Mains cable for Loudspeakers

[Isobarik]

Anyone use mains cable to connect to their loudspeakers? I remember people using it instead of the multi stranded cable that was readily available.
Was it just a fad?

 

[geetee1972]

Tricky to plug in at either the speaker or the amp end.

 

[Jim Audiomisc]

Yes, I've used it. Seemed OK. IIRC the UK 'red' cable for outdoor use only has two leads so may also be convenient.

 

[Mike Reed]

Used 2.5mm2 many times in the past for Rogers LS6A and others for garden use. Fine but unsure if it would be good for all installations (depending on amp maybe?) or equal to properly designated cables.

 

[Roog]

Mains cable will be fine, I would go with 2.5mm2. Another option which I used was to use single core cables, all sorts of sizes available all the way up to really big! Available on a drum in a range of colours for wiring electrical panels etc. I had 2.5mm2 in white, I loosely twisted them together in pairs, just remember to tag the + & - before your twist them, so that you get the polarity right .

I recall that before Naim got into selling branded speaker cables themselves, they recommended using single core cables twisted.

 

[daytona600]

Used Twin & Earth as a skint student

 

[booja30]

Anyone use mains cable to connect to their loudspeakers? I remember people using it instead of the multi stranded cable that was readily available.
Was it just a fad?

You mean like cutting the ends off an extension cord and stripping the wires right? That’s stranded cable right? When you used the word “instead” it made me think you were talking about something with a solid core.

I’ve used 2,5mm^2 extension cord and it was fine. I remember cutting up an IKEA extension cord when I lived in Spain and used that pretty much the whole time.

 

[Isobarik]

You mean like cutting the ends off an extension cord and stripping the wires right? That’s stranded cable right? When you used the word “instead” it made me think you were talking about something with a solid core.

I’ve used 2,5mm^2 extension cord and it was fine. I remember cutting up an IKEA extension cord when I lived in Spain and used that pretty much the whole time.

Thinking more of twin and earth! Sorry to confuse booja30

 

[daytona600]

Cryo twin & earth !

 

[Roog]

I know its not quite the same thing but using the bright orange cables used for electric lawn mowers and hedge trimmers is popular amongst guitarists for their speakers because its durable and visible.

 

[Rockhopper]

I remember a few years ago at an audio show that Tim de P was using mains cable between amp and speakers.
sounded ok, Tim knew what he was doing.

 

[herb]

2.5 twin and earth solid core worked well for me into 57s until I bought Naim NAC A4 in a completely different flat earth system.

 

[daytona600]

Cryo twin & earth !

 

[little mick]

Used flex mains in long runs to keep costs down pretty sure it was used in some old speakers as internal wiring and I would of thought good for
bi-amping

 

[Rexton]

Anyone use mains cable to connect to their loudspeakers? I remember people using it instead of the multi stranded cable that was readily available.
Was it just a fad?

Peter Walker used to use lawn mower cable.

 

[Robert M]

No, but I've used top quality cat 6 cable.

 

[chiily]

Peter Walker used to use lawn mower cable.

And likewise, I use speaker cable to carry power to my lawnmower.

 

[RJohan]

Anyone use mains cable to connect to their loudspeakers? I remember people using it instead of the multi stranded cable that was readily available.
Was it just a fad?

In the olden days, pre late 1970's, it was what everybody used. Then the fad with groteskly expensive loudspeaker cables arrived. And has stayed. HiFi's equivalent to SUV's.

 

[Salamander]

I've got to ask, why would you even be considering using power cable to connect your speakers with so many speaker cables available?

 

[chartz]

Because it still is copper and it is much, much cheaper perhaps?