guy's presentation, so there were a few cables that he left on the table. I took that opportunity to test them, and compared the RCA cables I had (most would consider them junk with molded ends, pretty thin wire, etc) to the high end ones, and also speaker cables, I used lamp cord as one, and a few of the high end ones.

I could measure no difference. None at all, in any of the domains, confirming my inability to hear any difference between them. One of the attendees pointed out that I was measuring the RCA cable "backwards". Yes, it was marketed as a "directional" cable, with the ends marked with source and component or some such. So I switched it around and took another measurement. Again, no difference. At all.

Another attendee pointed out that I didn't crimp on the gold end connectors to the speaker wire. So I did, and took more measurements. The gold ends actually increased resistance, and slightly degraded frequency response. I guess that was due to the resistance between the wire and the crimp.

So anyway, Invalid Link Removed each at Parts Express. And Invalid Link Removed is less than a dollar a foot. So in effect, some of these companies are selling a $9.00 cable (retail parts cost) for $50.00.

If y'all want to spend your money that way, that's fine. I'll make up my own, which will sound (and measure) just as well, and save $80% of the cost, just because I know how to use a screwdriver (or pozi driver, as pointed out above) and a wire stripper.

That pretty much parallels my experiences. Directional cable for an AC signal? Which direction do they think the electrons are moving?

 

[mapleglo]

That pretty much parallels my experiences. Directional cable for an AC signal? Which direction do they think the electrons are moving?

Yeah, the directional cables always made me laugh. Brilliant marketing, junk science.

 

[byacey]

If your rig is sounding dull and listless, have it checked out.

Start with basic maintenance which includes a good cleaning of all metal-on-metal contacts, then have the tubes checked. A tech will check the bias of the power tubes, take voltage and output power readings to see how the amp is performing.

The chances of a good neutrik speakon equipped speaker cable going bad is way down on the list of fault possibilities.

I have some Neutrik NC3MX connectors well over 30 years old, with silver pins. They have over time developed a black oxide coating, yet continue to perform without any problems. Once in awhile I've thought perhaps I should polish them up, and how to prevent the oxide from setting in again, but they continue to work fine, as is.

 

[beans-on-toast]

I have some Neutrik NC3MX connectors well over 30 years old, with silver pins. They have over time developed a black oxide coating, yet continue to perform without any problems. Once in awhile I've thought perhaps I should polish them up, and how to prevent the oxide from setting in again, but they continue to work fine, as is.

I asked Neutrik about this. The engineer said deoxit would be fine for cleaning the contacts.

To some extent, these sort of contacts mechanically clean when the connectors are mated in and out. I suspect that unused ones probably suffer more from oxidation.

 

[byacey]

I asked Neutrik about this. The engineer said deoxit would be fine for cleaning the contacts.

To some extent, these sort of contacts mechanically clean when the connectors are mated in and out. I suspect that unused ones probably suffer more from oxidation.

That was my thought, the oxide is scraped off in use. I don't like using anything on connectors that leaves a residue. These products are a dielectric, and leave a dielectric film on the contacts that must be broken through to conduct properly, not much different than a thin layer of oxide.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

So anyway, Invalid Link Removed each at Parts Express. And Invalid Link Removed is less than a dollar a foot. So in effect, some of these companies are selling a $9.00 cable (retail parts cost) for $50.00.

And cheap connectors and cable cost even less. But don't forget the cost of having a nine year old working 14 hours a day in a sweat shop to assemble those cheap cables. So maybe $9.02 even if they used the good stuff?

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

That pretty much parallels my experiences. Directional cable for an AC signal? Which direction do they think the electrons are moving?

That depends on which direction the cable is facing.
Non-directional cables can be reversed every so often just to even things out. Even with DC.

 

[beans-on-toast]

That was my thought, the oxide is scraped off in use. I don't like using anything on connectors that leaves a residue. These products are a dielectric, and leave a dielectric film on the contacts that must be broken through to conduct properly, not much different than a thin layer of oxide.

In that case, the solution would be to flush the contacts with isoproply alcohol once the tarnish has been removed.

