External passive crossovers: question about cabling...

[lunchmoney]

So the x-overs for my SR71's are external...

When running the wires from the x-over to the speaker, is it ok to bundle the wires?

Currently they're not bundled, just loose and sloppy looking (see pic below).

I'm going to redo them, and I'm hoping I can bundle them to make them nice and tidy. Heat shrink tubing every 8" or so.

The wire I'm using is plain old Dayton 14 gauge... no fancy shielding.

Will this be ok? Thanks.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/djnelsen1/SR71_Z57.jpg

[jcpahman77]

I don't see why not. It's not uncommon for pro-audio setups to run bi-amped signals via speakon cables -- and those tend to be very high wattage setups.

[Face]

You'll be fine.

I would cover them in tech flex for an even neater appearance though.

[lunchmoney]

I don't see why not. It's not uncommon for pro-audio setups to run bi-amped signals via speakon cables -- and those tend to be very high wattage setups.

Don't those have fancy unobtainium shielding?

[jcpahman77]

Don't those have fancy unobtainium shielding?

I wouldn't worry about it much in a home setup. Yes at the power levels they are running there probably is some shielding (wasn't thinking clearly there for a second) but then at their power level there needs to be. I really wouldn't worry about it at 130w of power.

[maynardg]

I use multi strand 13ga and Speakons.

[ligs]

Don't those have fancy unobtainium shielding?

I used to twist pair of wires together in wiring some tube amplifiers to avoid hums. I don't see any need for twisting speaker wires but you can heat shrink some of the loose wires to make them neat, however.

[djg]

www.bluejeanscable.com has Canare 4S11 four conductor cable at $1.35 a foot. Looks very nice, will go well with your new receiver. You saved so much you can't afford not to buy some, lol.

[Wolf]

I use multi strand 13ga and Speakons.

Maynard- if that's the Dayton wire, you should probably check your local electrical contractor's houses for Carol SJ 300V wire instead. They will cut to length for you, and it's generally cheaper than the Dayton stuff for basically the same thing.

Just a thought,
Wolf

[greywarden]

The only time I've had a sheilding problem was when one of my speaker wires was crossing an AC cable (they were touching) in my super static-y carpeted basment with a baseboard heater...

[maynardg]

Using 4-way, 8-conductor Speakons for my cables, I just made a couple of different lengths and have no need for more. I used some from Markertek and paid about $2.50. Internally, I use generic 14 or 16 ga.



Maynard- if that's the Dayton wire, you should probably check your local electrical contractor's houses for Carol SJ 300V wire instead. They will cut to length for you, and it's generally cheaper than the Dayton stuff for basically the same thing.

Just a thought,
Wolf

[Deward Hastings]

There was a discussion about crosstalk in speaker wires on the ORION Users Group forum a while ago . . . I was surprised at the levels actually measured (as little as 40dB down between pairs in some "bundled" wire). With the wire you're using it's probably not a problem, but putting a half twist per foot on one pair certainly wouldn't hurt . . .

Actual measurements a bit down thread . . .

http://orion.quicksytes.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=109

[lunchmoney]

With the wire you're using it's probably not a problem, but putting a half twist per foot on one pair certainly wouldn't hurt . . .

I'll go ahead and do that. Thanks!

[billfitzmaurice]

IMO the main concern here is wasted copper, and the $ it takes to buy it. Externals are the way to go for tweakability, but there's no need to have them remotely placed. On the back of or underneath the enclosure works just fine, and then you only need to run one cable.

I was surprised at the levels actually measured (as little as 40dB down between pairs in some "bundled" wire)That falls into the 'what you can't hear doesn't matter' category. OTOH if the golden eared oddiophile set loses sleep over what can't be measured but they think they hear then they'd go into conniption fits over what can be measured (but still can't be heard). :D

[Sydney]

lunchmoney:
I used 2 runs ( per side ) - JSC #5990 14(14/30) CL-3 Hi-Strand Audio Cable
75°C, 300 V, SR White PVC Insulation.
( I bought on sale )
Each run has 4 color-coded #14 wires ( twisted )
( Each driver section uses all 4 conductors ( cross-sect. equiv.to #11 - very low DCR. )
easy to pull as well

[jcpahman77]

IMO the main concern here is wasted copper, and the $ it takes to buy it. Externals are the way to go for tweakability, but there's no need to have them remotely placed. On the back of or underneath the enclosure works just fine, and then you only need to run one cable.
That falls into the 'what you can't hear doesn't matter' category. OTOH if the golden eared oddiophile set loses sleep over what can't be measured but they think they hear then they'd go into conniption fits over what can be measured (but still can't be heard). :D

Lunch's SR71's are already externally crossed over. I think he's just looking for a way to clean up the wiring a bit.

[lunchmoney]

Lunch's SR71's are already externally crossed over. I think he's just looking for a way to clean up the wiring a bit.

Correct.

I initially made them external because I made the mistake of ordering the "premium" crossovers from Madisound, which have gigantic foil inductors. It wasn't reasonable to try to fit them in the cabinets. Ugh.

[billfitzmaurice]

Lunch's SR71's are already externally crossed over. I think he's just looking for a way to clean up the wiring a bit.I understand that, I'm pointing out the benefit of having an external crossover mounted on or near to the speaker, rather than remote. False bottoms have long been a favored method.

[Deward Hastings]

That falls into the 'what you can't hear doesn't matter' category.Many, perhaps most, cases . . . or maybe not. But considerable effort is made in the ORION crossover to keep signal off the W22 around its 5 kHz cone resonance . . . no point in knocking that down in the crossover and then giving it back in poor implementation at the speaker leads . . .

Of course I'm notorious around here for insisting that one of the most common flaws in the application of metal cone drivers is insufficient suppression of cone breakup . . . :D

[Deward Hastings]

IMO the main concern here is wasted copper . . . On the back of or underneath the enclosure works just fine, and then you only need to run one cable.Wasted, schmasted . . . it's generally easier to "hide" the crossover wherever you've hid the amps. And it's always easier not to have to pull new wire when you go active . . . :D

[MSaturn]

Your shop is cleaner than my damn bedroom.