[drummerdimitri]

Hello people, I have a pair of van den hul clearwaters that are 8.5 feet long each. I was wondering if that would be too long and if reducing the length would affect the SQ a bit. I am using a Marantz PM6003 amplifier with a pair of Wharfedale diamond 10.1 speaker just to let you know. Also, would it be ok to have one cable longer than the other one? My amplifier is on my right hand side, so one speaker is closer to it as the other one.Thanks!

 

[googleborg]

8.5 feet is perfectly ok, but i do try to keep cables the exact same length and as short as possible, no need to pointlessly introduce irregularities, even if i couldn't hear them, is my thinking

 

[drummerdimitri]

Thanks for the info. I will not shorten the cables in that case because if I ever decide to place them far apart, the 8.5 feet cables will allow for nice stereo imaging.

 

[musicman59]

Obviously the shorter the better but 8.5 feet should not be a problem. the major issue you can have is the cable acting as an antenna introducing noise in the system but if they are shielded you should not have that problem.

You really need to keep both cables the saem lenght. If one is dratically shorter than the other you may introduce vairables in your sound you won't want.

By the way, if they are the same lenght but the actual distance is shorter for one of them try not to coil the excess. let it lay losse. Some turns or bends is fine just don't do close circles with it to avoid generating magentic fields due to coilinig effect.

 

[jzono1]

It's best to keep both signal and speaker cables short - and 8.5ft is quite short.

Optimally you'd want a DAC+monoblock near each speaker, letting you run most of the distance with a digital cable, and using 1ft interconnects/speaker cables. But really, as long as you stay below a few dozen feet it doesn't mean much. More length just makes good speaker cables pricier.

 

[Bones13]

You are fine at 8.5 feet.

In general the opinion is to have longer interconnect runs and short speaker cables. Then you hear that you should not have too short speaker cables. I don't know where the cut off is theoretically. Interconnect are frequently shielded, and do better being long, rather than the unshielded speaker cable.

I think its more important to keep your speaker cables away from power cables, and be sure to have them cross at right angles if they are at all close together.

Generally longer speaker cables are made with bigger cable, but I don't know the specifics. I have read that one could not distinguish use of asymetrical length cables, although I have always kept mine the same.

I would pick something else to worry/be concerned about.

 

[jilgiljongiljing]

8.5 feet is quite short. now remove the decimal point and make it 85 feet. Then we have a problem

 

[DaveBSC]

Having both speaker cables the same length and slightly too long for your needs is better than making one shorter for a possible SQ increase. 8.5 feet is a very reasonable length for speaker cables. Going to 6 feet for example will make no audible difference, and one speaker cable being a foot or two shorter than the other shouldn't make a difference either.

If your speakers are bi-wire capable, try a double run of your Van den huls. That would make far more of a difference than any changes in length.

 

[drummerdimitri]

Quote:

I think its more important to keep your speaker cables away from power cables, and be sure to have them cross at right angles if they are at all close together.

I elevated the speaker cables as high from the floor where an AC extension cord lies for the sake of lessening the interference. I thought of that as well.

 

[drummerdimitri]

Here are pics of my system. Please feel free to comment and give suggestions on how to improve the setup. Thanks!

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[Seamaster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummerdimitri /img/forum/go_quote.gif Here are pics of my system. Please feel free to comment and give suggestions on how to improve the setup. Thanks!

Are you system power cables plug into that thing on the floor? You may want to get better power conditioner or surge protector to start with IMHO.

 

[drummerdimitri]

Quote:

Are you system power cables plug into that thing on the floor? You may want to get better power conditioner or surge protector to start with IMHO.

Yes, my system power cables are plugged into that thing on the floor. It's actually a bandridge extension, European brand with RFI reduction and surge protection, so I really don't see the need to replace it with something better.

 

[9pintube]

Keep them the same length and don't coil them up if you have extra on (lets say one side) Any Audiophile will tell you,remember to only cross your cables or I.C.s at right angles!!!!!!!!!!It's a JOKE anti-cable guys....PS I'd like to have a dollar for every time I've read that fact-oid!!!!