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Speaker wire, solid or stranded

post #1 of 6
1/19/04 at 9:47pm
Thread Starter 
Which is better and why?

Mark
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post #2 of 6
1/20/04 at 5:05am
Audibly it's a wash. Having the wire stranded, the more the merrier, makes it more flexible and allows for greater ease in positioning.
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post #3 of 6
1/20/04 at 6:43am
I can't recall having *ever* seen solid "speaker wire." (I *could* be wrong.)

Generally speaking, if it's subject to ANY flex, go with stranded.

At audio frequencies, to me and probably you, it won't sound any differently. Some people SWEAR they can hear a difference between lamp cord and oxygen-free wire. I can't hear a difference. Can you?

I use lamp or zip cord exclusively. My wallet likes the difference.
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post #4 of 6
1/20/04 at 11:20am
Some visual/physical differences:
http://www.nineshadoweyes.com/module...article&sid=11
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post #5 of 6
1/23/04 at 6:21pm
Depending on the distance from amp to speaker and how loud you play the sound, ordinary lamp cord or zip cord may be too thin. Also you can get away with slightly thinner wires if the amp output impedance is higher.

The only advantage I can think of for oxygen free cable is that it doesn't turn ugly green with age and oxidation of the copper as fast.

Video hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/video.htm
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post #6 of 6
1/23/04 at 9:00pm
Hmmmm...
Quote:
Also you can get away with slightly thinner wires if the amp output impedance is higher.
Well if the impedance is higher and to that you add additional resistance in the form of thin wire (let's say 50 feet of 32 gauge) you'll exascerbate frequency response anomalies with the speaker. I'm not sure where you're headed with that Alan.

Quote:
The only advantage I can think of for oxygen free cable is that it doesn't turn ugly green with age and oxidation of the copper as fast.
I've had this analyzed by XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) Spectrometry. The green color is due to the copper reacting with the chloride from the PVC. Unsightly but it only goes down a few microns. The rate of formation of this color is dependent upon the particular PVC used, the temperature, the humidity, the nature and amount of plasticizer, etc. Almost all wire for speakers is OFC according to some discussions I've had with Madison, a major producer of copper wire. Regardless of whether the wire is OFC or not, the rate of oxidation of the copper with oxygen is for all intents and purposes, the same.
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