The difference here is attributed to the nature of instrument cables to transmit relatively low-level audio signals transferred between devices. However, because the signal is so much stronger than any outside interference, they don't need to be shielded. Speaker cables are for speaker connections only . I wish the hype was true, I've spent quite a bit on that crap. It features heavy gauge silver-plated, PTFE insulated conductors inside a PVC jacket that in turn is protected by a dual layer foil and braid shield with . . D'Addario Planet Waves Classic Series Speaker Cables The smaller wires of the instrument cable are shielded in order to cope with its high impedance setting, acting to reduce disturbance from other electronics and nearby radio signals. Cable Construction of the . While your amp will still work initially, the high amount of current going through the instrument cable's small gauge wire can actually melt the cable! For connecting amp head to your cab. Interconnect cablesmay come in different connector types, including RCA and XLR varieties. The key difference between instrument and speaker cables are instrument cables are shielded with much smaller wires and speaker cables are unshielded with larger wire gauges. A speaker cable has two identical wires whereas an instrument cable has a single wire and a shield, the shielding helps in minimizing the noise produced by your equipment. Why do you need arguments for this? So even if they look the same on the outside, the two types of cable are quite different and not interchangeable. Feb 13, 2011. What else? Instrument cable is braided shield, speaker cable is two conductor unshielded (usually.). Dec 20, 2000 Leicestershire, UK. They're just different. The wires inside of a cabinet are usually 14ga or 12ga wire, which is about the same for most decent speaker cables. If you used a signal wire where you should use speaker wire, you might just make a really long fuse. That being said, an instrument cable will work 'ok' as a speaker cable in a moment of need, but a speaker cable will sound horrendous plugged into an . However, speaker cables tend to be larger while guitar cables make use of smaller wires. Instrument cables are shielded, meaning that they will block out most of the outside electrical noise. Speaker vs instrument cable has nothing do do with cable lengths - they are different types of cable, designed for different uses, and should not be mixed up. If you were to put a speaker cable in place of an instrument cable, you'll get unwanted noise such as buzzing or humming. Instrument cables have braided wire around the outside of a single shielded wire. While speaker cables connect an amplifier to a speaker cabinet, the instrument cables connect an instrument to an amplifier. The unhappy result is that a lot of amp power is converted to heat and never even reaches the speakers. These cables consist of a primary current-carrying wire called the signal wire. Furthermore, this may cause a short, damaging your amplifier. Instead, try using our Chord Epic speaker cable fitted with quarter inch jack plugs (XLR and Neutrik Speakon connectors are also available) between your amplifier and speaker cabinet. I have a bunch of them (monster, Mogami, waves) I dont see enough difference to justify the price difference, especially with speaker cables. Speaker Level. At high signal levels, though, trouble brewsall that amp power attempts to flow through the instrument cable's too-small conductor. And if instrument cable is used for the speaker connection, the small gauge wire can cause voltage drops and damage to the amp. Instrument cables are shielded and use much smaller wires and speaker cables are unshielded and use huge wire gauges. They are devices specifically designed for different purposes and getting the two mixed up can be dangerous for. #14. Yeh. Speaker level signals are post-amplification. Speaker cable does not need to be shielded, but it needs to be a higher gauge to carry more current. Instrument Cables The anatomy of these cables is quite different because they are designed to perform completely different tasks. Yes. APPLICATION: Suitable for Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, electronic organ, Audio, amplifier, sound card, mixer, microphone, etc. Instrument cables are shielded with much smaller wires, while speaker cables are usually not shielded with larger wire gauges. List of Top Rated Instrument Cable Vs Speaker Cable from thousands of customer reviews & feedback. An interconnect cable is used to connect devices that use line-level signal, such as connecting an audio interface to studio monitors. Guitar Amp Speaker Cable Right Angle Guitar Amp Speaker Cable Extension How To Tell The Difference Between Speaker Cable And Instrum. I would recommend using instrument cables everywhere except when connecting to a speaker. IMPORTANT: You should never plug a speaker level signal into a source . The instrument cable has a signal wire and shield, whereas the speaker cable contains two identical individual wires, one connected to the sleeve and one connected to the tip. Being the music instrument manufacturers or the music band technical manager, you must know these five key differences between speaker cables and instrument cables. With my Tele on a tube amp using what I believe is