Flat Speaker Wire

Flat Speaker Wire Information

If you are like most people looking for flat speaker wire, then you are also asking yourself which type of wire is the best? The answer is probably not what you think…. For most people, if you use a product from a reputable company you will not be able to hear any difference. Now before you go off on a rant saying that you have seen frequency charts using sophisticated test equipment that shows certain brands of flat speaker wire offer a superior and flatter bandwidth curve, let’s be real here. In my previous statement I said you wouldn’t be able to HEAR the difference.

Isn’t that why you are installing the speakers, to hear what comes out of them?  I realize that some people will still buy the most expensive flat speaker wire because they swear ‘they’ can hear the difference. Not to offend anyone here but I believe these are the same people that swear their cars run better after they have the oil changed.

So if you want to spend more money than is necessary that is certainly your prerogative. Some of the claims by some of the manufacturers is border line ridiculous. Things like “increased integrity when bent” sounds a lot more high tech than ‘more flexible’. Or how about ‘higher conductivity’. Since conductivity is a measure of resistance (ohms), the thicker the gauge of the wire, the lower the conductivity (assuming they are made of the same materials). So I guess if you wanted some really low conductivity you could solder some coat hangars together. The point I am attempting to make here is that the claims of superiority of various brands of flat speaker wire are, for the most part, just marketing ploys. Do not be mislead.

Some boast greater insulation. I guess this is good if you plan on walking on the wire. Or superior RF shielding. Unless you are running your speaker wires near some other electrical wires you most likely don’t need extra shielding. Most electronic devices these days are required to meet RF radiation standards set by the US government so in actuality they radiate very little RF interference. While on this subject I will mention that RF shielding is more important in vehicle installations than in home installations. Sometimes the electrical systems in vehicles can develop problems and you can hear the engine in the stereo. If that’s the case, they buying higher RF shielded wire may help, but the best thing to do is get the damn electrical system fixed.

Most teenagers think that if you put the treble to max and the base to max in your car stereo it sounds the best. Anyone with half a brain knows better but they will swear it sounds best. It’s because that’s the myth that has been perpetuated in that age group. Funny thing how they get smarter when they get older. No different than someone telling you that you should buy a certain brand of speaker wire because its absolutely the best. In most cases, it just like the teenager cranking everything to the max level, a perpetuated myth.

Now that I have probably offended just about everybody,  here’s a list some of the major brands of regular speaker wire and flat speaker wire and speaker cable connectors too. Note that not all of them make flat speaker wire:
XLO
StraightWire
TARA Labs
Kimber Kable
Vampire Wire
Monster Cable
Tributaries
Nordost
Transparent Cable

Flat Speaker Wire

I will say it again, any flat speaker wire or cable from a reputable cable manufacturer will do a fine job for you. If you are worried about somehow damaging your reputation, just tell your friends that you installed the brand that happens to be ‘hot’ within your group of friends. They will be impressed, you will have saved a lot of money and no one will ever know the difference.

As a final not, if you happen to be member of the ‘audio police’ I know I have offended you and I have one thing to say….”Get over it”.

I guess if you can’t be the best at Rock Band, then spouting specs and technicalities to your friends about flat speaker wire may be better than nothing.