should wiring connections be regularly replaced/remade?

"sillyputty" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]

> I recently purchased a JBL Venue Sub10 subwoofer. In the
> owner's manual it states, "All wiring connections should
> be inspected and cleaned or remade periodically. The
> frequency of maintenance depends on the metals involved
> in the connections, atmospheric conditions and other
> factors, but once per year is the minimum."

Given the quality of the typical amateur-grade connections, probably not bad
advice.

> I don't have anywhere near a high-end system: NAD AV-716
> receiver, Music Hall MMF2.1 turntable, JBL 2600 bookshelf
> speakers (plus subwoofer) and use 16 gauge zip wire for
> the speakers. I checked all the speaker connections and
> cleaned or cut off any corroded ends.

Then you followed the letter of the JBL recommendation.

> The zip cord is
> probably 5+ years old. I didn't think insulated 16 gauge
> wire could degrade, but can it? I live in the Pacific NW
> where the humidity is relatively low. Thx.

Wire that is not excessively flexed does not usually degrade. And example of
a wire that might be excessively flexed would be a mic cable that gets very
frequent use. Nothing at all like your typical home speaker cable.

I've seen power cable in metal conduit get eaten through by electrolytic
corrosion, when it was soaked in water for several months. Generally
insulated wire that is just lying there on your living room rug is good for
decades and decades.

Almost all wire failures happen at the terminations.

Though I agree with Arny, I'd go even further and say that connections can
loosen for no obvious reason (though temperature changes are the most-likely
cause). You should check the connections once a month just to make sure
they're clean and tight.

William Sommerwerck wrote:
> Though I agree with Arny, I'd go even further and say that connections can
> loosen for no obvious reason

On a speaker cabinet, there's certainly going to be vibration. I've
often found speaker leads looser than when I put them on. But honestly,
I've never had an ear-opening experience when tightening the connections
unless a lead has come off completely.


--
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([email protected])

On 2008-07-16, sillyputty <[email protected]> wrote:
> I recently purchased a JBL Venue Sub10 subwoofer. In the owner's
> manual it states, "All wiring connections should be inspected and
> cleaned or remade periodically. The frequency of maintenance depends
> on the metals involved in the connections, atmospheric conditions and
> other factors, but once per year is the minimum."
>
> I don't have anywhere near a high-end system: NAD AV-716 receiver,
> Music Hall MMF2.1 turntable, JBL 2600 bookshelf speakers (plus
> subwoofer) and use 16 gauge zip wire for the speakers. I checked all
> the speaker connections and cleaned or cut off any corroded ends. The
> zip cord is probably 5+ years old. I didn't think insulated 16 gauge
> wire could degrade, but can it? I live in the Pacific NW where the
> humidity is relatively low. Thx.

I used to tin the ends of speaker cables if the connection was to bare
wire.

I can see the argument for it - metal to metal reactions causing
problems. It's not something I've seen done though.

- Richard

"Richard Corfield"
<[email protected]> wrote in
message
news:[email protected]
> On 2008-07-16, sillyputty <[email protected]> wrote:
>> I recently purchased a JBL Venue Sub10 subwoofer. In the
>> owner's manual it states, "All wiring connections should
>> be inspected and cleaned or remade periodically. The
>> frequency of maintenance depends on the metals involved
>> in the connections, atmospheric conditions and other
>> factors, but once per year is the minimum."
>>
>> I don't have anywhere near a high-end system: NAD AV-716
>> receiver, Music Hall MMF2.1 turntable, JBL 2600
>> bookshelf speakers (plus subwoofer) and use 16 gauge zip
>> wire for the speakers. I checked all the speaker
>> connections and cleaned or cut off any corroded ends.
>> The zip cord is probably 5+ years old. I didn't think
>> insulated 16 gauge wire could degrade, but can it? I
>> live in the Pacific NW where the humidity is relatively
>> low. Thx.
>
> I used to tin the ends of speaker cables if the
> connection was to bare wire.
>
> I can see the argument for it - metal to metal reactions
> causing problems. It's not something I've seen done
> though.

The biggest problem I've seen with tinning wires is that bending stress
tends to build up where the solder stops. Unless the cable is properly
stress-relieved, that's where it is likely to break. IME it is more likely
to break there, than if it was left as bare strands.

If you want speaker cables to last, you either provide mechanical stress
relief for the cable a few inches back from the connecting point (a wire
clip/clamp screwed into the back of the speaker) or you use a
professional-grade speaker connector like a SpeakOn that provides the same
benefits because massive stress relief is built in to the connector.

I've seen people go the pro route with small monitors and home speakers. A
pole socket on the bottom or one side, and SpeakOns for the wiring. It sort
of took me back at first, but it works a treat. The techno look is in!
Enjoy! ;-)

On 2008-07-16, Arny Krueger <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> I used to tin the ends of speaker cables if the
>> connection was to bare wire.
>>
>> I can see the argument for it - metal to metal reactions
>> causing problems. It's not something I've seen done
>> though.
>
> The biggest problem I've seen with tinning wires is that bending stress
> tends to build up where the solder stops. Unless the cable is properly
> stress-relieved, that's where it is likely to break. IME it is more likely
> to break there, than if it was left as bare strands.
>
> If you want speaker cables to last, you either provide mechanical stress
> relief for the cable a few inches back from the connecting point (a wire
> clip/clamp screwed into the back of the speaker) or you use a
> professional-grade speaker connector like a SpeakOn that provides the same
> benefits because massive stress relief is built in to the connector.

Then you may have solder within the connector, or it may be clamped in
place. Presumably the solder one, with the proper strain relief, would
be better because it's a more permanent alloying of the metals and won't
suffer the corrosion issue if that's an issue.

> I've seen people go the pro route with small monitors and home speakers. A
> pole socket on the bottom or one side, and SpeakOns for the wiring. It sort
> of took me back at first, but it works a treat. The techno look is in!
> Enjoy! ;-)

I've wondered about speakon in the home, if only to allow more portable
speakers off my amplifier's "second speaker" ports when entertaining.

- Richard

On Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:24:18 +0100, Richard Corfield
<[email protected]> wrote:

>> I've seen people go the pro route with small monitors and home speakers. A
>> pole socket on the bottom or one side, and SpeakOns for the wiring. It sort
>> of took me back at first, but it works a treat. The techno look is in!
>> Enjoy! ;-)
>
>I've wondered about speakon in the home, if only to allow more portable
>speakers off my amplifier's "second speaker" ports when entertaining.

But there really isn't any need, is there? :-)

On 2008-07-16, Laurence Payne <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>> I've seen people go the pro route with small monitors and home speakers. A
>>> pole socket on the bottom or one side, and SpeakOns for the wiring. It sort
>>> of took me back at first, but it works a treat. The techno look is in!
>>> Enjoy! ;-)
>>
>>I've wondered about speakon in the home, if only to allow more portable
>>speakers off my amplifier's "second speaker" ports when entertaining.
>
> But there really isn't any need, is there? :-)

Not really no. We just turn the ones we've got up louder.

Like many things it would be one of those luxuries. The previous owners
of the house had one of those little all-in-one sound systems sitting in
a picture frame size alcove in the wall. Out of the back of that ran
some incredibly thin (thinner than bell wire) 'speaker wire' which still
has one of those spring clip plates in under the eaves outside the
kitchen at ground floor level. If we were to resurrect such a system
Speakon would be a sensible choice at both ends of the link.

- Richard