is this true about untinned speaker wire?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=29003
Printed Date: May 16, 2024 at 4:17 PM
Topic: is this true about untinned speaker wire?
Posted By: kure
Subject: is this true about untinned speaker wire?
Date Posted: March 25, 2004 at 9:47 AM
" Oxygen Free Copper:
< RANT > As you have probably noticed, wire designated as OFC wire usually has a clear insulation and the wire is bright and shiny underneath the transparent insulator. Well... It is nice and shiny for a while but after a short time (actually from the time it is drawn), it starts to oxidize (unless the wire is kept in an oxygen free atmosphere). When copper oxidizes, it becomes a less effective conductor. This means that, in time, the wire's current carrying capabilities will become significantly reduced. The problem is made worse by having many very small conductors. This creates even more surface area which makes the oxidation process even more efficient. In my opinion, if you are designing a system of any type for long term use, I think the better choice is a 'tinned' copper wire. In this type of wire, the copper is plated with tin (maybe a lead/tin alloy) or similar conductor which will not oxidize as quickly and never as completely as the bare copper. As a side note, this has nothing to do with the copper being 'oxygen free'. It has everything to do with the fact that the wire is unprotected (untinned) and is finely stranded. I used OFC wire in this example because most OFC has many fine unprotected strands.
< /RANT > ""this info wuz from https://www.bcae1.com/ has anyone had these experiences and in thsi case should i buy TINNED speaker wire for example this RF speaker wire https://www.sounddomain.com/sku/ROCCPSBF
Replies:
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: March 25, 2004 at 10:37 AM
Yes, it is true. It can be measured with sensitive equipment. Can the difference be heard? Usually not since the difference is in the micro-ohms range. But true audiophiles do not take chances and try to decrease circuit resistance at every oportunity by doing things like using oversized conductors made from material like silver-plated (better than tinned) copper.
Posted By: kure
Date Posted: March 25, 2004 at 2:47 PM
so go with tinned or untinned twisted?
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: March 25, 2004 at 2:52 PM
Get the best wire you can afford.
Posted By: kure
Date Posted: March 25, 2004 at 3:25 PM
i guess i'll go with knuconecptz thankz
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: March 25, 2004 at 3:28 PM
Hey, you can't go wrong with them. They make great cables.
Posted By: popkorn
Date Posted: March 25, 2004 at 9:51 PM
is it wrong that I paid 79 dollers for 3 meters of RCA cable?
Posted By: Alpine Guy
Date Posted: March 25, 2004 at 11:13 PM
yes
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2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: March 25, 2004 at 11:38 PM
You can twist your own bulk wire and get the same noise-cancelling effects as expensive brand cables. The twist creates the cancellation. And what is long-term use, anyway? Just replace your cables when you change cars. You can put a wire loom over the exposed sections of twisted wire to make it attractive (like the loom that you put around the wires in the engine compartment). It's cheap and available in hardware stores. ------------- Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.
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