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[Richard Stringer]

I'm looking for some speaker cables, the best quality I can get for my pa system and don't know what to use. Do you guys know which ones are the best? By best, I mean sound quality.I've been told Van Damme is excellent cable because of sound quality and durability, but i'd like some views from you guys. Thanks.

[Tom Young]

Twisted pairs of the proper guage copper wire is all that is required for loudspeaker signals. Same for mic and line level, though these also require a proper shield.

Stranded conductors provide more flexibility. A flexible and durable outer jacket is also important.

There are no esoteric metalurgical properties or alternate conductor orientation characteristics that improve the sound over this.

In permanent installations it is not uncommon to use THHN, which is basic building electrical wire.

If there was anything to be gained by using better cable, we would. There is not.

[Richard Stringer]

What manufacturers of speaker cable or cable that would and could easily be used as speaker cable and give just as good result would you reccomend for the twisted pair Tom?

[Tom Young]

Belden, Gepco, Horizon, Whirlwind, Carol Cable, Canare, etc.

Due to the nature of your question I suggest that the Live Sound forum might yield more info and/or more qualified opinions.

I have not investigated "the best" portable loudspeaker cable in a very long time, due mostly to my focus on permanent installations.

[Richard Stringer]

Thanks tom, you've been a great help.

[Tim Padrick]

Buy ready-made cables from http://www.audiopile.net/products/Speaker_Cables/Speaker_Cab les.asp (except the Mondo ones), or roll your own from http://www.cameltraders.com/index.php?cPath=60_40

[Richard Stringer]

Thanks, but the only problem is i'm in the uk.

[Tony "T" Tissot]

Someone like Canford carries a large stock - and won't try to sell you on "magic" cable.

[Silas Pradetto]

You don't even need "speaker cable" for the job. Any standard 2 conductor or 4 conductor SJ cord will work. I use Coleman cable, Carol cable, and very minimally ProCo and Whirlwind if it was cheap.

edit: to remove phrase that made myself sound dumbererr than I already am

[Richard Stringer]

What thickness would I need to make sure the resistance doesn't cause power to get lost in the wiring? Would 2 x 6.0mm cable be ok? Or maybe 2 x 4.0mm?