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Speaker cable length for L/R channels critical?

I have a good system that utilizes some older discontinued speaker cable that I like a lot. It is 10 feet in length and I need that length to reach the left speaker. The amp is not (and cannot be) located center between the speakers.
The problem is I wish to biwire and have an opportunity to buy a 6 foot pair. The question is this: Can I run both 10 foot cables to the left speaker and run the 6 foot pair to right without any wierd effects like "ghosting" or have one channel be clearer or louder than the other? Any ideas? Thanx
ceb222
hbrandt
272 posts
 
My guess is that it probably wouldn't matter....but I personally wouldn't do it. I'd wait from a 10 ft. pair for the R.
barrelchief
290 posts
 
Recommedations have always been to keep the cable lengths the same, regardless of speaker distance from your amp. It has to do with keeping the timing the same between your left and right channels.
mt10425
1,138 posts
 
At the speed that sound travels, I'm not sure you could hear any "timing" differences in 4ft of cable. I've done it both ways without hearing any differences. However, if the cable differences were say, 10ft or more, there may be some audible timing issues. Recommendations seem to be to keep everything as symetrical and equal as possible (cable length, toe-in, speaker types, etc).
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