Cable Asylum: Re: For Jon Risch...Why does" Auric" wire sound way above average.? by Jon Risch

There is more to it than just the conductor physical aspect.

They might be using a great insulation material, the quality of the copper might be superior, the sum total might be more free of atmospheric exposure, keeping the copper more pure and free from oxidation.

Aside from all of this, stranded wires versus solid is not as simple as a stright black and white scenario.

In order for stranded wires to sound worse than a solid wire of the same gauge, there must be some sort of operative effect in play.

One of the theories is that it is due to strand jumping, which in turn, would be driven by skin effect and/or self inductance.

Smaller stranded wires would be less prone to skin effect etc., and so, would have less strand jumping, and less of that stranded wire sound to be bothered by. There is even a point where the stranded wire would no longer be significantly affected by the skin effect, and so, would no longer have that reason to sound any worse than a solid wire of the same gauge.

Of course, there may be other reasons behind stranded versus solid sonics, but I have not heard of any worthwhile alternate theories or explanations.

My own experience has been that the larger gauge stranded speaker cables can have sonic issues compared to the same gauge solid wire, such as 12 and 14 ga. wires, but that once you go below approx. 18 ga., it is very hard to be sure that the effect is there any more. Certainly by 20-22 ga., it does not seem to be an issue.

Interconnects do not seem to be affected as much, and most do not use the larger wires in their construction anyway.

For a bit more of a technical discourse on the subject, see:
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/t2/messages/425.html
and the associated thread.

Jon Risch