The particular metal used doesn't make a bit of difference. The only consideration is that the resistance of the cable be low enough in relation to the impedance of the speaker.

Some of you might be shocked to know that every single connection inside your precious audio amplifiers, preamps etc. is composed of tin and lead alloy. (even so called "silver solder" that is sometimes used is only about 2% silver content)

There are much more significant things to worry about than the metal used in your wires. For instance what about that wasteful passive crossover network inside your speakers that contains inductors (with copper wire) with many, many feet of small gauge wire? Those inductors present much more resistance in-line with the speaker drivers than even the crappiest of speaker wires. This degrades the damping factor very significantly. Nobody talks about this, not the speaker manufacturers especially. Also, the actual voice coils in your speaker drivers are always either copper or aluminum.

If you don't believe me, take apart one of your speakers and look at the crossover network.


[This message has been edited by soundhound (edited May 10, 2004).]