Cable layout - Preamp - Amp - Speakers cable length

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Submitted By: karijavi

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Location: Texas

Joined: Mar 2 2007

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Cable layout - Preamp - Amp - Speakers cable length

Posted: August 23, 2007 - 10:40am

I've gotten lots of good advice re. my Spica TC-50s. I moved into my modest new house a year ago. The layout of my living room doesn't permit me to center the equipment between the speakers and my Kimber speaker cable is about 3 feet short of one speaker now that my equipment is offset from the speakers.

Here's the question:

Do you recommend a long run of ICs from the pre-amp to the amp, with a short run between the speakers, or do you recommend a longer run of speaker cable and just leave my amp connected to my pre-amp via my 1 meter pair of Kimber PBJs?

BTW, I have the Adcom GFA-535. I love this little amp that Sam Tellig gave high marks. But..this fall I am finally going to remove those horrible speaker connectors.

Submitted By: Monty

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Joined: Sep 16 2005

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Re: Cable layout - Preamp - Amp - Speakers cable length

Posted: August 23, 2007 - 10:53am

There is no universal agreement on this issue. However, most people seem to fall on the -long ICs and short speaker cables- side of the fence. If we are talking the difference between 12 ft. of speaker cable and 18 ft. of cable, then I don't think it makes any difference...just keep both cables equal in length.

If we are talking 20 ft. or longer runs of speaker cable, then I would go with up to about 3 meters in IC length instead and opt for the shortest speaker cables that would get the job done and still allow a little flexibility in placement.

In the event that your amp has a higher than normal output impedence for a solid state design, I would go short speaker cables no matter what. That wouldn't be common for solid state amps, but very common for tube amps.

Submitted By: karijavi

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Location: Texas

Joined: Mar 2 2007

Posts:

Re: Cable layout - Preamp - Amp - Speakers cable length

Posted: August 23, 2007 - 11:19am

Monty,

Thanks for the input. I currently run about 8 feet of speaker cable.

I had to run out to Radio Shack and buy the basic speaker cable so I could listen to my stereo. It's an appropriate gauge speaker wire, but I've got to get the Kimber cable back in the system. My ears can't stand it.