
Conclusion and overview
Contents
We hope we have been able to convince you a bit that cables do make a difference AND that there is also an audible and measurable difference in cables. Our measurements do not reveal everything. In fact, it is only a beginning. However, to go deeper, more equipment and simply more knowledge is needed. That equipment and knowledge we do not possess. And to be honest: is it up to a platform like Alpha Audio to dive so incredibly deep? You may let us know in the comments.
Our conclusion
One of the most important factors in speaker cables is impedance. It just has to stay low. Is has to stay low in order to keep the damping factor of the amplifier in good shape. So in this case: the lower the impedance, the better.
One of the factors that plays an important role in impedance is inductance. The lower the inductance, the lower the impedance remains.
A low capacitance – we learned when researching interlinks – usually ensures speed as well as stability in timing. However, it is often a game of balance between inductance and capacitance. It is virtually impossible to keep them both very low. So it is up to the manufacturer to find the right balance there. And you do that by playing with the geometry of the cable, insulation materials, types of shielding… et cetera. This of course requires the necessary expertise.
How a cable handles noise is audible. Cables that show low noise in the measurements, actually sound blacker. That can – as with the interlinks – come at the expense of openness, looseness and ambiance. So, in this case, taste plays a role. And again: balance in a system.
Finally, the phase differences in the cables. We have only been able to determine that there are phase differences. How this expresses itself in the reproduction is very difficult to determine, because we would have to compare everything with a fixed standard and do an A / B test for each cable. We did not do that.
Hi team,
This is quite an amazing project that you have done.
I am trying to use this information to help my selection decision making on some new cables. My conclusion is that the Audiomica ones which you tested seem to be the best value in terms of price vs your feedback about their sound. And from the qualitative feedback it seems like those cables would play well with most systems. Is this a correct conclusion to draw from the testing?
I understand that I would probably want to try the cables out on my system to make sure that they fit with the sound that I like.
I am relatively new to hi-fi so I apologise if this is a question that is a philosophically wrong way to think about things.
Hi Leon,
It is corrent that the Audiomica hits a sweetspot. They deliver very decent quality for a decent price. They are not cheap, but they are very good sounding. And yes: we estimate that they will work in most system.
It is always wise to first try a couple of cables and – if you found your match – buy them. We never advice to buy anything ‘blind’. Always try before you buy!
Thank you for the response and thank you again for putting together this review!
Welcome!
I wonder, if the impedance of the cables would not provide a more significant perspective instead of individual values of R, C and L ?
Well. We measured impedance. So check it out.
Here (impedance vs phase):
https://www.alpha-audio.net/review/megatest-speaker-cables-32-cables-listened-to-and-measured/attachment/audioquest-impedance-2/
is one cable data incomplete!
I see. Slp 14/4 phase. It was accidentally measured in rad. That’s why i left it out.
Hey Jaap, that is a really nice test with lots of information, thanks for that! Would it be possible to have it all into one table for a good overview, instead having to scroll through the individual pages? May be too much to ask 🙂
Keep up the awesome work!
Standard cable of 2.5mm2… I am using 16mm2 “standard wire”, 3m long. Very low resistance. That ticks one box. I guess I can theoretically calculate the inductance and capacitance. Wonder if these are of significant consequence at 20kHz. Maybe I can twist the cable to reduce the inductance if it has some impact.
Let me know how it turns out… ;-).
This is beyond – need to study it – not just read, to understand.
Thanks for including the “peasant” installation cable AudioQuest 14/4 – I use the more expensive version XTRM 14/4. My question is – how did you terminate the cable and in what configuration? I have it terminated with nakamichi bananas and connected in a star-quad configuration.
Martin
It is terminated with spades.
And, just like that, Alpha-Audio shoots to the top of the audio reviewer heap! The GOAT of tests and shoot-outs. Well done kind sirs, that was an impressive and Herculean effort!
Thanks,
Eric
Thank you Eric.