speaker jumpers

[tonyb]

It's not about the jumpers per say, but improving everything in the chain for a better signal flow. Brass is not the optimal for signal flow. Will it work ? Sure, can you do better ? Yep. Some have indeed changed internal wiring for better quality wire but to me thats a tad over the top. Improvements with changing out jumpers, cables, etc, are small subtle changes on their own, but when you add up all the small changes, you can hear real world differences.

With that said, most who change out those brass jumpers probably won't hear a difference. It's that minimal. Over time and oxidation, the signal will degrade some. So the standard answer applies, if you don't try, you'll never know. Simple as that really.

[PiG]

OK, I have a question. After all the talk of speaker jumpers vs. plates and wire gauge, got me thinking. What gauge is the wire inside the speaker that Polk used? How does this compare with the plates?
It occurs to me that we are spending tons of cash on cables and connectors, etc and we are only going to achieve minimal gains.
Kind of like putting a bigger engine and better wheels on a car and still using a broom handle for the drive shaft.

Has anyone replaced the wiring inside the speaker?

I've seen other threads where someone has done or suggested that they would do this... It's a little out of my league right now so I won't be doing it.

Your point is well taken.

[PiG]

You have it the nail on the head- IMHO.

I've no wish to question anyone's judgement who opts to change out their jumpers in favor of something else. By the same token I would hope the same courtesy be extended to those who choose not to go that route.

Yeah, I was very interested in trying this as a no hassle cheap fix to MAYBE get some improved sound but it seems that there are so many variables that when you try to do it "right" its no longer cheap... so I might try it with cheapo plugs or bare wire but then of course, if you don't hear any differences you blame the lack of quality components... bit of a lose lose situation IMO

[tonyb]

Pig,
Most just use bare wire, extra speaker wire they have laying around, so the cost is zero, with nothing to lose and everything to gain, sounds more like a win-win scenario to me.

[Face]

I'll take bare wire over cheap connectors any day.

[62caddy]

Yeah, I was very interested in trying this as a no hassle cheap fix to MAYBE get some improved sound but it seems that there are so many variables that when you try to do it "right" its no longer cheap... so I might try it with cheapo plugs or bare wire but then of course, if you don't hear any differences you blame the lack of quality components... bit of a lose lose situation IMO

Agreed with tonyb, the cost of jumper substitution is negligable. Changing out internal speaker wiring is something completely different.

[John K.]

Junior, brass is approximately 70% copper, with other metal alloyed to make it stronger than the copper alone. It's near-ideal for use as the speaker jumpers(and the speaker terminals themselves, which should also be removed if the brass in the jumpers bothers anyone)and that's why speaker manufacturers use it for the jumpers(when present)and the terminals. The higher resistance compared to copper alone is insignificant over the short distance involved and no adverse audible effects can occur. There's no solid evidence to the contrary, and speaker manufacturers would be foolish to sabotage their own product with something inferior which couldn't result in any significant cost saving. Relax and enjoy your fine speakers

[F1nut]

I've got news for you Johnny, even Polk is using pure copper jumpers on their TOTL speakers just like other high end speaker companies. Ever see brass IC's or speaker cables? Of course not because brass is inferior. End of story.

[mantis]

Your theory would be incorrect. Polk has a price point to meet as do all other speaker companies. The plates are cheap and plentiful.

Upgrading the caps and resistors in your speakers will also result in improved sound. Of course, Polk could use the better parts, but you'd pay a lot more for the speakers.

You got me thinking with this as I have been dealing with this for years.
Wouldn't it be cool if polk would offer lets say the RTIA7's as a stock model then offer an ELITE model like the RTIA7E which would be hand selected cost no object best this speaker can be with the best parts? I think the engineers at polk could build a excellent RTIA7 model and I bet the cost would maybe go up 1 to 2 hundred bucks. Even the LSIM series could have an Elite model. This way you know internally the speaker is the best it can be.

Just food for thought.

[Face]

You got me thinking with this as I have been dealing with this for years.
Wouldn't it be cool if polk would offer lets say the RTIA7's as a stock model then offer an ELITE model like the RTIA7E which would be hand selected cost no object best this speaker can be with the best parts?

Just food for thought.

It's called the LSiM series.

I think the engineers at polk could build a excellent RTIA7 model and I bet the cost would maybe go up 1 to 2 hundred bucks. Even the LSIM series could have an Elite model. This way you know internally the speaker is the best it can be.

I bet it would go up a lot more than $100-200.

You of all people should know better.

[Face]

Junior, brass is approximately 70% copper, with other metal alloyed to make it stronger than the copper alone. It's near-ideal for use as the speaker jumpers(and the speaker terminals themselves, which should also be removed if the brass in the jumpers bothers anyone)and that's why speaker manufacturers use it for the jumpers(when present)and the terminals. The higher resistance compared to copper alone is insignificant over the short distance involved and no adverse audible effects can occur. There's no solid evidence to the contrary, and speaker manufacturers would be foolish to sabotage their own product with something inferior which couldn't result in any significant cost saving. Relax and enjoy your fine speakers

The problem is the other 30%, the quality varies brand to brand.

[62caddy]

I've always assumed the terminal ends are made of the same material composition as the jumpers.

If this is the case, would it raise any questions regarding the benefits of jumper substitution?

[Face]

Yes, but the difference would be less subtle than if you have copper posts.

[jemrey81]

So after reading this thread multiple times, I got bored enough to replace the jumpers on my monitor 70's.

I went out in the garage to see what types of wire I had laying around and found some 8 awg wire from an old car stereo install (8awg copper strand for power supply to an amp).... I cut some short lengths of that and used it bare (no connectors on the ends).

What are your thoughts on this type and size of wire? It's not "speaker wire", so I wanted to check with the experts :)

[mcnarus]

You could use coathangers. Seriously. It wouldn't make a difference. Jumpers are so short the resistance they add is trivial.

[F1nut]

You could use coathangers. Seriously. It wouldn't make a difference. Jumpers are so short the resistance they add is trivial.

Wrong....again!

[ROHfan]

Wrong....again!

Not really.