cabs- speaker cable vs instruement cable

[spkirby]

Hi all,

recently got a 1X12 cab to fatten up the sound of my 1 x 12 combo amp. I've connected my amp to the new cab using a high quality guitar cable and it all works...however EB sells speaker cable...

What difference would I expect from using a dedicated speaker cable instead of a decent guitar cable?

Thanks
SteveK

 

[candid_x]

Steve, a guitar cord should never be used as a speaker cable, and if you’re running a tube amp, it can be even more detrimental. Invest in a quality speaker cable. I have a few EB speaker cables and they are first rate.

http://www.swrsound.com/support/setuptips.php

"Onward to your speaker cabinets. Speaker cable should be made of 18-gauge, or heavier, wire. (The thicker the wire, the lower the gauge, so 18-gauge is heavier than 20-gauge and so on.) Do not use instrument cables to hook up your speakers. This can result in intermittent power loss, cause your power amp to oscillate, and damage itself and/or your speakers, and render the cables useless for any purpose."

 

[mhorse]

Steve, a guitar cord should never be used as a speaker cable, and if you’re running a tube amp, it can be even more detrimental. Invest is a quality speaker cable. I have a few EB speaker cables and they are first rate.

I knew there was a difference between guitar and speaker cable, but I never came across a semi-decent explantion as to why. The way I understand it is that only a very small current goes through your guitar cable from the pickups to the amp, and much higher current goes from your amp's power section to your speaker, and you need very different cable characteristics to accomodate it. It would be nice if someone with more EE/Physics background could explain it better.

 

[candid_x]

I knew there was a difference between guitar and speaker cable, but I never came across a semi-decent explantion as to why. The way I understand it is that only a very small current goes through your guitar cable from the pickups to the amp, and much higher current goes from your amp's power section to your speaker, and you need very different cable characteristics to accomodate it. It would be nice if someone with more EE/Physics background could explain it better.

Maybe this helps: http://volcanoboy.com/modules/articles/article.php?id=18

 

[58super]

I knew there was a difference between guitar and speaker cable, but I never came across a semi-decent explantion as to why. The way I understand it is that only a very small current goes through your guitar cable from the pickups to the amp, and much higher current goes from your amp's power section to your speaker, and you need very different cable characteristics to accomodate it. It would be nice if someone with more EE/Physics background could explain it better.

How about an analogy. Its like running water through a hose. For a given amount of water the bigger the hose the less the pressure of the water coming out of the hose is. If there's too much water going through the hose, the hose will burst. In the case of the current coming out of the amp the wire is like the hose. If you put too much current through the wire, the wire will burn. That's why speaker wire is a larger diameter wire than guitar wire.

Hope this helps.

 

[mhorse]

How about an analogy. Its like running water through a hose. For a given amount of water the bigger the hose the less the pressure of the water coming out of the hose is. If there's too much water going through the hose, the hose will burst. In the case of the current coming out of the amp the wire is like the hose. If you put too much current through the wire, the wire will burn. That's why speaker wire is a larger diameter wire than guitar wire.

Hope this helps.

That much I understand! I'm not stupid, I took college physics and all! The article candid_x pointed to actually does a good job explaining it. It's not only about the thickness of the wire, it's much more about the way they are made.

 

[58super]

That much I understand! I'm not stupid, I took college physics and all! The article candid_x pointed to actually does a good job explaining it. It's not only about the thickness of the wire, it's much more about the way they are made.

I didn't assume anything about your IQ or know anything about what you took in college.

If you want technical specs and info go to Belden at http://12.161.118.79/03Products/03_WhitePapers.cfm#Ent and there are plenty of articles there.

If you put more current through a wire than is intended you get smoke whether its shielded or not.