Some arguments (differences of opinions?) have existed for decades and it is extremely unlikely that they will ever come to a final resolution. Here are two as examples;

  • Which is better, peanut butter or jelly?
  • Are Ford vehicles actually better than Chevrolets (or vice versa)?

But today here at Kawartha TV and Stereo we’re going to do out best to lay to rest one issue that has plagued the sound industry since not long after the very first sound speaker was created.

Does investing in better speaker cable actually deliver better sound?

Here at Kawartha TV and Stereo we have zero doubt on this. Simply put, when you listen to speakers with top quality cables anyone with ears immediately finds the sound is tighter, crisper and has much more depth. So from our side of things, the answer to this question is an unqualified yes, better speaker cables equals better sound.

Buy how and why is that the case? Let us explain.

In order to get better sound out of your speakers, your cables need to do two things.

First they should pass the sound signal with the least amount of resistance.

Second they need to shield or protect against any interference that could add unwanted sound to the signal.

So how do speaker cables impact these two criteria in order to deliver better sound? There are four elements that contribute to this.

  • The first element is the cables gauge. Gauge refers to how this the cable is. The thicker the cable, the less resistance it should provide (imagine trying to drink a milkshake through a thin straw versus a large diameter straw). When considering the gauge of a speaker cable you should know that the numbers they use are counterintuitive. The larger the gauge number the smaller the cable gauge actually is. So twelve gauge cable is actually thicker than sixteen gauge.
  • Second is the cables length. The longer the cable run the more resistance exists to the end to end flow of sound. So the further your speakers are from the sound source, the lower the gauge cable you’ll want to consider.
  • Next would be the speaker cables composition or what its made of. Ideally you’ll want copper because overall copper offers the best combination of performance, durability and cost. But look for "all copper cables" as opposed to copper plated or copper clad aluminum.
  • And finally (for today anyways) would be the speaker cables shielding. Shielding can help reduce any unwanted noise from entering your sound. There are various types of shielding that include braided shield, serve shield and foil shield all of which have pros and cons.

While there are other factors that can come into play beyond the things we have discussed here (such as speaker impedance), the elements we discussed today should help set you on the path to finding the ideal speaker cable to help deliver the excellent speaker sound you want.