Found some QED Silver XT (Hi-Fi) speaker cable... anyone used similar for bass cab connection?

[warwickhunt]

Clearing out my room I came across some QED Silver Anniversary XT speaker cable (approx 3m).  I don't need it for my Hi-Fi so I'm toying with the idea of cutting it in half, putting a set of Speakons on it (the cable should be heavy duty enough to handle amp>cab 16AWG) and comparing it to my @obbm speaker cables.  Has anyone done similar with high end / hi-fi cables and more importantly... could you hear a difference?  

 

 

[naxos10]

No experience of QED cable in an bass amp cab sense but always wired the hifi speakers I built with 'specialist' cable, but I would doubt you would hear much difference at bass frequencies in a band mix. If lucky you may find a slight improvement in note definition.

 Can't hurt to try it - whats the sq mm size of the Anniversary XT?

[warwickhunt]

Specifications

Wire gauge - 16 AWG

Unique SPOFC triple braid 5 x 16 x 0.1 mm

X-Tube™ technology

Jacket OD - 3.90 mm

Cross-sectional area - 1.50 mm²

Loop resistance - 0.021 Ω/m

Capacitance - 50 pF/m

Inductance - 0.47 µH/m

Dissipation factor - 0.0006

Ideal for use in all installations

Stranded Diameter - 2.25 mm (min)

[itu]

No chance to measure any difference. Someone may claim other. If the cable length was 300 ft. we might hear some loss in the highest area in comparison.

[naxos10]

The spec would intimate a decent current carrying capacity so it looks suitable so go ahead and try it. What is the diameter of the cable currently fitted to your speaker?

You could do a before and after sound test but I doubt if you will hear any difference due to the time it would take to change the cable between each listen. What you will have is the knowledge that you have fitted decent cable which is probably better than that the manufacturer installed.

 

[warwickhunt]

My present cables are Klotz 2 x 4mm which are very good cables but it's one of those things where you wonder could the mumbo jumbo around the hollow core and silver plated OFC actually be 'heard'.  Only way is to make up a cable I suppose and swap between... very unscientific and will I play exactly the same each time (I could loop myself and play back through amp/cab).  I'm sure you could put an analyser on it but I'm just interested in good old cloth ears!   

 

Time to make a cable I suppose.    

[Dan Dare]

QED silver is decent stuff. The only thing I've noticed when making up cables for my hi-fi out of it is that the silver conductors are more brittle than copper. Not an issue of your cables lead an easy life, but may not stand being repeatedly trodden on, etc.

[warwickhunt]

21 minutes ago, Dan Dare said:

QED silver is decent stuff. The only thing I've noticed when making up cables for my hi-fi out of it is that the silver conductors are more brittle than copper. Not an issue of your cables lead an easy life, but may not stand being repeatedly trodden on, etc.

 

Yeah, valid point.  As it happens I only had 1 loose Speakon connector and I wasn't going to try and solder it to a 1/4"!  I'm still going to test it even if I don't use it long term.