The Science of Speaker Cable Capacitance and Sound

This isn’t magic. It’s math, metallurgy, and meticulous design.

1. Introduction

Audiophiles have debated the importance of speaker cables for decades. The discussion often drifts into subjective impressions and marketing claims, but beneath it all lies a set of measurable electrical properties that can—and do—shape how a system performs.

At Ricable, design decisions aren’t based on guesswork. Every conductor, insulator, and shield is selected with a clear understanding of how it affects the electrical interaction between your amplifier and your speakers. One of the most important, yet least understood, of these properties is capacitance.

2. What is Cable Capacitance?

Capacitance is the ability of a cable to store and release electrical energy. It’s measured in picofarads per meter (pF/m) and is determined by conductor spacing, the dielectric material between conductors, and overall geometry.

When you connect an amplifier to loudspeakers, the cable becomes part of an RLC network—Resistance (R), Inductance (L), and Capacitance (C)—and each of these influences how the audio signal is delivered to your speakers.

3. How Capacitance Affects Sound

  • Lower capacitance tends to preserve high-frequency extension and amplifier stability over long runs.
  • Higher capacitance can slightly reduce very high-frequency energy in some pairings, often perceived as a smoother or warmer presentation.

This is not “mystery tone control”—it’s the measurable interaction of cable capacitance with an amplifier’s feedback network. If the capacitance is high enough relative to an amp’s design, it can introduce a small treble roll-off or alter phase at high frequencies, nudging imaging and “air.”

Figure: This step-response is an illustration of how the amplifier–cable–speaker loop behaves with different effective damping. As cable capacitance increases, the loop’s phase margin can shrink, leading to overshoot and ringing on fast transients. While the frequency response may look flat in the audible band, these time-domain changes can be audible as sharper/edgier leading edges or, in extreme cases, grain and listener fatigue. Properly engineered low-capacitance cables and stable amplifiers preserve critical damping, keeping transients clean and natural.

Figure: Transient response of a 10 kHz square wave through systems with different damping factors (ζ).
The damping factor in this context represents the combined effect of amplifier output stage stability, cable capacitance, and speaker load.

  • Critical damping (ζ = 1.0) delivers clean, accurate edges with no overshoot — preserving the intended transient shape.

  • Moderate damping (ζ = 0.5) shows mild overshoot and brief ringing, which can subtly alter the perceived “attack” of instruments and add a slight edge to the sound.

  • Low damping (ζ = 0.25) produces pronounced overshoot and sustained ringing at ultrasonic frequencies, which can fold back into the audible range as grain, glare, or listener fatigue.

While the frequency response of these systems may look nearly identical in the audible range, time-domain behavior reveals how excessive capacitance can erode transient fidelity. This is why Ricable designs speaker cables with optimized low-capacitance geometries — ensuring the amplifier–cable–speaker network stays in the critical damping zone, where music sounds natural and unforced.

4. Other Cable Factors That Influence Capacitance

  • Geometry: Twisted conductors often lower inductance but can raise capacitance; parallel layouts tend to do the opposite.
  • Dielectric: Low-k materials (e.g., foamed polyethylene, PTFE) reduce capacitance.
  • Shielding: Foil/braid shields add some capacitance; braid density and copper purity matter.
  • Conductor size & spacing: Larger conductors and closer spacing increase capacitance.

5. Capacitance in Ricable Speaker Cables

Model Capacitance (pF/m) General Sonic Tendency*
Invictus MKII 35 Maximum neutrality and extension
Dedalus Elite 45 Transparent with slight warmth
Dedalus MKII 50 Balanced, touch warmer
Magnus MKII 60 Slightly warm presentation
Primus MKII 75 Smooth, relaxed treble

*Tendencies are system-dependent and arise from measurable electrical interaction.

6. Matching Capacitance to Your System

  • Long cable runs + high-power amps: Lower capacitance (Invictus MKII, Dedalus Elite).
  • Bright system / high detail: Moderate capacitance (Dedalus MKII, Magnus MKII).
  • Relaxed listening / bright speakers: Higher capacitance (Primus MKII).

All Ricable speaker cables remain within safe load ranges for modern amplifiers.

7. Why MARC™ 7N Copper Matters

Capacitance isn’t the only factor. Ricable uses MARC™ 7N monocrystalline copper (99.99999% pure) across the lineup.

