What criteria should you take into account when choosing speaker cables ?

The role of the cables lies in their function of connection between the amplifier and the speakers, thus ensuring the necessary power to the speakers for sound reproduction. Cables play a crucial role in transmitting the most subtle nuances of your music; their importance should not be underestimated.


In fact, lower quality cables can introduce various disturbances, such as limitations in signal dynamics and bandwidth or even alterations in the volume and coloring of certain audio frequencies.


In other words, substandard cabling will have a direct impact on the quality of the signal transmitted to the loudspeakers, compromising the fidelity of sound reproduction.


When choosing your power cables, it is important to consider different factors.


  • The nature and quality of the conductive metal used: a copper cable will not produce the same sound as a silver-plated cable.
  • The nature or quality of the insulation: the material which insulates the cable plays a significant role in its sound reproduction.
  • The presence or absence of possible shielding: the cable's ability to protect itself against electromagnetic interference can influence the quality of the signal.


For high-end hi-fi installations, it is recommended to choose cables of the same level in order to maintain the high linearity allowed by the related elements of the system. The higher the overall quality of the system, the more crucial the role of the cable becomes.


As each speaker is connected to the amplifier, you will need to choose cables of suitable length and section when installing the system.


To cover lengths between 3 and 10 meters, we recommend the use of pure OFC (deoxygenated) copper speaker cables :

  • - with a section of between 2 x 1.5 mm² for your compact or bookshelf speakers.
  • - with a section between 2 x 2.5 mm² for your floorstanding speakers.


Beyond 10 meters, we advise you to retain a section :

  • 2 x 2.5 mm² for your compact or bookshelf speakers.
  • 2 x 4 mm² for your floorstanding speakers.

Inside Focal cables


JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Subscribe to our newsletter and receive a preview of the latest audio innovations from Focal and Naim.