 

[David Jayne]

I have only bought something for durability.. And warranty.. I've had cheap cables, fender California cables, I have plenty of lava cable.. I have a spool of it and the mini cables.. I have monster cables-warranty is great.. I have Mogami gold or platinum speakon -the higher end one.. Lol hell I have an esp ac cord.. did I spend a bit yes I did.. can I hear a difference.. in some cases yes.. in some cases no.. but I the strong one stay.. and bad work their way out.. and yes I did the ESP double bind test with my cousin.. didn't think any thing would change.. two things happened the noise floor went down.. because the damn thing is built like a tank. no other notable reactions have happened.. I've had it for 7-8 years.. not breaking.. so I think that alone was worth the money.. I'm even getting another for my other amp.. the Mogami is top notch got it 3 years ago I'll be getting another.. soon too.. the monsters are little too rigid I'm going to be going with Right Angle silencer/mute plugs and real neutric jacks on the new cable.. going to keep it about 18ft ish for a better high end sound. Aged Horse is right on all accounts.. I'm just a sucker for I think works better.. I'm paying for piece of mind and I don't regret it one bit.. do what you want.. regardless the price.. try to get solid products.. period.. hell make your own cables so you know the quality.. if you really want.. but Mogami-Lava-Monsters-Phil Jones are worth trying for yourself

Great, but this is about speaker cables.

 

[Balog]

It should also be noted that (at least in their 1/4” instrument cables) Monster plugs are oversized and will screw up the jacks.

 

[byacey]

I've never measured them, but a Neutrik NP2C seem to fit ever-so slightly tighter in a Switchcraft 12A jack, compared to a Switchcraft 280.

It must have been my imagination. NP2C measures .248", 280 measures .2485"

 

[LYNCHMAN]

Only use Oxygen Free, Nitrogen Infused, Magnetically Enhanced, Low Sodium, directional cables with PBH Free insulation. The jackets must have tightly controlled pigments to avoid standing waves. Any impurities in the plastic is a tone killer. Likewise, be sure the imprinted designation on the jacket uses pure North Atlantic Squid Ink. Synthetic inks will lead to impedance bumps. Only store the cables in 600 count Egyptian linen bags. The contacts on the connectors must be Eryllium clad. And the inside of the connector shells must be shielded with Palidinium.

You forgot the copper should be organic, cage free, free range, gluten free...

 

[mapleglo]

You forgot the copper should organic, cage free, free range, gluten free...

And that it causes cancer, but only in the State of California.

 

[Mugre]

Also a correct PZ1 screwdriver. Philips and similar looking screwdrivers will do a number on the screw heads.

Pozi screw drivers are getting harder to find. I needed one for some winches on a sailboat. I went to a Lowesey, Home Despot and a good local corner hardware store. Not ONE of them had a pozi driver in stock. Thank the Buddha for Amazon and Prime.

 

[agedhorse]

Silver oxide is conductive and easily broken through on connectors that handles >mV signals. No worries.

I have some Neutrik NC3MX connectors well over 30 years old, with silver pins. They have over time developed a black oxide coating, yet continue to perform without any problems. Once in awhile I've thought perhaps I should polish them up, and how to prevent the oxide from setting in again, but they continue to work fine, as is.

 

[Aidenn7]

Great, but this is about speaker cables.

and all the brands I mentioned at the end have great speaker cables my friend.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Interesting to note, tarnish on silver is seemingly silver sulfide and to a lesser extent silver chloride and not silver oxide.

Invalid Link Removed

I'd have to check to see if deoxit removes tarnish.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Interesting to note, tarnish on silver is seemingly silver sulfide and to a lesser extent silver chloride and not silver oxide.

Invalid Link Removed

I'd have to check to see if deoxit removes tarnish.

I was just looking at the Caig website earlier today. Buying some stuff for work.
I remember it said the D5 (Red can) was intended to remove "corrosion."
It had the most "cleaning power" of the Deoxit products.
I don't remember if they said anything about silver tarnish.
So yeah! I'm a big fat lot of help!

 

[James Simonson]

Let’s throw this in the mix.

I’ve heard it’s not good to mix metals. Meaning, gold connectors are only better if the entire signal path is gold.

 

[David Jayne]

and all the brands I mentioned at the end have great speaker cables my friend.

K. It's just that you mentioned "noise floor" so I assumed you thought OP was looking for guitar cable.