NACA5 - any problems cable tying it to a metal speaker stand leg?

Could you install the cable in a plastic tube and tie that to the leg of the stand that will space the cable away from the leg?  The extra speacing from the metal will decrease the degree of any changes in electrical properties.

However, any electrical effect from the metal will be at the speaker end, so the inductance of the first few metres of cable will be in series with this, so the effect of any changes will be minimal.

NACA5 is certainly uncooperative! Heating it with a hairdryer can make bending it quite a bit easier.

Regarding tying it to a speaker stand, there's nothing to lose by trying. Naim designed the stands for N-Sats with little metal clips on the back to keep the cable neat. However, they did say in the manual, "Dressing the cable too tightly in the stand may degrade the N-Sats performance. Leave some slack - especially between the speaker terminals and the first dressing pin. A small improvement in N-Sats subjective performance may be perceived by leaving the loudspeaker cables undressed."

Make of that what you will! I suspect it is more to do with microphonic vibration than anything. I can't see that you would affect the properties of the cable itself, as long as you avoid tying the cable in coils.

Chris makes a good point about microphony; if you do secure it to the stand don't attach it tightly (that may excessively strain solder joints, 4mm plugs and the speaker binding posts as well).

Incidentally, coiling the cable isn't so bad so long as it's not multiple turns, the current flows both directions through each run of the cable, so the magnetic fields oppose and the increases in inductance doesn't in fact occur.  With multiple turns, there is however an increase in capacitance.

Thanks very much both - I have some of this ikea cable tidy (called "RABLALDER") which I think will be perfect as the tube to put the cable in and then tie to the leg. That should leave enough slack to give the cable a bit of distance and freedom. I will let you know how I get on!

Hi SJT

In my experience with A5 I have found elastic bands (they don’t put strain on the cable),  pipe insulation ( keeps the cable encased in a soft isolation rather than a plastic tube) and a hairdryer (to make it more flexible) have been my first port of call when wrestling with it.

sjt posted:

I was wondering if there might be any inductance or capacitance or other problems by cable tying it to the stand leg. 

ChrisSU posted:

Regarding tying it to a speaker stand, there's nothing to lose by trying. 

I wholly agree with Chris, the real issue being what particular audio-nervosa straws you're grasping at here? Attempt the various iterations yourself and listen for a detectable difference. My guess; all the same, but I could well be wrong. Only your ears matter.

I used to worry about similar shit thinking there might be an actual SQ consideration. Really though, this level of banality merely fuels mathematical rationalizations from engineers. Same group that told you, on paper, a CD should sound better than an LP.

Recently I went with a longer length of new A5 and as well as a sonic improvement it enabled me to run the A5 through my Focal stands cable channel, the effect just looks so neat and sexy.

The column is wood, but does include a metal reinforcement.

I must admit the newer A5 So The the for matrix type print in the middle, vs the old style it is allot more compliant.