The truth about speaker wire

[Slim-Shaddy]

Yep.
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

[gdv]

Yes...  Interesting article...

[Slim-Shaddy]

I was curious what he thought about litz wiring in turntables, so I asked. I didn't get as elaborate of a response as I would have liked, but here you go...

I just read "Speaker wire - A History" and enjoyed it very much. I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on Litz wire. I am having my old Technics SL-1200 turntable rewired with it, and I am wondering if you think it's a worth it. I'm having the headshell clamp bypassed, and running the litz straight from the cartridge to rca jacks, so I pretty sure I will hear a difference from losing a couple contact points, but do you think the litz will make a difference?
Thanks,
Ed

Ed:
 
I don't think that will make any difference either. However, if a headshell plug is used it's a good idea to spray the contacts with contact cleaner.
 
Roger

[Reverend]

It's an argument that no one will ever win.  I can tell a huge difference between my stock rega arm and after I rewired with litz wire and silver platted connectors.  I agree with Roger that it is ridiculous to spend thousands of dollars on wire but there is a difference between using good wire/connectors vs. lamp cord.

[Slim-Shaddy]

I would love to do a blind taste test. Either way, spending money on improving cables will always make less of a difference than spending the same money on improving room acoustics. But, I know for a fact that most people who consider themselves audiophiles will be more likely to spend their money on cables because they have been brainwashed to think that it makes an astronomical improvement to the sound. How many cable advertisements do you see verses acoustic foam.
I know I took Roger's point down a different path. I just thought it was a good example.

[Kingman]

I think that if expensive cables make your system sound better to you by all means use them.  My MIT speaker cables sound good. Is it the wire? Is it the articulation box? I dunno. I also have other systems wired with good stranded speaker wire. I like them too. Whatever floats your boat...

[bmwr75]

I agree with room improvements Ed being a good place to spend your money.  The most expensive system in the world will sound crappy in a bad room.  I've heard inexpensive systems sound great in a acoustically good room.  If your room doesn't allow for much acoustics modding, at least try to get your speakers set up by placing them for optimum imaging and soundstage.  And, use furniture to break up first wall reflections and carpet to fix floor bounce.

[bmwr75]

I heard some amazing sounding systems at AKFest 2012 a few weeks ago.  They were all set up in hotel rooms with most of the furniture removed.  The great sounding systems had the speakers well away from the rear wall and a decent distance away from the side walls.  One set I heard, don't remember the maker, made you believe the band was all behind the speakers.  If you closed your eyes, you could not have any been able to discern where the speakers were placed in the room.

[Slim-Shaddy]

Scott,
I remember that being one of Legacy's claims to fame. They said something about their speakers being able to sound great even in the worst rooms.

[SunnyDaze]

<--- Team Roger

[Zoot Horn]

I think that if expensive cables make your system sound better to you by all means use them.  My MIT speaker cables sound good. Is it the wire? Is it the articulation box? I dunno. I also have other systems wired with good stranded speaker wire. I like them too. Whatever floats your boat...

he,he,, try rolling tubes 

[SunnyDaze]

I feel that there's a certain threshold involved with our perception of fidelity, kind of like your brains own Nyquist limit.

Any conductor that is sufficient to surpass that threshold will generally sound the "same" as any other sufficient conductor.

[bmwr75]

You got a mathematical proof for that theory A-A??   

[SunnyDaze]

Ha. I read a job ad for Dolby Labs a while back, was for an "Advanced Acoustic Theory Researcher".  They required a PhD in math, physics, or the like, an absolute love for sound, aesthetic principles, music, psychology, electronics, and a research background.

The job was described as researching why we hear what we hear, what makes it sound "good", how that can be duplicated, formulated, and enhanced.

If that's not my absolute dream job, I don't know what is.

[Slim-Shaddy]

#1 mod is not something you do to the stereo. It's a q-tip and some peroxide.