Are Expensive Speaker Cables Actually Worth It? A Definitive Guide

It is a question as old as stereos.

Published January 19, 2025

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It is a question as old as stereos: how much do the cables in your system affect the sound?

The main problems with assessing cables are psychological. Placebo effect and comparative listening play havoc with our judgments. Sometimes you just hear what you want to hear, especially if you’re trying to justify a pricey purchase.

Blind A/B tests, where the listeners don’t know what they’re hearing, are the more or less the gold standard of the hi-fi scene, and yet they’re rife with problems. Comparative listening is not how we actually listen to music, and the effort of comparing, which relies on short term memory, engages areas of the brain that aren’t engaged when just chilling out and listening.

Sometimes you just hear what you want to hear, especially if you’re trying to justify a pricey purchase.

Though the brain scanning technology exists, just about no one has studied the impact of making blind comparisons on how we perceive sound (because medical research is rightfully prioritized). And with all that in mind, some audiophiles have reported not being able to discern between high-end cables and a coat hanger in blind tests, like a sommelier picking the $8 table red over the $125 Barolo.

So how does one reliably assess a cable? The answer lies in measurable physical specifications of cables. But there are still some traps to avoid.

Let’s get physical: speaker cables

When it comes to conducting electricity — which is what cables do when they form a path for fast-moving electrons — there are some basic physical phenomena to consider. And based on the nature of physics alone, we can rule out some variables that almost certainly don’t have a perceptible effect on sound.

1. Capacitance

The ability of a conductor to store an electrical charge.
While a cable may do this, it is highly unlikely for even a low-quality cable to store a charge that will impact a stereo system. It would be hard to find a cable with an inappropriate capacitance rating.

Affect on sound: Little, if any

2. Inductance

The tendency of an electrical conductor to oppose a change in the electrical current going through it, thus creating electromagnetic fields.

Though inductance provides a number of essential forces within stereo components, even basic cables in a relatively normal stereo system do not generate inductance worth considering because, unless you are making cables very very wrong, the materials used are appropriate for the application.

Affect on sound: Little, if any

3. Resistance (impedance)

The tendency of a component in an electrical system to resist the flow of electrical current.

Length and gauge (thickness) of a wire will determine a speaker cable’s resistance to some degree. Therefore, when buying speaker cables, it’s important to know the resistance of the speaker the cable will feed, as well as how far away that speaker is from the amplifier. Be sure to use equal lengths for both the left and right channels so that resistance is matched.

Affect on sound: Some! Cables can produce enough resistance to hinder the performance of a stereo system.

Raise your shield: analog interconnects

Electricity is noisy, especially in cities where thousands of newfangled electronic devices are drawing on old public power systems. Radio frequencies can add noise to an electrical system. Also, electrical components themselves produce electromagnetic fields, especially power amps, computer monitors and televisions.

Speaker cables are not shielded. The current from an amplifier to a speaker is strong enough that outside interference isn’t an issue. Interconnects between components, however, should be.

Shields are either made from a copper mesh, a solid metal wrap (copper or aluminum) or a conductive polymer. These shields are wrapped around the conductors and then wrapped in the outer material of the cable (rubber or another polymer, sometimes braided nylon fabric). Shields are typically grounded at both ends (though sometimes just one end is grounded in the case of ground loops).

Don’t pay extra for conductive polymers unless you’re planning to handle the cables regularly. For home stereo use, a metal shield is a solid choice.

Metal mesh and conductive polymers are preferred in recording studios because they can be physically handled for years without breaking. Full metal shields are excellent but best for permanent installations in which the cable will stay put and the shield will not get physically worked.

Find out what kind of shielding is used in the cable you’re buying, and make sure it’s appropriate for your use. Don’t pay extra for conductive polymers unless you’re planning to handle the cables regularly. For home stereo use, a metal shield is a solid choice.

What to look for in cable construction

1. Make sure the cable is well built

The critical points for any cable are the solder joints between the wires and the connectors at the ends. The type of solder used is hard to determine but silver solder is preferred as it is very conductive.

When buying cables, ask to see images of the solder joints, or, even better, open the connector to investigate the connections (but be careful if you’ve not done this before).

A good solder joint is clean, shiny and has ample solder. A bad solder joint is dull and gloopy; sometimes there’s no solid contact between wire and terminal.

2. Get good connectors

Good connectors are a must but they don’t have to cost a fortune. Very few cable companies make their own connectors, so you’re likely to see the same ones used across many brands and price points.

Proprietary connectors drive up prices, of course. But their benefits are negligible compared to standard third-party options.

3. Consider gold for exposed parts

Gold is not a bad idea for exposed parts of connectors because, unlike copper, gold does not corrode and it is a good conductor.

Gold isn’t necessary, per se, but over time it will resist corrosion — especially important for those living in high-humidity areas.

The bottom line

Every component in a hi-fi setup matters, even the cables. But as long as a cable is well built, with good solders and a solid connector, you are unlikely to suffer a noticeable drop in fidelity, especially at home.

For a budget pick, Amazon Basics cables will do just fine. The shielding is unspecified and oxygen-free copper wire is nothing special, but that’s standard fare for affordable cables. If you really want to splurge, you can spend $100 and upgrade to some ELACs.

Budget Pick

Amazon Basics Banana Plug Speaker Cable

$11 at Amazon

Upgrade Pick

Elac Sensible Speaker Cables

$100 at Amazon

As for analog interconnects, these cheap Seismic Audio Patch Cables with gold-plated RCA connectors and unspecified shielding are likely to be sufficient for even the above-average ear.

If you fancy yourself preternaturally discerning, a premium pick are Better Cables Silver Serpent. They feature 95 percent braided shielding, silver-coated copper wire for better conductivity and a price that is an order of magnitude higher at $140.