New Speakon Cables - what gives?

[GregDunn]

You just debunked yourself as you obviously have an idea what wiring lies inside your cabinet. Lamp cord, in case anyone had doubts, and probably 18ga or less and unequal lengths for cabs with multiple drivers. How anyone can perceive a difference in wire quality from the short stretch between an amp and a cab is truly phantasmagory.

Yup. The mind is absolutely terrible at remembering what something "sounds" like, after a delay of more than a few seconds. Even worse, a slight difference in relative volume will sound "different" in a way that the brain can only perceive as "better"" or "worse", if it is audible at all. So it's absolutely imperative that any comparative testing be conducted

1) blind, or better yet, double-blind;
2) with exact volume match;
3) with all components except the one being tested absolutely identical.

Otherwise, look up "cognitive dissonance" and "observer bias" to see how your brain wants to fool you.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

In my experience and opinion, standard wire/zip-cord used as a speaker cable doesn't sound as good as "rope-lay" constructed wire.

You must mean how the wire sounds when you pluck it, because rope-lay vs zip-cord construction will have no effect on the signal passing through it.

 

[My name is Mudd]

After reading all of this, I'm left with the impression that a 'hybrid' cable, 1/4 > speakon, would not be any better than a 1/4 > 1/4 cable...correct?

 

[M0ses]

Yes. Absolute polarity is very important. Say the word "Popcorn" normally and then say it by inhaling. Notice the difference? If initial impulse of the speaker moving forward sounds different than the speaker moving backward then change the polarity of your banana plugs to the one that sounds best.

Oh boy. That's an interesting hypothesis you have there.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

After reading all of this, I'm left with the impression that a 'hybrid' cable, 1/4 > speakon, would not be any better than a 1/4 > 1/4 cable...correct?

It depends on what connectors you're plugging into.

All else being equal, the cable that has the plugs to match the jacks you need to connect is inherently better than the cable that doesn't.

 

[My name is Mudd]

My new-to-me amp has 1/4 outs only, and the cabs I've been considering have both 1/4 and speakon connectors; wouldn't the 1/4 out override the advantage of a cab's speakon in?

 

[billfitzmaurice]

My new-to-me amp has 1/4 outs only, and the cabs I've been considering have both 1/4 and speakon connectors; wouldn't the 1/4 out override the advantage of a cab's speakon in?

At least you have one connection point that's not subject to pull outs, short circuits, incorrect device connection and overheating.

 

[jnewmark]

It depends on what connectors you're plugging into.

All else being equal, the cable that has the plugs to match the jacks you need to connect is inherently better than the cable that doesn't.

What about the combo type jacks, which feature both ?

 

[billfitzmaurice]

What about the combo type jacks, which feature both ?

The combo jacks are a convenience, allowing you to use 1/4" cables if that's all you have on hand. It shouldn't be.