When you add cable quality to the mix things can get complicated. Many audiophiles claim that the quality of an audio cable can affect the quality of sound coming from the audio source. They believe that the type or quality of audio cables does not produce a measurable effect on sound quality. Similarly, does cable length affect sound quality?
When the headphone cable has a longer length, it will have higher resistance. However, for a typical dynamic headphone, higher source impedance can cause a change in the frequency response of the audio. Therefore, headphones' cable length of two or three meters will just do fine and not affect the quality of sound.
Subsequently, question is, does high quality speaker cable make difference? Using high-quality speaker connectors are more important than using exotic and expensive loudspeaker cables . Expensive, exotic loudspeaker cables do not improve or fix an error in an audio system, unless the cables and connectors have a very poor quality.
One may also ask, does power cable affect sound quality?
It is no snake oil after all - power cords do affect the sound quality. While it may be questionable whether it "improves" the sound, what power cables actually do is get rid of EMI/RFI pollution and remove other problems associated with standard power cables, allowing your system to perform better.
Are good speaker cables important?
Thicker wires are better: It's true that for long runs, thicker wires are better at reducing the effects of resistance. But for most set ups (those with speakers within 100 ft of the amplifier), 16-gauge lamp cord is fine. For speakers 100 to 200 ft. from the amp, experts suggest use 14 gauge.
Related Question Answers
How long does speaker cable last?
3 years
Do audio cables really make a difference?
Cables make a difference, but it's a smaller difference than upgrading speakers, electronics, or turntable systems. If you already have a really good system, cables are the next logical upgrade step. The Cable Company has a large selection, and the best way to buy any headphone is to listen before you buy. Does length of HDMI cable affect performance?
Like many video, audio and data cables, HDMI cords can suffer from signal degradation at longer lengths—50 feet is generally considered the maximum reliable length. And it's rare to see an HDMI cable longer than 25 feet in a store. With a collocated setup, you'll probably never need more than 6 feet of cable at a time. What is the best quality aux cable?
The Best Aux Cable - iXCC 3-Ft Tangle-Free Male to Male 3.5mm. Previous.
- Anker 3.5mm Premium Cable. Previous.
- AUX Cable iVanky 3.5mm. Previous.
- Monster Cable AI 800 MINI-7. Previous.
- AmazonBasics 3.5mm Male to Male Cable. Previous.
- Poweradd Nylon Braided 3.5mm Cable. Previous.
- AUX Cable Syncwire Audio Cord - 3.5mm. See More Reviews.
Do speaker cables need burn in?
Burning-in cables Rather like direction, the degree to which sound quality changes varies from cable to cable. As a general rule though, most speaker cables need at least 100 hours use before all the improvements they will bring to the performance of the system can be properly experienced. Does length of subwoofer cable matter?
The length of the cables makes no difference for speakers or subwoofers. The cable could be 10 miles long, and the length of the cable still wouldn't matter at all (although the electrical resistance would matter for that extreme length of cable). Can speaker cable be joined?
Yes. Twist them together first, then apply the electrical tape. It may not be the most secure way of joining the two cables, but it will work. There could be a slight change in volume from one speaker to another because there is a power loss from a extremely long cable, but it's unlikely. Why does my aux cable Sound bad?
Some devices might output too strong of a signal with their volume level set high or to the maximum. This can cause poor and distorted audio from connected speakers. Make sure the 3.5 mm plug is fully and securely inserted into both the device and the speaker. The issue could be related to the audio cable. Do expensive power cables make a difference?
The truth is, that expensive cables are the least effective way of improving your sound getting better speakers, a cleaner source or a better amp will always make MUCH more difference. Are all amp power cords the same?
If you cant find the amp cord use one from a computer. Same thing. Its just a cord. Yeah, the cords for computers, guitar amps, televisions . . . they're all pretty much the same. Does PSU cable matter?
They're just cables. Some might be of higher quality than others (especially higher power units). Those don't matter. They all have to end the same, but each psu can output them in different order, since they are sorted by the wiring of the cable. Should power cables be shielded?
Power Cord Shielding Shielding a power cable is unadvisable. It will add significant capacitance to the cable with minimal positive benefit. There is some benefit to shielding if you are trying to protect unshielded nearby unshielded interconnects from the fields generated by the cord itself. How do power cables affect signal transmission?
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is caused when the flux lines of a strong magnetic field produced by a power conductor cut other nearby conductors and cause induced voltages to appear across them. When signal cables are involved in the EMI process, this causes a noise in signal circuits. Is thicker speaker wire better?
Thicker wires are better: It's true that for long runs, thicker wires are better at reducing the effects of resistance. But for most set ups (those with speakers within 100 ft of the amplifier), 16-gauge lamp cord is fine. For speakers 100 to 200 ft. from the amp, experts suggest use 14 gauge. What is the best speaker cable to buy?
Thick wire (12 or 14 gauge) is recommended for long wire runs, high power applications, and low-impedance speakers (4 or 6 ohms). For relatively short runs (less than 50 feet) to 8 ohm speakers, 16 gauge wire will usually do just fine. It's cost-effective and easy to work with. Do banana plugs affect sound quality?
The Truth In-Behind Banana Plugs While there might be some truth into the fact that sound quality isn't wholly transformed; these plugs still perfect the sound system in many other useful ways. Most banana plugs are screwed into place now, thus this design allows for the copper wire to be inserted relatively easy. Does splicing speaker wire reduce quality?
Splices degrade the sound: Audio experts have determined that properly spliced and soldered wires do not change or degrade the sound coming out of speakers. Although an oscilloscope can detect splices by identifying small voltage drops or spikes, the anomalies are too small to hear. Are expensive speaker cables worth it?
An expensive cable might sound worse on your system than cheap cable. Or it might sound better. The important thing to remember is that even if it does sound better, it's such a minuscule improvement that pretty much anything else you can do will have a greater effect on the sound. Do high quality RCA cables make a difference?
"no cables don't really make a difference if they're triple-shielded or twisted pair. they'll reject noise either way and carry an electrical signal from one device to another. Does Speaker Cable deteriorate with age?
Use doesn't age speaker cable and most decent cable should last, essentially unchanged, pretty much indefinitely (3 years is nothing). Is 24 gauge speaker wire good enough?
For the wire's impedance, thickness (gauge) of the conductor and the length of run from amp to speaker are the major concern. Counter intuitively, the higher the “gauge” of the wire, the thinner it is. So, a 24-gauge wire is half the diameter of a 12-gauge (and about one fourth the impedance). Is oxygen free speaker wire better?
According to tests, oxygen-free copper also runs cooler than other conductors. It's more resistant to shorts, more durable and long-lasting, and is far less likely to corrode, due to the reduced oxygen content—at least, that's the common wisdom. Is 18 gauge speaker wire OK?
All speakers work best with the largest gauge wire possible, 18 being the "standard". The manual states that up to 20 ft an 18 gauge wire is fine with 16 and 14 gauge for longer runs. Can speaker cable be too thick?
Strictly addressing what you are suggesting, no, thicker wire actually makes it easier for a low powered amp to run a speaker because the resistance per foot goes down as the wire gauge gets fatter. Whether it sounds better is a matter of taste. 
