QUOTE(teop @ Aug 15 2016, 03:16 PM)
I might be replying completely in a different league here but I was kind of testing the above statement.
I was looking for some cables for my speakers and wanted to get something suitable (=bang for bucks). I did read a bit and asked a bit and it kind of left me with conflicting views. On one hand I 'know' that I'm suppose to get 12 AWG cables to reduce the effect of cables on sound quality, on the other hand I have a budget to balance. Then I was told by one of the shops that it the 16 AWG cables for RM7.5/m is okay for my purpose (25m run). He could have easily sold me his RM35/m stranded over solid core cables. Then I also read that most copper cable sold now (electrical or speakers, copper is copper right?) is of good quality (~OFC, the exception for me is that if it came from China).
So I kind of have the opportunity to test part of the theory out when someone come over to do wiring related to my main TNB meter. I got some 6mm wires for free and proceeded to change my front cables which came with my speakers (decent looking 4m pairs). This time I cut the length accordingly as required and since my AVR placement is to the right and I don't have enough cables, the cables don't have equal lengths (2m/0.6m). I ran YPAO and to my surprise it did a 2dB compensation on one side. Surprised mostly because most people would talk about sound quality but not loudness. Then it kind of hit me that having less cable resistance means it would be easier to drive the speakers.
I then proceeded to measure the resistance of the cables I had. The original at 4m is 0.6 ohms and the 6mm electrical cables at 2m is 0.3 ohms. So I guess the electrical cables is not 100% copper. I then proceeded to swap out the 6mm cables and cut the original to length since it is much thinner, easier to handle and have the same resistance per meter. My speakers are 6 ohms by the way.
While I could not say for sure sonically whether which cables is better since I'm sure my sound imaging memory wouldn't last the time it takes for the cables swap, I would say that it seems that the cut to length original cables does seems to sound more detailed.
Now I have the following question:
1) Does it matter if the speakers cable is not of equal length?
2) Does YPAO adjust for delays due to this difference?
3) While I think for this length of 2m vs 0.6m it would be impossible to hear the delays (if any), does this means that if I'm using Straight or PureDirect mode the compensation done by YPOA (delays and levels) will not be applied?
4) Also does having less resistance means saving electricity as well as putting less stress on the AVR?
5) For surround speakers, does it means that you can get away with thinner wires? I asks since most would ask whether the cables is for front or surround and that the original cables for the surround is much thinner than the fronts.
Cheers...
Cable voodoo out of the way, let's talk logic;
1) In theory, at least for home theater runs; no it does not matter. Electric travels at the speed of light, a difference of 1.4m isn't going to make a snort of a difference provided both runs are the
exact same cable.
2) YPAO adjusts delay in relevance to where the mic is position at (MLP), not the cable.
3) If you were to use an oscillator and measure the conductance of 2 cables with different lengths and of different quality, then yes it is measurable that the difference in length can and will show a difference in conductance. Whether that is audible or not, well.. it shouldn't be, but we have people who can hear the difference between cheap tin solder vs rosin solder used on the cable end.
Straight uses YPAO processing and adjustments, Pure Direct doesn't. They're not relative to each other.
4) Again, if you were to take oscillator and measure; you will see a difference. But the difference is so minute that it doesn't actually matter.
5) Logically speaking, the farther your cables are from the amp/receiver, the thicker of a gauge you want for the cable. But we will reach a point (around 10 gauge) where any thicker doesn't provide any more benefit unless you have a room as big as Michael Bay's own home cinema.
People place all their cable budget on the main speakers (LCR) because
apparently, the cables will make a huge difference because the mains are the important speakers.
Sidenote;
As to why YPAO set one side of your speaker louder than the other, there can be various factors.
Example;
- Difference in noise level within surrounding environment, are you absolutely sure that prior to the YPAO measurement after you switched cables that your environment's noise level was the SAME?
- Did you verify the SPL with an SPL meter at least, not just by going off the reading on the receiver?
- Was the mic in the exact same position before and after you change the cables?
Aug 2 2016, 06:57 PM
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