quote:

Originally posted by Derivative No I'm not an engineer period. 15 quid or less I could agree on because on the scale of things that isn't a huge amount to pay and if you get a rugged cable with a good warranty then its a good deal. I disagree about the oxygen content of copper making a difference and the type of insulation (dialectric) because the science is on my side. The oxygen content of copper is an insignificant variable and only becomes an issue (mechanically) when it is heated until it is molten and the hydrogen in the air binds to oxygen forming steam (which can result in bubbles which make the copper more brittle). Electrically, it makes almost no difference when you use any commercial grade copper wire. You can even shoot Belden an email and ask them about the oxygen content of their copper wiring and you will find it is a standard 99.95% copper. They don't sell 100% oxygen free copper and their cables are used in industries were cable design actually matters (like long distance telecomunications and transmitting digital TV signals and stuff).

Actually, 99.5% is what manufacturers in the cable industry consider "oxygen free copper". Most high end cable manufacturers use this as their benchmark. The purity (of which oxygen is a compenent) is important to signal effeicieny (on an electrical level). I won't shoot belden an email (because I used to work for them a couple of years ago).

The dialectric is critically important for balanced cables (for obvious reasons). not so much in terms of electrical efficiency for unbalanced cables (as we are dealing with relatively high DC voltages) but it is still important as this will decide the flexibility and the coverage, which becuase of their mechanical influences can ultimately affect the electrical qualities (if you get what I mean). Your science is on your side but these other factors do have a large baring on the signal quality so cannot it cannot be used as the absolute rule.

EDIT: for speaker cable in studio situations (unbalanced by the meter):

Van Damme Studio Grade Speaker Cable

For Balanced cables (manufactured to your needed length)


Van Damme TRS (Neutrik) Leads