16AWG cable for patch cords?

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 25 Aug 2005 12:33 pm

Is there any reason not to use this speaker cable for some patch cords, all carrying powered signals, between rack effects, mixers, recorders etc? I have a lot of it lying around, and I need to makes some patch cords.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by David Mason on 25 August 2005 at 01:35 PM.]</p></FONT>

Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 25 Aug 2005 9:24 pm

There is "what's good engineering practice"
and "what you can get away with."

In general it is risky to use unshielded cord for line level audio lines, between your mixers and such because of noise ingress from wall warts, non linear power spplies, power transformers and such.

You may connect it up and not hear any problems untill the day comes when you are on stage and need to crank up the volume.

The noise floor will always be higher on the unshielded line. It just depends on what is acceptable to you.
Using twisted pair will help somewhat.

For me, after more than 45 years working in radio, television, and sound. I wouldn't
use unshielded cable on any low level audio signal. (low level = anything before the power amplifier.)
The problems with unshielded line will show up at the worst time.

Blake

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 26 Aug 2005 3:53 am

David, Blake is telling it like it is. Don't even think about using speaker cable for line level audio lines. Line level audio lines require shielded cable... period. Just try one... you will hear "hum".

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Chick Donner · Post by **Chick Donner** » 26 Aug 2005 8:15 am

Several reasons. First, the characteristic impedance of speaker wire is the same as what's called a "twisted pair;" 600 ohms. Remember, a guitar pickup is about 50 to 100 thousand ohms IMPEDANCE (NOT DC resistance), and a solid state amp input is in megohms, while even a Fender twin is 47000 ohms. BAD mismatch right there, before we talk of hum. Not to mention the very large capacitance of such wire. The name of the game is to get the capacity down, a la George L or Belden low capacity cable . . . then you can talk about the shielding and hum.

Bottom line, use the right wire for the job.