Speaker cables

[bruce]

Hi,

 

I need to replace some speaker cables soon, and am looking for some feedback as to what cables other people typically use. They'll be speakon-speakon leads, between 5 and 10m long, driving cabinets which are rated at about 300W RMS.

 

So they'll be wired up using 2 core cable and the +1-1 speakon pins.

 

But what sort of cable to use. I know I should use at least 1.5mm, ideally 2.5mm, and I'd prefer to use rubber rather than PVC, cos it coils better.

 

I know you can get special cable of exactly this spec in specialist stores, but I'm looking for something I can buy from a typical electrical wholesaler. Most of them seem to do 2 core rubber flex in .75 and 1.0mm, but the heavier grades are only available in 3-core.

 

Do people generally use the 3core and leave one disconnected? Or do they use the specialist 2 core stuff?

 

What about colour? I know most people use black, but I've had some cables in the past which used orange 1.5mm cable - the stuff normally used for power tools and garden tools. A bit unusual, but it means that it's immediately obvious which ones are speaker cable!

 

I know someone else who makes up speaker cables using yellow 1.5 or 2.5 arctic cable. Still PVC, but easy to obtain and cheap.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Bruce.

[london sound]

Van Damme speaker cable available from Maplins (if you do not want to go direct), 1.5mm should suit you well.

 

 

Ian

[paulears]

Arctic is fine, but is rather too stiff for my liking. TRS 2.5 3core works well if you need something heavy and flexible - not using one core is fine. Van Damme is great and quite nice to work with. If ultra flexibility isn't required, CPC do pvc black 4 core which although a litle stiff and shiny is great for 2 circuit cable.

[Jivemaster]

Terralec (dot com ) do a range of round easy coil speaker wire. Soft sheath in blue with non-mains core colours and "Loudspeaker" printed at frequent intervals on the sheath. There are 2 core from .75 to 2.5 mm2 and a 4mm2 4core and an asymetric 2.5+4.0mm2 multicore

 

LSC150R may well suit your needs

[Pete Alcock]

Hi Bruce,

 

My personal favourite cable is from CPC and is the ready made-up leads (avec speakons) manufactured using Klotz cable. It's really supple, coils nicely, matt finished and not expensive.

 

10m - CPC AVO8981 (£15.79)

20m - CPC AVO8982 (£23.17)

 

I use these because they're 2 x 4mm sq hence really low loss.

 

CPC website

 

ATB,

 

Pete.

[bruce]

Hi Bruce,

 

My personal favourite cable is from CPC and is the ready made-up leads (avec  speakons) manufactured using Klotz cable. It's really supple, coils nicely, matt finished and not expensive.

 

Pete.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Thanks Pete - I'll have a closer look at the CPC stuff. And we've got a corporate account with them, so there will be an additional discount ;)

 

 

 

Bruce.

[robloxley]

My personal favourite is Canford HPS-R as it's 2.5mm2, hardwearing & will also fit in XLRs easily. Cheaper, I'd go for TRS 2.5mm2. Unless it's for low-power applications I'd avoid anything below 2.5mm2, and for stage use would always go for black. If using PVC be careful near hot lanterns that it doesn't melt!