MARC (Multicore Annealed Ricable Conductor) refines the earlier AM-RCC process by reducing crystal grain boundaries and enabling finer, smoother, more ductile strands. Benefits include:

  • More copper volume within the same cross-section thanks to finer strands.
  • Reduced skin effect and fewer electron-scattering points, aiding high-frequency detail.
  • Lower electrical resistance and improved efficiency.
  • Substantially greater flexibility for easier installation and routing.
  • Enhanced transparency and imaging due to cleaner electron flow.

8. The Bigger Picture: Balancing Capacitance, Inductance, and Resistance

Lowering capacitance often raises inductance, and reducing resistance can affect both. Ricable’s geometries and dielectrics are tuned to balance all three so the cable behaves as a stable, low-loss link—transparent rather than corrective.

9. The RCCP Connectors — Engineering Inside Every Contact

Connectors are often the weakest link. Ricable’s RCCP (Ricable Copper Connector Project) replaces typical brass contacts with pure copper (and copper-tellurium alloy where extra strength is needed). Each connector is CNC-machined and 24K gold plated using a proprietary gold/copper electrolysis process. The result is measurably superior conductivity and long-term stability—improvements that are also audible in resolving systems.

10. References

  • Baxandall, P.J. (1978) – Speaker Cable Parameters and Their Audible Effects, Wireless World.
  • Douglas Self – Audio Power Amplifier Design Handbook (Focal Press).
  • Belcher & Shulman (1977) – The Effects of Cable Parameters on Amplifier Performance, AES Preprint 1258.
  • Hawksford, M.O.J. (1985) – The Essex Echo: Cable Distortions, University of Essex.

11. Conclusion

Choosing a speaker cable isn’t about hype; it’s about matching a cable’s electrical properties to your system so it performs at its best. Understanding capacitance—and how it interacts with your amplifier and speakers—lets you make a scientifically informed choice that fits your listening goals.

Use the comparison table below to select the right model for your setup, or contact Princess Pasta Audio for personalized advice.

Ricable Speaker Cable Feature Matrix

Feature / Model Invictus MKII Dedalus Elite Dedalus MKII Magnus MKII Primus MKII
Capacitance (pF/m) 35 45 50 60 75
Resistance (Ω/km) 2.3 3.0 3.4 3.7 3.8
Outer Diameter 22 mm (0.87 in) 18.5 mm (0.73 in) 16 mm (0.63 in) 14 mm (0.55 in) 13 mm (0.51 in)
Conductor Section (per polarity) 2 × 7.07 mm² (~8 AWG) 2 × 6.40 mm² (~9 AWG) 2 × 6.40 mm² (~9 AWG) 2 × 4.30 mm² (~11 AWG) 2 × 3.10 mm² (~12 AWG)
Conductor Structure (Strands) 1,038 triple-twisted + 9-strand solid-core 784 triple-twisted in 7 concentric braids 750 wires per conductor (0.10 mm) 560 wires per conductor (0.10 mm) 400 wires per conductor (0.10 mm)
Conductor Material MARC™ 7N Copper MARC™ 7N Copper MARC™ 7N Copper MARC™ 7N Copper MARC™ 7N Copper
Shielding Type Mylar + Aluminum + 7N Copper Braid (untinned) Mylar + Aluminum + Tinned OFC Copper Braid Mylar + Aluminum + Tinned OFC Copper Braid Mylar + Aluminum (no braid) Mylar + Aluminum (no braid)
RNR Noise Reduction Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Connector Type Body: Pure Copper; Shell: CNC-machined; Plating: 24K Gold Body: Copper-Tellurium Alloy; Shell: CNC-machined; Plating: 24K Gold Body: Copper-Tellurium Alloy; Shell: CNC-machined; Plating: 24K Gold Body: Copper-Tellurium Alloy; Shell: CNC-machined; Plating: 24K Gold Body: Copper Alloy; Shell: CNC-machined; Plating: 24K Gold
Key Distinguishing Features Hybrid solid-core + stranded; largest cross-section; untinned 7N braid; lowest capacitance; pure copper connectors. Triple-twisted 7N copper; tinned OFC braid; balanced capacitance; reinforced Cu-Te connectors; RNR. 7N copper with slightly fewer strands; tinned OFC braid; a touch warmer; Cu-Te connectors; RNR. ~11 AWG conductors; Mylar/Al shielding; moderate capacitance; Cu-Te connectors; RNR. ~12 AWG conductors; Mylar/Al shielding; highest capacitance for smooth treble; copper-alloy connectors; no RNR.
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