Why is speaker cable unshielded

Is shielding worth the added cost to your project? Are there any downsides to using shielded speaker cable? Speaker cables maintain a high signal to noise ratio SNR because their load impedance is low usually 4 to 8 Ohms and their current high.

Any noise coupled onto the speaker wires will have current a magnitude of order less, such that it can be considered irrelevant for normal listening. In most cases shielding speaker level cable is done as a precautionary means for the benefit of other low voltage cabling running in close proximity. If you have an unshielded microphone or other unshielded low-voltage cabling running parallel and within close proximity to the speaker level cabling, i.

In general if you are not sharing a cabling path with other low voltage signals un-shielded speaker cable is recommended. Shielding is recommend when sharing the same direct cabling path with other small signal low voltage cabling which should also then be shielded.

If you are installing speakers in a few rooms this price difference is nonconsequential. If you are designing part of a campus then not only do you want to consider the cabling price, but also the additional labor to terminate the shielded cabling. Using shielded speaker wire does not produce cleaner audio signals; it can however protect the audio signal being transmitted from unwanted noise.

Noise sources can come from electronic transformers, fluorescent ballasts, nearby radio antennas, large motors, etc. However, as previously alluded to, it is more likely to have unwanted noise introduced on the amplifier input than the speaker level output.

The introduction of the shield does introduce additional capacitance as seen by the amplifier which may be an issue for amplifiers that have a poor stability design typically older or cheap equipment. For these amplifiers the added capacitance can affect the amplifier feedback circuitry causing signal overshoot or oscillations causing an audible difference in sound output. That said, for most reputable amplifier manufacturers this added capacitance will have no impact on the output, so leave your vintage amplifier gear at home and you should be fine.

For practical purposes you would need a really long shielded speaker run to introduce sufficient capacitance to cause any issues. Un-shielded, twisted pair speaker cabling should be a minimum requirement for noise rejection.

Having the twisted pair provides any extraneous noise to be added to both positive and negative cable equally thus canceling out at the load or speaker in this case. Avoid any straight speaker cable such as lamp cord style cabling for your pulled connections.

The shielding can be a braided wire mesh or foil wrap around the one or two wires. November 05, Read More. September 22, September 15, Despite what it might seem if you listen to a lot of pop music, guitars are still central to a vast majority of music styles. So, if guitar has anything to do with your music, getting the most out of your sessions is crucial to getting the mix right in the end.

International Sales. Frequently Asked Questions. Firmware Download. Become a Dealer. Sing to the Lord with the harp and the voice of the psalm. Carvin Corp. Most cables are made of a copper core with some sort of metal connector often nickel and a polyester or rubber coating. Many high-end cables often use oxygen-free copper cores very pure, for exceptional signal transfer with gold connectors gold transfers electrical currents well, and also resist corrosion.

Generally speaking, a heavier gauge is preferred, as it allows the most signal to transfer think of a water hose; a bigger hose allows more water to flow through. Also remember that shorter distances are easier on your signal. The main difference between the construction of an instrument cable or a speaker cable is that an instrument cable is shielded, whereas a speaker cable is not.

Instruments put out a very weak signal path as compared to an amp. For this reason, instrument cables are shielded in order to keep unwanted RF interference extraneous noise caused by other electronics nearby to a minimum. Amps put out a lot of power. Therefore, there is less of a need to keep out RF interference, as the signal is already powerful enough to resist the phenomena on its own. This is why speaker cables are generally unshielded. So what happens when you make the mistake of using the wrong cable for the wrong function?

If you use a speaker cable in place of an instrument cable, you will get a lot of noise from your amp, monitors, even theoretically your cell phone. You will probably hear a constant, high-pitched squealing sound and a lot of static.

Using an instrument cable in place of a speaker cable, however, is much more serious. Since the amp is attempting to put out far more power than what the cable is made to handle, the amp and speakers, for that matter get a little confused. Unfortunately, this instrument cable problem just throws a huge curve-ball to the amp, and it strains itself to push through the cable. The result can be damage to your speakers, your amp, or both.

I doubt it. Just go to the nearest music store and buy a speaker cable. Again, there are options like oxygen-free copper, gold connectors, and heavy gauge speaker cables that can be expensive, but any cheap speaker cable will be better than using an instrument cable. Your donations will be used to cover No Treble's ongoing expenses, and all donations come with a reward.

Learn more. Instrument cables just went up in smoke. I am a big fan of better cables as the last longer than cheaper ones. However the idea of them sounding better is crap. There were no differences in sound quality, nor were there any differences in noise levels.

You are right about ONE thing though: Paying 10 times more for a cable does NOT ensure good or better sound quallity, but I gues it improves your chancees. I have been a pro musician for a lifetime — amongst other things I play the tuba, severel electric basses, and an electric homemade 5 string doubble bass.

My father who is a musician too, playes the tuba, accoustic doubble bass and a homemade electric 5 string doubblebass.

There can bee an extraordinairy difference between how the instrument sounds throug two different cables. Especially regarding the low freqency instruments, physically demanding more of the equipment, to reproduce their true sound. When testing cables in combination with my basses, especially the doubble basses — I have experienced playing on my usual cable which made the bass sound ok — but then I changed and tried out another new cable — and suddently the sound of my instrument opened up — the harmonics of the instrument came up front, and suddently it was possible to hear the real woody-soul-sound of the bass.

As I said earlier, Paul D is right about ONE thing: Just buing a new more expensive cable does NOT ensure you a better sound, many of the cables actually sounds alike, no matter the price. But I gues the chances might be better, with the more expensive cables, the factures more likely have better tecnicians, with better knowledge and ears ;-. The right sound is a combination of instrument, cables and euipment off cause ajusting can make a diference too ;-.

Output power speaker cables are generally not shielded because of capacitative effects that increase with the length of the cable. What is a bandpass filter? The author never once compares cheap cables to fancy ones.

But his declaration regarding the benefits of using a cheap speaker cable over a fancy instrument cable to connect an amp to a speaker is inarguable. Unless, of course, you are playing a doubble bass!