Change speaker cable

[mobily]

Hey all,

How often do people cut back an inch on their speaker cable so that the segment exposed to the air is thrown away? I have heard the cable an oxidise ruining sound quality... is this true?

[Slimbert]

Copper oxidises pretty quickly and yes you should cut the end off your speaker cable once in a while.

I'm not sure how often it should be done but I guess I do it once every 3-4 months on average. But only on the back of my amp as all my speaker ends are fitted with banana plugs which stops/slows the process.

[MikeFaulkner]

I have always tinned bare wire using a good quality silver solder. So the amplifier end of my cable is tinned, the speaker end uses soldered banana plugs. I have always figured that a tinned connection is better than a bare connection, and a soldered plug connection is better than a bare (screw type) connection.

I examined the amp end connections the other day and they are as shiny bright as they were when i did them.

Oh dear have I just opened a great big can of worms.

[Mark.Yudkin]

Oh dear have I just opened a great big can of worms.

Not really - soldering a gold-plated banana plug or spade lug is the best solution for long-term connectivity.