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Maximising System Potential
Interconnects
and Speaker
Cables
An often-ignored area in high fidelity systems is the cabling connecting th
e
various components. Interconnect leads should be high quality cable wit
h
substantial terminations. Gold plate is inherently resistant to corrosion, and a
n
excellent conductor. The presence of corrosion induces distortion and poo
r
conductivity will seriously interfere with sound quality. Terminations must plu
g
snugly into sockets to maintain maximum conductivity and to avoid annoyin
g
earthing problems.
Speaker cabling is equally critical. Use only solidly constructed cable of hig
h
purity copper or silver content. Again, gold plated terminations ar
e
recommended, of the spade or banana plug type. Use cables of equal length an
d
as short as possible to maintain uniform electrical resistance at the lowes
t
possible level. If your amplifier is closer to one of your speakers than the other,
avoid coiling the longer lead as this can create inductance, with the potential o
f
reduced high frequency performance. Keep all connections clean, firm an
d
tight. The traditional adage that a chain is only as strong as its weakest lin
k
most certainly applies to audio systems.
Bi-amping
Bi-amping uses two similarly powered amplifiers, with exactly the same inpu
t
sensitivity so that, when the same input signal is provided to each of them, th
e
output level will be exactly the same. This can often be done with one powe
r
amplifier connected to the tweeters and another to the woofers, as it spreads th
e
power requirement between the two amplifiers. Bi-amping can achieve greate
r
control, dynamics and resolution than if you try to run everything from a singl
e
stereo amplifier.
Positioning
Ancillary
Equipment
Positioning of your source equipment (tuner, video, disc, tape, record, decks) is
important. To avoid airborne frequency peaks, place them well away from you
r
loudspeakers and not in the corners of your listening area.
Loudspeaker
Placement
Loudspeaker placement is a controversial issue; suffice to say that room corners
are generally the worst situation. Everything which constitutes your listenin
g
area, including the materials used in its construction, will affect the sound itsel
f
and the sound stage created. Equally, you have to live with your system an
d
therefore compromises will have to be made in line with your particula
r
priorities. The best advice we can give concerning the choice of loudspeakers is,
establish clearly in your mind your requirements; listen to many makes an
d
models, and if at all possible audition your preferred choice in your ow
n
listening area and trust your own ears.
Matching
Amplifier and
Speaker
Ratings
When matching speakers to amplifier wattage – ordinarily, the amplifier shoul
d
have a continuous RMS output power rating the same as or higher than th
e
speakers at the same impedance rating. For example, 160W
RMS
, 8Ω speakers
driven by a 160W
RMS
at 8Ω amplifier is not as ideal as 120W
RMS
, 8Ω speakers
driven by a 160W
RMS
at 8Ω amplifier.