Community VERIS Series - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 21
C-TIP:
When choosing cable for a situation that requires only two conductors, consider
using 14/4 (that is, #14 AWG with 4 conductors) and wiring each pair of conductors in
parallel, at both ends of the cable. This will provide the equivalent conductance of #11
AWG, but in a cable that’s more easily obtainable and smaller in diameter.
THE EFFECT OF WIRE GAUGE ON DAMPING FACTOR
As significant as power loss can be, the effect of wire resistance on the damping factor of
the loudspeaker/amplifier network is even greater for a given resistance value.
Amplifier designers intend for the output impedance of their amplifiers to be as low as
possible, in order to achieve a high damping factor. However, the laws of physics dictate
that a very low output impedance will cause the resistance of the speaker cable to have a
significant effect on the amplifier/speaker network. Unfortunately there’s no way to get
around it.
Example: With five feet of #10 AWG feeding a 4 ohm load, a given amplifier exhibits a
respectable 100:1 damping factor. With fifty feet of #10 AWG feeding the same 4 ohm
load, the damping factor decreases to 10:1, which is likely to be audible as a loss of ‘punch’
and tightness in the low frequencies.
Unless the power amplifiers are located directly alongside the loudspeakers (a good design
technique to consider when possible), it will be difficult to maintain a high damping factor
without using impractically large conductors. Therefore, keeping cable lengths as short as
possible, is the most practical and cost-effective way to maintain a respectable damping
factor without incurring undue difficulties.
C-TIP:
Although it’s beyond the scope of this manual to test and rate the many specialty
loudspeaker cables sold in audio shops, studies conducted by skilled engineers have
conclusively shown that the majority of such cables offer no real performance advantages
(and in some cases, notable disadvantages) over that of readily available industrial grade
wire.
SELECTING AMPLIFIERS
Amplifiers are a vital part of any sound system’s performance capability. As such, they
should be carefully selected for appropriate power output, as well as for other attributes
(more on this later). A table is provided below to help you size your amplifiers’ power
output capability to the various models in the VERIS line.
Model
Recommended Power
VERIS6 Full-range
200 to 300 WRMS at 8
Ω
VERIS8 Full-range
310 to 450 WRMS at 8
Ω
VERIS26 Full-range
420 to 600 WRMS at 4
Ω
VERIS28 Full-range
630 to 900 WRMS at 4
Ω
VERIS12 Full-range
420 to 600 WRMS at 8
Ω
VERIS15 Full-range
420 to 600 WRMS at 8
Ω
VERIS32 Full-range
420 to 600 WRMS at 8
Ω
VERIS35 Full-range
420 to 600 WRMS at 8
Ω
VERIS210S Subwoofer
630 to 900 WRMS at 4
Ω
VERIS212S Subwoofer
600 to 900 WRMS at 4
Ω
Note:
“WRMS” = “Watts RMS” = “Watts Root Mean Squared”