Speaker Wire ?

[pre65]

Hi-i am at the wiring stage for my Adire HE10 and i had a thought
do the feed and return wires to the speaker need to be of the same type ?
if the feed wire carries the signal then i understand why cable selection is important but the return wire surely does not so would not a cheaper cable do ?
if not so,why ?

Philip

[Rob042]

Philip
interesting question - I recall reading about some using silver cable as signal positive and heavy copper for the return to good result but not heard this set myself.
any one out there tried this?

Rob

[NickG]

Maybe I am getting to old and grumpy for this hobby, but how do you think the electrons know what colour insulation the wire they are in is?

AFAIK, speakers don't have a signal and a return, they have two conductors, nothing special about one over the other.

I guess if the silver sounds different to the copper, but you want a combination of both this is as good a way of any of doing it, but don't get too hung up on the idea of a signal and a return wire.

[James D]

I have to say I have found that different types of insulation on speaker wires can make a difference to the sound - but only with amps that use global feedback. Non feedback amps seem to be much, much less sensitive to insulation types which suggests to me that this is due to different rf transmission characteristics causing intermodulation in the audio band

Another reason for using trannies in the signal chain and avoiding global feedback and only using local feedback after due care and consideration...

James

[NickG]

I wasn't questioning that the wire and insulation doesn't have a effect, I was just trying to question the idea of a signal and return. Though I guess one of the pair will be referenced to ground in the amp, so any capacitive effect between the pair and the floor will only take place in the wire thats not grounded. So maybe different insulation on the two wires could have a effect.

[pre65]

AFAIK, speakers don't have a signal and a return, they have two conductors, nothing special about one over the other.

I guess if the silver sounds different to the copper, but you want a combination of both this is as good a way of any of doing it, but don't get too hung up on the idea of a signal and a return wire.

NickG-not sure i understand.surely the electrons must take the current in one direction towards the speaker and then return via the "other" wire.
some cables are sold as "directional" so it must matter

Philip

[NickG]

What you say would be true with DC, but its not DC we are talking about is it?

some cables are sold as "directional" so it must matter

Must be true then.

[James D]

Is it bulk electron flow or is it conducted e/m wave energy flow?

Agree with the 'sale or return' bit, makes not one iota of difference which you regard as which. Might as well turn the amp upside down and expect a difference.... (wait its stopped working Oh No! the valves have dropped out )

James

[NealG]

It's not truly AC either, here's a small music sample from a Jack Johnson track (chosen at random). It's possible to have some DC content even if it's for a brief period of time.

[James D]

Neal,

<Pedant mode:ON>

the definition of direct current (dc) is that the current flows in one direction only... you wave clearly shows bi directional flow so its ac - by definition.

And the time sampling in the definition refers to the lifetime of the circuit under normal operating conditions...

<Pedant mode:OFF>

If you mean the moving average level is offset from zero and moving at a sub-sonic rate then I agree with you. Shame we don't have a term for that

James