Most people recommend wiring a sub using the RCAs. I do this myself, using a nice stereo pair from some extra preouts on my integrated. The question is, however, Could I get as good or better results running a pair of speaker wires to the speaker inputs and NOT using the outputs from the sub to the main speakers? I would still run the 'mains' full range and use the subs x-over, but save the preouts for some other use....maybe some future HT use, or another, remote amp?
Would there be any advantage to changing to the speaker wiring. Since the sub has such hi input impedence, I suspect I could use 16 or 18 ga. or even smaller for the 8 or 10 foot run (max) required.
Thats how I am forced to run mine, Leo, and it works fine. The option for me is to split the balanced cables and feed the sub, but it aint worth my time.
You would have to try it, fortunately, thats easy to do.
Agreed on not using the sub out for the mains, I dont want some crappy sub in my electronics.
I try to keep my speaker cables from my Bryston Powerpacs (in fact, the PPs were designed to be mounted directly on the back of the speaker) as short as possible. My dealer explained to me that the shorter the cable, the higher the damping factor of the amplifiers. Not sure if this is just snake oil.
I'm not about to drill holes in my Totems and hang monoblocks from them, though.
No really. Shorter speaker wire means longer IC. Though I would think that a high quality XLR would be better for a run than speaker cable but that really depends on the quality of the XLR cable vs. the speaker cable.
I was thinking duct tape George. Maybe I can find some nice mahogany finish duct tape?
Seriously though, if I ever when the short speaker cable route, I'd run XLR's to the amps instead of single-ended RCAs.
Speaking of that, I was in speaker to my dealer the other day about cables and asking him what he thought about switching from RCAs to XLRs and he said that unless I was getting system noise, or running really large lengths, I'd probably see no benefit switching to XLRs.