I made this a thread hoping for discussion, but the mods deleted it. I'll try here:
After seeing this thread about speaker cables (and coming to learn that $500+ for a pair of 3 foot speaker cables is a thing), I began to realize that I know absolutely zero about what a speaker cable of sufficient quality consists of.
Since I first got into home audio (around two years ago I believe), I made my own cables. I use 12g copper speaker wire with standard banana clips and was certain I was doing my due diligence by measuring twice and cutting once.
But after watching that video and reading the comments in that thread, I'm wondering-- are my speaker wires enough? Are they holding my system back? Should they be shielded? Am I missing out by not using twisted pair? What insulation should I use? Should I buy from an audiophile cable maker? Is that overkill?
Some of the cable discussed in that thread can cost over $2,000. Other people in the thread dismissed expensive cables altogether, mentioning things like physics. Still others linked to less expensive audiophile cable sites that while cheaper are still audiophile cable sites listing some of the same buzzwords i'm seeing from the $2,000 a pair guys.
The problem is guys like me who aren't familiar with the physics of audio cables have no clue what is good and what is smoke and mirrors.
I read a how to on making speaker cables, bought the material I thought was sufficient, and haven't given it a second thought. Now I'm not so sure that that was the best route.
Searching on the sub seems to have just as many people who seem very informed on the matter defending both points as there are ones pushing back on them.
What's worse, the audiophile component review sites for speakers and headphones-- the same ones that seem to be trusted in this sub for their accuracy and thoroughness-- are reviewing audio cables that are more expensive than my entire setup in a way that contradicts the very stuff this sub says.
Who does a beginner believe? Where does a beginner start?
Should cables absolutely be shielded? Insulated? Should they be twisted? Is any of this even audible? Are the cheap micro gauge cables that come with those plastic Best Buy surround-sound-in-a-box kits enough to drive our $6,000 floor standers? Those wires follow the laws of physics too, don't they?
For that matter-- what are the laws of physics in relation to audio cables?
What should a beginner believe, and how do we tell the difference between a smart investment and a scam built for suckers without investing $2k on cables?