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Speaker Wire
Posted on 1/18/21 at 10:01 am
Posted on 1/18/21 at 10:01 am
I am in the process of setting up an Office/Music Room at home and would like some input on speaker wire. The space would put some speakers as much as 30' of cable length away from the Amp and I would have multiple sets of speakers at any given time connected for testing/listening. I use mainly old system components from the 70's era that have mostly spring loaded connectors. My 1st thought was a #10 gauge generic speaker cable in at least 250' spool. Help appreciated. 
5
Posted on 1/18/21 at 10:57 am to TreeDawg
quote:
was a #10 gauge generic speaker cable in at least 250' spool.
Way, way overkill and I'm not sure #10 gauge would fit in those spring loaded connectors. If you're worried you can use 14 gauge but honestly 16 gauge for that length is more than adequate as 16 gauge is commonly used in prewires for whole house audio.
Posted on 1/18/21 at 11:47 am to VABuckeye
quote:
If you're worried you can use 14 gauge but honestly 16 gauge for that length is more than adequate as 16 gauge is commonly used in prewires for whole house audio.
Gotcha on that. Does the stranding of the cable make any difference or is speaker cable pretty typical?
Posted on 1/18/21 at 9:38 pm to TreeDawg
quote:
Does the stranding of the cable
Supposedly higher strand count makes a difference. But at that short of distance I don't think there would be enough resistance to notice a difference in sound. Higher strand count is nice because the cable is less stiff.
Posted on 1/19/21 at 12:11 am to TreeDawg
Stranded 14ga. will be fine for what you are looking to do.
Also...Always run at least an extra 10-14 feet of wire (that’s 5-7 feet on each end) longer than you think you will ever need—it can be stored in wall or above ceiling—one day you will thank me for this (same for interconnects—if you think you need a 1 meter cable, get a 2 meter).
Also...Always run at least an extra 10-14 feet of wire (that’s 5-7 feet on each end) longer than you think you will ever need—it can be stored in wall or above ceiling—one day you will thank me for this (same for interconnects—if you think you need a 1 meter cable, get a 2 meter).
Posted on 1/19/21 at 5:37 am to TreeDawg
quote:
Speaker Wire
Monster cable is what you're looking for....you're welcome
Posted on 1/19/21 at 12:07 pm to Wtodd
Why would you suggest that?
Posted on 1/19/21 at 2:08 pm to VABuckeye
Bc it's the best I've ever used
Posted on 1/19/21 at 2:19 pm to Marco Esquandolas
Man I ended up down a speaker wire rabbit hole last night. I am an electrician so I do understand what distance does to current. I did find this info useful:
Wire Gauge - An accepted guideline is that the wire resistance should not exceed 5% of the entire circuit. For a given material, resistance is a function of length and thickness (specifically of the ratio of length to cross-sectional area). For this reason, lower impedance speakers require lower resistance speaker wire. Longer cable runs need to be even thicker. Once the 5% guideline is met, thicker wire will not provide any improvement. While in theory heavier wire can have longer runs, recommended household audio lengths should not exceed 50 feet (15 m).
I ended up ordering all copper cable, #14 for my longer runs and #16 for very short runs. There is an assload of copper clad cable available that I avoided.
ETA: I ordered KabelDirekt – Pure Copper Stereo Audio Speaker Wire & Cable – Made in Germany
Wire Gauge - An accepted guideline is that the wire resistance should not exceed 5% of the entire circuit. For a given material, resistance is a function of length and thickness (specifically of the ratio of length to cross-sectional area). For this reason, lower impedance speakers require lower resistance speaker wire. Longer cable runs need to be even thicker. Once the 5% guideline is met, thicker wire will not provide any improvement. While in theory heavier wire can have longer runs, recommended household audio lengths should not exceed 50 feet (15 m).
I ended up ordering all copper cable, #14 for my longer runs and #16 for very short runs. There is an assload of copper clad cable available that I avoided.
ETA: I ordered KabelDirekt – Pure Copper Stereo Audio Speaker Wire & Cable – Made in Germany
This post was edited on 1/19/21 at 2:36 pm
Posted on 1/20/21 at 8:17 am to TreeDawg
That should be just fine. As to Monster Cable it's just marketing. Their copper wire is no better or pure than another producers copper wire.
Posted on 1/20/21 at 1:05 pm to TreeDawg
monoprice.com
You're welcome.
16 guage is perfectly adequate in 99% of home stereo setups.
ETA: they also sell any sort of plug you could possibly need for your equipment.
You're welcome.
16 guage is perfectly adequate in 99% of home stereo setups.
ETA: they also sell any sort of plug you could possibly need for your equipment.
This post was edited on 1/20/21 at 1:10 pm
Posted on 1/20/21 at 9:19 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
As to Monster Cable it's just marketing
I'm not disagreeing with you, but I believe Monster was the first highly marketed wire using higher conductor wire as I previously posted.
If you picked up a piece of 14ga or 16ga wire with 32 strands of copper or 64 strands you can physically tell a difference.
How that equates to thru put from the amplifier to the speakers is hardly discernible according to my tinnitus.
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