whats the difference between...

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Foo-bu

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...speaker cables and patch cables? they look exactly the same but how are they different and how can you tell them apart
 
Foo-bu said:
they look exactly the same
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I have never seen a speaker cable that looks like a patch cable. Speaker cables tend either to be two fat, cheap conductors, or they are expensive gold and silvery things covered in buzzwords.

Patch cables typically have three conductors (or two if they are unbalanced) and shielding, and are very soft and pliable, and come in a multitude of colors.
 
Pardon me if I'm off base on this, but I'm posting this as much for my own clarification as I am to answer the original question.

The difference between speaker cable and patch cable is far more than sheilding or appearance. Each carries a different impedance rating, which if not matched properly, can be disasterous to your equipment.

Is speaker cable lower impedance than patch cable? I think this is the case. Who cares? Well.... if you hook up a speaker cabinet to a power amp, for instance, with a guitar patch cable, the amp has to work way harder (to make up for the higher impedance of the cable) in order to drive the cabinet. The result... a blown amp.

Maybe I have this reversed.... not enough impedance between amp and speaker means too much power to speaker, therefore blown speakers?

Either way, it is my understanding that it is critical to use the proper type of cable.

Generally speaker cable that is on a single quarter inch plug is heavier, and thicker (as mentioned above) but often has the word "speaker" on it somewhere on the sheilding. They can be basic black with silver plugs, which makes it very easy to mix them up with your patch cables.

Chris
 
Chris Tondreau said:
The difference between speaker cable and patch cable is far more than sheilding or appearance. Each carries a different impedance rating, which if not matched properly, can be disasterous to your equipment.
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Both speaker and patch cables should have as low impedance as possible, so I don't think this is true. The only cables I have ever seen having impedance ratings are high-frequency coax cables.

Maybe I have this reversed.... not enough impedance between amp and speaker means too much power to speaker, therefore blown speakers?
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I think both are true, basically, but the speaker cable will make almost no impact on this, it's the speaker and amp impedance that are important.

Either way, it is my understanding that it is critical to use the proper type of cable.
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Definitely. But that's because the cables are completely different, not because if their impedance. Speaker cables are made for carrying high currents, and as such need loads of copper, but no shielding.
Patch cables are made for carrying rather weak currents, and so do not need loads of copper, but the do need shielding.
 
can someone post a close up pic of the two so i can distinguish them? i work at a music store and everytime i pass the cables they look the same to me other than having speaker written on them
 
Well, then. There ya go!

I'm sure the people at the music store will be able to tell you which is which too.
 
Foo-bu said:
can someone post a close up pic of the two so i can distinguish them? i work at a music store and everytime i pass the cables they look the same to me other than having speaker written on them
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Doesn't your music store use labels or tags on the merchandise? There is no sure way to distinguish a guitar cable from a 1/4' speaker cable on the outside. That's why they usually have a fine print on the cable saying SPEAKER or INSTRUMENT.
 
Foo-bu.........

If you go to the link I provided in my first post in this thread, your questions will be answered. :cool:

spin
 
I take that back....

It's not just a cool site, it's a completly kick ass site!!!

thanks
 
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