How to tell the difference between an instrument cable and a speaker cable?

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 26 Apr 2025 7:08 am

Assuming they are not marked? I do have a nice Fluke meter that measures capacitance if that helps?

thx

bob

Stew Crookes · Post by **Stew Crookes** » 26 Apr 2025 7:36 am

If you unscrew one end of the plug, you'll see the conductors at the solder connections - speaker cable is two identical conductors with no shield, and (mono, unbalanced) instrument cable has a shield and usually just one conductor.

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 26 Apr 2025 8:23 am

It has shrink tubing but the cable says 18/2 if that helps?

bob

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 26 Apr 2025 8:35 am

That sounds like a speaker cable.

Mike Auman · Post by **Mike Auman** » 26 Apr 2025 2:42 pm

18/2 means 2 wires of 18 gauge, which is definitely a speaker cable. Or a lamp cord.

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How to tell the difference between an instrument cable and a speaker cable?

How to tell the difference between an instrument cable and a speaker cable?

Re: How to tell the difference between an instrument cable and a speaker cable?

Re: How to tell the difference between an instrument cable and a speaker cable?

Re: How to tell the difference between an instrument cable and a speaker cable?

Re: How to tell the difference between an instrument cable and a speaker cable?