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Cables and their impact on frequency response

March 25, 2007

Cables connecting various components of a sound system plays important role in the overall performance of your audio system. In any sound system, generally, the simplest electronic components with good response characteristics are cables. But, when you are setting up a listening room in your house, following two important factors can cause some impact on your cables.
  • Other electro-magnetic components nearby the audio transmission line.
  • Length of the cables, running from your receiver to loudspeakers.

Typically a cable consists of one or more signal conductors covered by insulation and shielded by a conductor mesh. Audio signal is carried in central conductors. The shielding conductor is ternimated in the electrical ground point in the circuit. The shielding conductor catches most induced static or radio interference signals, shunting them off to ground. In nornal cables, the Hum, caused by electromagnetic interference, is not attenuated by shields. In good cables, the Hum is cancelled by means of putting the shield conductor made of iron conduits, or more simply, twisting the dual conductors in a balanced circuit.

In cables, mostly in long cables, the frequency response issues are due to capacitance between signal conductor(s) and the shield conductor, and capacitance between the conductors themselves. Combined with the resistance of the conductors, this capacitance causes cables to form a R-C Low pass filters. Low pass filters, cuts the high frequency transmission. Hence, the sound you listen to, seem to loose the crispiness and results in overall dull sound. This effect increases as the cable length increases, though it depends on the output impendence of the driving circuit of your amplifier.

In some cables, the inductance between the conductors in combination with impendence of the circuit may result in forming a R-L high pass filter. High pass filter cuts off the low frequency signals. This will make your drum beats sound like wooden box. You will lose the punch, while watching action movies.

Nowadays, there are many technical advancements in the area of AV cables and connectors. You can find suitable cables from Monster cables, prelude audio and MIT cables.

It is worthwhile spending good amount in cables. Infact, the need depends on your AV receiver and loudspeker specification. Seek your acoustic consultant’s help, in selecting suitable cables.

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