Speaker cable length

[FabDJ]

Hello everybody

Just came back from a shopping centre carpark where I measured out 25m lengths of speaker cable and cut it off a 100m roll.

I'm thinking that maby I've overdone the length.

From your experience. what would be the optimum length of speaker cable that you would carry to use at gigs.

I might be overreacting as I'm used to using 5m leads and they are never long enough.

[andythemusician]

I have 10m lengths for my powered speakers, and so I can add on additional lengths as needed.

Depending on your gigs your need would change of course. Do you usually keep your amp rack close to your speakers, or is it closer to your setup?

If it were me I would probably have 5m lengths for when the speakers are right next to me, and have some 10 and 15m ones in the case with some speakon joiners in the toolbox.

With the correct gauge cable for those lengths naturally

[FabDJ]

Thanks Andy

Thinking 15m would have been the correct length.

Hell of a lot of cable to roll up is 25m.

I have joiners so I could run to 30m but 20 seems more appropiate.

Usually keep the amp under the table and run the speakers as far away as possible.

[pill]

I carry 5s and one twenty and one thirty with me, cable from altronics was so cheap I just went for gold haha. Normally only use the short ones but you never know!

[FabDJ]

Already spent twenty minutes untangling the cables as I connected the Speakon plugs.

Imagine when I'm pissed.

[DjDennis]

Its better to have more shorter cables, that you can ADD-On together...

than a long one that has breaks in places, rolling it up wrong

thats what I have always been shown over the years from even the Roadies that worked - Ac/Dc, Angels, John Farnham, Mondo Rock, Meatloaf, George Thorogood and a few others I have worked near over time as a Prodj

but these days they are using wireless in ways - mobile especially

want details just yell..

[andythemusician]

If you know the distances you want to go, better to go with that distance. Otherwise you'll have joins all along your cable run, which looks like ass, and starts to provide weak points in the run.

But yeah, if you're trying to be as flexible as possible, thats the best way to do it.

Wireless speakers? Personally I don't see the point, unless you are running remotes. For mains I wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole. Wireless microphones give me enough problems without abolishing a tangible connection to my FOH

[DjDennis]

really depends on what you use - how far away the speakers are located to where your amp or the mixing board is..

best look at how bands setup and what they use and how they do it - then adapt to suit how you work...

[FabDJ]

Thanks all, when I next pass a TV outside broadcast unitI will look in the truck and see how they roll their cables and lenght of cables.

Always been taught to roll in 1m app lenghts and roll the ends on to a knot around the loops.

Tighter rolls cause tangles.

[DjDennis]

Thats a great way of seeing how companies do it..

watch ones bigger than you and it works wonders

I see all these Artists that come over via Semi (trucks) that have 10 or 20x trucks and have all the gear in the back

its amazing how they keep all that gear neat after ever show

so yes Fab thats a great Idea

[FabDJ]

Ta Dennis

Noticed your facebook name

The Trebleclefts was the name of a Brisbane cover band that use to come to Southport and play at our parish hall dance once a month.in the early sixties.

We were always amazed at the new equipment they had such as tape loops that we could only dream of.