How to Twist Speaker Wire

[Kingrex]

AJ or other builders. I have Pure Audio Project speakers. You have to lace the wires between the crossover and drivers. I have a bunch of cable but I'm unsure bow best to twist it. I have heard the right hand rule. To me that seems to be a counterclockwise twist. Yet, I have lots of cables twisted clockwise.

Any suggestions.

 

[AJ Soundfield]

You have to lace the wires between the crossover and drivers.

No, you don't, other than for looks. There is no reason to do this with speaker crossover wiring. It represents a poor (or worse, audiophile) level of understanding of the underlying physics. The varying external mag fields of speaker motors will not induce voltages across the wires. Twisting will actually increase the lengths of wires used, increasing inductance, resistance etc. There is no reason to do this other than audiophile monkey see monkey do, misunderstanding its use elsewhere. Now if its for looks, get a drill and twist away...though too tight a turn will have a negative effect.

cheers,

AJ

 

[Kingrex]

Thanks, Since they are open baffle and exposed, I want to keep some order. I made a light twist counter clockwise. About 1 twist every 4 inches. Is that Ok, or would you lay them together and lightly wrap a string or piece of fishing line around them.
Thanks again.

 

[AJ Soundfield]

Thanks, Since they are open baffle and exposed, I want to keep some order. I made a light twist counter clockwise. About 1 twist every 4 inches. Is that Ok, or would you lay them together and lightly wrap a string or piece of fishing line around them.
Thanks again.

That light of a twist is fine. I generally only use fishing line for fishing, so can't advise further there.

 

[Speedskater]

There are three reasons to twist speaker wires:

1] mechanical. to make a cable out of individual wires.
2] to reduce loop inductance. twisting holds the wires close together. the closer together, the lower the loop inductance.
3] to reduce interference pick-up. not very likely in speaker cables, but it does happen.

Note:
1] all multi-conductor cables should be twisted to reduce interference pick-up.
2] it doesn't matter if it's right-hand or left-hand twist.