Which is the optimal length of analogue interconnects?

[lejonklou]

The topic of how long analogue interconnects should ideally be has been around for as long as I can remember. I have never taken the time to seriously investigate it, but this weekend I had the opportunity to compare three lengths of Linn Black analogue interconnect that I made for customers. All three were soldered as equally as possible. These were the lenghts (measured when cutting, before fitting connectors) and my findings:

1. Linn Black analogue interconnect of 1 m with Black RCA's
2. Linn Black analogue interconnect of 3.55 m with Black RCA's
3. Linn Black analogue interconnect of 9 m with Silver RCA's

Most musical of these is number 1.

2 is a little rounded off in character. The difference is not big, certainly not how loudspeaker cables in these lengths differ. But 2 does have a little less energy. After a while, I get used to it and think it sounds good. When switching back to 1, each note appears a little more defined and precise. As if the music moved two inches closer.

3 is different from 2 but I have trouble deciding which of them is most musical. I seem to hear that the length is now increased, as it sounds a little more laid back than 2. At the same time, 3 also appear more pitch accurate and clean sounding (perhaps due to the better RCA). After five comparisons back and forth, I decide that 3 is the winner. Not an easy decision, though.

Rank:
1
3
2

Please note that these results might not apply to a different interconnect cable. The products involved might also affect the outcome. In the above comparison, the interconnects were used between a Sagatun stereo preamplifier and two Tundra Mono 2 power amplifiers.

If anyone gets the opportunity to make similar comparisons, please do post your findings in this thread!

[The FlatEarther]

Crikey Frederick, you were up late last night! Thanks for the post though, some very good work. Interestingly, I spoke to Chord Company about this topic just last week and their trials of best interconect lengths are 1.2m. This also coincides with what Naim supply as a standard length.

[anthony]

A common misconception is to cut the standard length in half, to obtain a better performance. I wonder the percentage contribution in difference is due to length, and how much the soldering?
Imagine the soldering is the major factor.

[Music Lover]

It would be interesting to compare shorter cables as well.
From a few dm to 1,5m or so.
As with K400, likely there is an optimum lenght.

[hcl]

It would be interesting to compare shorter cables as well.
From a few dm to 1,5m or so.
As with K400, likely there is an optimum lenght.

Indeed! 1.24 m is an intruiging length (though the "total" length might be the imporant parameter this requiring the initial cable length not be exactly 1/2 of 2.48 m).

[u252agz]

This is really valuable information for those of us with hi if racks far away from the speakers.


I have been quite happy with standard Linn silver interconnects and 9 m K200s to date, and can't wait to compare them with those 9m Blacks and 2.48m K200s.

Many thanks to Fredrik for making this information available to everyone.

[tokenbrit]

I have some 60cm interconnects made with Linn Silver cable and a set of Silver RCAs, soldered by Tom with Frederik's preferred solder & temp specs, I believe. These are not a 1.2m Linn Silver cut in half... I will try to compare the Silver shorties against a pair of regular, recent style Linn Silvers. I stopped using them as I had sufficient pairs of Silver such that I didn't need to use the shorties, but I can try the shorter length interconnects between pre- & power-amps* - the shorter length makes cable dressing easier. All I have done so far is to swap the shorties for the regular length Silvers from Linn - I'll let them settle in for a few days before switching back to the regular Linn Silvers for comparison. If the shorter length is close in musicality to the regular Silvers, I can put the regular Silvers to use somewhere else in the system...

* that's the only problem with Monos: the shorter interconnects don't tend to stretch the extra shelf if the system is arranged vertically in a single rack, or between racks if pre & power are arranged side by side ;)

[WIJI]

I had some 50cm unbalanced Linn Silvers made up by a main dealer a few years ago, using all Linn components. Although they allowed for a very neat installation, unfortunately they simply didn't perform as well as stock 1.2m Linn manufactured interconnects. There were no obvious signs of poor workmanship in the custom length cables, so I put the performance drop down to the cables being a sub optimum length, although the soldering techniques could also have been an issue.

Paul.

[lejonklou]

To evaluate the impact of cable length on sound quality, it's absolutely essential that the soldering is done the exact same way and at the same time.

When it comes to interconnects, the differences caused by soldering are much bigger than those caused by length. So the comparisons you refer to have little to do with length but a lot to do with soldering technique, metal compositions, flux and temperature.

[u252agz]

Today I compared the nine metre black interconnect ( with silver connectors) and 2.48 m K 200 vs my old standard 1.2m Linn silver and 9 m K200.

No contest - the long black interconnect and short speaker cable was so much better.

Obvious in seconds although I tried quite a few tracks from KDS and LP12 just to confirm. My 12 year old son also agreed with a quick listen and he has no preconceived notions or vested interests.

The timing was so much better - everything else became irrelevant.


The old cables did have more energy, louder with the same Sagatun volume,and more impressive 'sounds'. More Bass, but less quality compared to the 'new' cables.

But the shorter speaker cable and long interconnects just sound 'right' and are more enjoyable.

I was not expecting such a large difference.

The 2.48m speaker cable has to go in - the only question now is whether I use this long black interconnect for the AV receiver to Sagatun; and have a 9 metre Silver cable made up for the Sagatun/ Tundra link.

[u252agz]

As an afterthought I compared the 9 metre Black with my standard 1.2 Linn Silver, in my system with the long speaker cable. No contest - the Silver is better in all respects and by some margin.

My conclusion - in my system the optimal speaker cable (2.48 m Linn K200, according to the forum) is more important than the optimal interconnect between preamp and amp (1.2m Linn Silver)

I will probably end up with 9 metre linn Silver - interesting to see how that will compare with the standard Silver.

[lejonklou]

Thank you for your report, u252agz!

The results of your tests are what I suspected they would be. It appears to break the source first rule that a loss in the interconnect is less of a problem than a loss in the loudspeaker cable. But I agree with you that the differences between various lengths of loudspeaker cable are more fundamental in their nature. That length sets the pace of the system, does it not?

[u252agz]

Yes the timing and flow is the most noticable and striking difference.

The standard Silver and 9 m K200 did do some things better.

But the timing and flow seem to be more important, and makes the music more enjoyable.

[sunbeamgls]

I use 3m sliver single ended between KK/1/D and KCT/D and then 3m speaker cables (the cables I use are sold pre-terminated and 3m is the minimum length available).

This seems to work well, and upgrading the 3m of interconnect from black to silver was a good improvement.

Standard length silver in use between KDS/2 and KK/1/D too.

[u252agz]

I you ever had the opportunity to try 2.48m K200s in your system - it would be interesting to see what you thought.

I Had 9 metre Chord speaker cables ( not sure which type but very chunky and white) but changed to K200s at the same time as I replaced two sets of Blacks to Silvers, so could not assess the speaker cables themselves.

I do wonder how much of the differences in cables ( speaker as well as interconnects) is as much to do with the connectors and quality of soldering as it is with the properties of the cable itself.