# Mixing hots & grounds **URL:** \ **Category:** Cables\ **Created:** [November 5, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/mixing-hots-grounds/25873 "2021-11-05T17:16:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arenith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/arenith/32/62875_2.png) [@Arenith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Arenith)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/mixing-hots-grounds/25873/1 "2021-11-05T17:16:38Z")
Have I understood correctly that I can (at least feasibly try to) mix different conductors for the signal and ground of speaker cables IF they have the same impedance? Other considerations? Tell me everything. Some companies do this, very scientifically oriented companies even, so why not commonly experiment with this? ---
**Author:** ![Arenith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/arenith/32/62875_2.png) [@Arenith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Arenith)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/mixing-hots-grounds/25873/2 "2021-11-13T00:07:39Z")
Please correct and teach; From what I understand the all-important signal whose preservance we want maximized, travels into the speaker via the hot conductor. The signal then gets reactively modulated by the crossover network, then releases onto the ground conductor - this is where I’m stuck - do we need the return signal as integrally preserved along the ground leg as we do for +? I get the dirty idea that as long as the ground leg adequately does its job of not impeding the circuit’s current flow and isn’t reactively _terrible_, it’s okay to use a better quality wire for the signal leg and “skimp” on the return wire (but make it adequate!) Well, “better quality”, maybe the wrong term, rather choose at least the conductor material to match the job… Would be interesting to audition a speaker cable with pure gold signal leg and pure silver return leg. Gauges adjusted for matching impedance. Tell me how I’m wrong. I want to know it all, even what comes to the amplifier’s loading, etc. ---
**Author:** ![joma0711](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/joma0711/32/277666_2.png) [@joma0711](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/joma0711)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2021, 11:25pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/mixing-hots-grounds/25873/3 "2021-11-13T23:25:27Z")
Basic thought - current file in a circuit is equal in all points in the circuit. Therefore “return conductor” is as important as the “positive”. Also bear in mind that we are talking about ac, so current doesn’t flow out of the amp from the positive and back through the negative, it’s reversing all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Arenith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/arenith/32/62875_2.png) [@Arenith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Arenith)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 12:11am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/mixing-hots-grounds/25873/4 "2021-11-14T00:11:19Z")
I know it’s reversing but it does have an absolute direction… Riiight? Have I been embarrassingly wrong all this time when thinking the zigzag does its zigzagging all the while moving towards ground potential in an absolute direction…? And yes, of course the return conductor is just as important… But should it necessarily be identical to the signal leg in material and geometry if its impedance is matched accurately? Also isn’t it noteworthy that most often crossovers are not symmetrical, as in having the passive components for both legs. There is talk of symmetrical crossovers being beneficial. ---
**Author:** ![joma0711](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/joma0711/32/277666_2.png) [@joma0711](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/joma0711)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 4:56pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/mixing-hots-grounds/25873/5 "2021-11-14T16:56:21Z")
hmmm. current flow is all about charge carriers moving in a conductor. potential difference is always relative to somewhere else. so even if the “negative” is actually “earth” i don’t think it makes a difference. i get what you’re getting at, i don’t think it’s correct, but i don’t have definitive proof (yet!) just my “gut feeling” (like everything i do 😉 ). interesting thought experiment though:) ---
**Author:** ![joma0711](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/joma0711/32/277666_2.png) [@joma0711](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/joma0711)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 5:29pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/mixing-hots-grounds/25873/6 "2021-11-14T17:29:32Z")
extra thought - a current source is usually described as being able to “source or sink” current, because it flows in or out. from the perspective of a speaker (which doesn’t have a ground reference, just two wires from the amp) it is just a reversing current flowing one way then the other way. the average being zero 🙂 (hence the use of rms to measure ac voltage) ---
**Author:** ![Arenith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/arenith/32/62875_2.png) [@Arenith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Arenith)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 9:53pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/mixing-hots-grounds/25873/7 "2021-11-14T21:53:26Z")
Well you are convincing me that speaker cable should have identical “signal and return” conductors, well, unless we want to change the sound signature by mixing different conductors. Only as materials adjusted for gauge though - having dissimilar geometry or dielectric would make half the speaker-side circuit reactively different and might not be ideal… ---
**Author:** ![Arenith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/arenith/32/62875_2.png) [@Arenith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Arenith)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 1:38pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/mixing-hots-grounds/25873/8 "2021-11-15T13:38:46Z")
Cerious Tech uses a proprietary carbon microfiber conductor for the positive leg and a thick silver for the return… Apparently for a wanted sound signature. They are VERY well regarded cables, check audiogon for superlative commentary. Interesting construction, liquid ceramic for minimizing resonance.