What the right gauge speaker wire?

ellmonte86 · 09-15-2009, 07:06 PM

If I'm running an older Sherwood receiver(no HDMI in/outputs) with 100 watt output, which I never come near, what gauge speaker wire should I be using at a minimum. What is the ideal size?
Also is there a way to mimic the Bose 3-2-1 system by positioning all the surround sound speakers up front?

House72 · 09-15-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellmonte86

If I'm running an older Sherwood receiver(no HDMI in/outputs) with 100 watt output, which I never come near, what gauge speaker wire should I be using at a minimum. What is the ideal size?
Also is there a way to mimic the Bose 3-2-1 system by positioning all the surround sound speakers up front?

What distance are you looking to run the wires??? I used 12 gauge for my setup.. I believe for 25ft or longer runs you should use 12g, if your runs are shorter 14 or 16 would be suffice.. Monoprice.com has great prices on wire..

Loves2Watch · 09-15-2009, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellmonte86

If I'm running an older Sherwood receiver(no HDMI in/outputs) with 100 watt output, which I never come near, what gauge speaker wire should I be using at a minimum. What is the ideal size?
Also is there a way to mimic the Bose 3-2-1 system by positioning all the surround sound speakers up front?

Rather than Bose (pseduo, witch doctor) sound, a true Dolby surround receiver with 3 front speakers, front, center and left, would sound much better if the speakers are matched (as they should be).

Check this out as well - http://www.highdefforum.com/746822-post1.html

HiDefRev · 09-15-2009, 10:25 PM

I agree with both posts. And as L2W stated, stay far away from anything that even smacks of Bose. And, www.monoprice.com is absolutely the best source for speaker wire, cables, etc. Fantastic prices and FAST shipping.

Loves2Watch · 09-15-2009, 10:56 PM

The following guide should help with gauge according to wire length -

ellmonte86 · 09-17-2009, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiDefRev

stay far away from anything that even smacks of Bose.

Why stay away from Bose. I have their QC3 headphones and love them.

ellmonte86 · 09-17-2009, 09:24 PM

L2W,

By matched do you mean the ohms? Do the speakers need to match the receiver?

Loves2Watch · 09-18-2009, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellmonte86

L2W,

By matched do you mean the ohms? Do the speakers need to match the receiver?

No I mean the speakers (3 front) need to be matched in timbre and tone so they should be made by the same manufacturer and a matched set. If not you will have difficulty in hearing dialog.

Loves2Watch · 09-18-2009, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellmonte86

Why stay away from Bose. I have their QC3 headphones and love them.

They're headphones may be OK but there are others that are better that cost less.

ellmonte86 · 09-18-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loves2Watch

No I mean the speakers (3 front) need to be matched in timbre and tone so they should be made by the same manufacturer and a matched set. If not you will have difficulty in hearing dialog.

The front speakers are a matched set but the rears aren't. Is that as critical?

Stew4HD · 09-19-2009, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellmonte86

The front speakers are a matched set but the rears aren't. Is that as critical?

No, the rears usually do not exactly match the front set in most setups anyway and it's not as critcal that they do.

My setup utilizes the same brand as the fronts but are bipole/dipole type.

You do want to match impedance (ohms) for all speakers though. All 8 ohm, for example.

Loves2Watch · 09-19-2009, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew4HD

No, the rears usually do not exactly match the front set in most setups anyway and it's not as critcal that they do.

My setup utilizes the same brand as the fronts but are bipole/dipole type.

You do want to match impedance (ohms) for all speakers though. All 8 ohm, for example.

Exactly..

gameguru1360 · 09-24-2009, 05:30 PM

yep monoprice.com is the best place to get almost all of your cables. Picked up a 100ft roll of 14ga for only $10...local RadioCrap had a 100ft roll for almost $50

oblioman · 09-24-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellmonte86

Why stay away from Bose. I have their QC3 headphones and love them.

If you spent the money on the QC3's,,,,have you ever checked out any sennheiser headphones? Might make ya think twixt about the bose. the sennheiser hd595's be about $100 bucks less than the qc's but,,,are just dripping sweet with sound!!!!

ErinDavis · 09-25-2009, 07:14 PM

This is great information! Thanks!

09-15-2009, 07:06 PM	#1
ellmonte86 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hemet, CA Posts: 57	What the right gauge speaker wire? If I'm running an older Sherwood receiver(no HDMI in/outputs) with 100 watt output, which I never come near, what gauge speaker wire should I be using at a minimum. What is the ideal size? Also is there a way to mimic the Bose 3-2-1 system by positioning all the surround sound speakers up front?

09-15-2009, 10:25 PM	#4
HiDefRev Trust me. I'm a Doctor. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Land of Relativity, USA Age: 56 Posts: 1,101	Indeed I agree with both posts. And as L2W stated, stay far away from anything that even smacks of Bose. And, www.monoprice.com is absolutely the best source for speaker wire, cables, etc. Fantastic prices and FAST shipping. __________________ Living Room Panasonic PT-50LCZ70 50" 1080p HDTV, Sony Playstation3 80 Gig, Onkyo HT-R667 7.1 AV Receiver, Yamaha NS-6490 Main, Side and Surround Speakers, Cadence C-17 Center Speaker, Acoustic Audio HD-SUB15 15" Subwoofer, DISH ViP 722 HD DVR, Panasonic DVD Recorder/VCR, Monoprice cables Den Viewsonic NX2232W LCD HDTV, RCA RT-2500 5.1 AV Receiver, ESS-308 Main and Surround Speakers, RCA RT2500 Center Speaker Onkyo 10" Subwoofer, DISH ViP 211 HD Receiver, Magnavox Blu-Ray Player

09-15-2009, 10:56 PM	#5
Loves2Watch Ohmmmmmm Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: AZ, NM, TX, MX Posts: 16,576	The following guide should help with gauge according to wire length - __________________ Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's or Blu-ray players. Main HT Room - Panasonic PT-AE4000U, Draper Premier 119" 16:9 Projector Screen, Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player. Last edited by Loves2Watch; 09-15-2009 at 11:04 PM.

09-24-2009, 05:30 PM	#13
gameguru1360 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 777	yep monoprice.com is the best place to get almost all of your cables. Picked up a 100ft roll of 14ga for only $10...local RadioCrap had a 100ft roll for almost $50 __________________ "What I really need is a woman who loves me for my money but doesn't understand math."

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09-17-2009, 09:24 PM	#7
ellmonte86 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hemet, CA Posts: 57	L2W, By matched do you mean the ohms? Do the speakers need to match the receiver?

09-25-2009, 07:14 PM	#15
ErinDavis My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7	This is great information! Thanks!