instument cable, I get noise in some settings. The instrument cable contains a signal wire and a shield, while the speaker cable contains two identical wires. With a speaker cable, two speaker wires are a pair running through the cable. In fixed studio installations, you typically run everything with balanced "microphone-quality" cable, just so you don't have to care about which jacks are microphone jacks and which are not. Speaker cables have two shielded wires and no braided wire. These speaker wires tend to be heavier in gauge. You should not mix them up. Main Differences Between Speaker Cables and Instrument Cables. A speaker cable has no use for shielding because the signal from the amp is huge and the impedance of the speaker is very low to the point that outside interference and RF noise won't be a bother. You will probably hear a constant, high-pitched squealing sound and a lot of static. 1 Guitar Cable (Straight to Straight . Worth the extra money, or marketing gimmick? These signals are much higher in voltage than line level and require speaker cables for safe signal transfer. I just got my BH5H and 112 the other day. Y, Yasoo, Instrument cables are shielded for lower noise, and speaker cables are not. Typically without RF shielding (RF stands for radio frequency). Instrument cable isn't necessarily a braided shield, it's just shielded. Im using a 4way and S1 switches. In this video, you'll find out how instrument cables (guitar cab. Instrument cables are designed to transmit relatively low-level audio signals from one device to another, while a speaker cable is designed to carry the signal from an amplifier which is strong enough to power a speaker. There are more dangers like melting of cables . Speaker cable conductors are also much thicker than instrument cables, which allows them to carry much higher power. After a line-level signal enters an amplifier, it exists to the speakers at what is called speaker level. Instrument cable needs to be shielded to prevent radio frequency from invading it. I have just noticed in the pdf owner's manual of my soon to arrive Triple xxx, that they advise to NOT plug the head to the cab with an instrument cable and to use a speaker cable. Since an instrument cable is used to connect your instrument to the amplifier in a high impedance environment, shielding is essential. Currently, I'm using a 2ft patch cable lol. Keep power amps close to speaker. Guitar Cable Characteristics Guitar cables are also known as instrument cables and, as you might guess, are primarily used for instruments. In a practical sense: balanced cables for when you need distance, unbalanced is fine for short distances. If you use speaker wire instead of signal wire, you are wasting . Use . Is there a difference between a 1/4-inch instrument cable and a 1/4-inch speaker cable? I read the owner's manual for each and both make the admonition of usingspeaker cable rather than shielded instrument cable. Instrument and Speaker cables may look the same, but they couldn't be more different. . From face value, both instrument and speaker cables have the same appearance and are easily confused with each other. Updated On May 2022. Speaker vs. J, jeffsw6, Member, - Mike May 25, 2001 #11. Using an instrument cable in place of your speaker cable can cause catastrophic damage to your amplifier. In fact, both cables need each other if you're at a concert. Instrument cables are designed to carry low voltage signals, while Speaker Cable has a higher capacity and carries more power between the amplifier head and speakers in your cabinet. So, in effect, instrument cable is pretty much unbalanced microphone cable. 1. Speaker cable is 2 conductors, instrument cable is 1 conductor and a grounded shield. Rockin John. In order to accomplish this: 1. I've never tried a high-end cable for the first time and thought I got my moneys worth. Thanks If you use a speaker cable in place of an instrument cable, you will get a lot of noise from your amp, monitors, even (theoretically) your cell phone. Now, before I run out and buy a dedicated spkr cable, I had to wonder if a 5W amp is going to be a problem with a short run (6") i. Speaker cables are used for transmitting high level sound whereas instrument cables are for low level sound . It's not a great idea to substitute one for the other. If you use an instrument cable as a speaker cable, you're probably OK at low signal levels. Speaker cables need to have large conductors compared to instrument cables. The components that differentiate an instrument cable from a speaker cable are the wiring and shielding. While line level cable can be made cheaper without harming the sound. I've done a search and found nothing, so my question is : what's the difference. Signal cable will almost always be a small gauge, 22-24 AWG, with a shield. Using larger wire and shorter speaker cable length will dramatically improve power amp/speaker performance. You need the instrument cable to transfer its signal before the speaker cable transmits its signal to the speakers. This is because there is no shielding to preserve your instrument's signal, and all that RF interference . Most digital and analog equipment will transmit line-level signal between one another. 771 Reviews Studied . Guitar Cable. 2. 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