Speaker Wire - Brand and Gauge ?

brownie75 · 03-17-2009, 08:39 AM

Can anyone advise, what kind of gauge and brand shoud I buy to get the best effect from my speakers

tcarcio · 03-17-2009, 09:14 AM

A good quality copper wire is all you need, no bells and whistles, you will just pay extra.I actually only use copper wire that I buy at Home Depot that is really the same as extension cord cable. Don't be fooled by the hype of expensive cable especially if all you need is some basic cable to listen to your system. This guide should help..http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_216.html

daleb · 03-17-2009, 10:59 AM

Handy guide..

The first cables to have directional arrows had shields terminated at only one end.
Since then, some boutique cables claim they have aligned the strands, etc. to produce the best sound if they are treated as directional.
I guess if I run my speaker wires (there are two per speaker) in a random fashion I still have a 1 in 4 chance of getting it right. LOL

brownie75 · 03-17-2009, 11:35 AM

Ok, I am lost, I should have mentioned I'm not really a techie guy when it comes to these things, I just need a gauge thickeness and brand name, and place where I can pick it up from. Should i just walk into say home depot and ask them for 60 ft ( i.e. how much I require) of copper wire for speakers ???

HD Mike · 03-17-2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownie75

Ok, I am lost, I should have mentioned I'm not really a techie guy when it comes to these things, I just need a gauge thickeness and brand name, and place where I can pick it up from. Should i just walk into say home depot and ask them for 60 ft ( i.e. how much I require) of copper wire for speakers ???

Home Depot and Lowes have pre-spooled copper speaker wire that will work just fine. They come in 25', 50', and 100' spools. Just be sure to get nothing smaller than 16g. Since you say you're not a "techie" please excuse me for saying this but remember 18g is SMALLER than 16g so you want to buy 16g, 14g, or 12g.

.

daleb · 03-17-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownie75

Ok, I am lost, I should have mentioned I'm not really a techie guy when it comes to these things, I just need a gauge thickeness and brand name, and place where I can pick it up from. Should i just walk into say home depot and ask them for 60 ft ( i.e. how much I require) of copper wire for speakers ???

I thought the chart in the link above explained it quite well with regards to wire size vs. length. If you plan to run inside your walls, make sure they are CL rated. The store can help you find those. Avoid brand names like Monster which are over-priced.
Go with generic, you should do just fine.

aed55 · 03-17-2009, 12:04 PM

IMO the only real difference, beside price, is that "speaker wire" usually has clear insulation and one of the wires in the pair is marked to help you connect the speakers for correct phasing.

I personally prefer lamp cord because it is cheaper, it comes in white, which matches the baseboard in my room, and with a simple continuity tester and a felt tip pen, you can mark the ends of each cable to make connections for phasing just as easy as the expensive stuff.

It's just like HDMI cable. The only real difference between a $50 and $10 cable is $40.

daleb · 03-17-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aed55

IMO the only real difference, beside price, is that "speaker wire" usually has clear insulation and one of the wires in the pair is marked to help you connect the speakers for correct phasing.

I personally prefer lamp cord because it is cheaper, it comes in white, which matches the baseboard in my room, and with a simple continuity tester and a felt tip pen, you can mark the ends of each cable to make connections for phasing just as easy as the expensive stuff.

It's just like HDMI cable. The only real difference between a $50 and $10 cable is $40.

Actually, most lamp cord is also marked by ribbing patterns for phasing (or ground) concerns.

aed55 · 03-17-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daleb

Actually, most lamp cord is also marked by ribbing patterns for phasing (or ground) concerns.

You are correct, I never noticed that before. I went to a lot of extra trouble marking the cable, when it was already done for me.

This is yet another reason not to spend the extra for "speaker wire".

brownie75 · 03-17-2009, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Mike

Home Depot and Lowes have pre-spooled copper speaker wire that will work just fine. They come in 25', 50', and 100' spools. Just be sure to get nothing smaller than 16g. Since you say you're not a "techie" please excuse me for saying this but remember 18g is SMALLER than 16g so you want to buy 16g, 14g, or 12g.

.

Thank you! Ok, so 14g. is probaly ideal for my set up.

brownie75 · 03-17-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daleb

I thought the chart in the link above explained it quite well with regards to wire size vs. length. If you plan to run inside your walls, make sure they are CL rated. The store can help you find those. Avoid brand names like Monster which are over-priced.
Go with generic, you should do just fine.

Thanks Daleb, I think 14g would do the job.

brownie75 · 03-17-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aed55

IMO the only real difference, beside price, is that "speaker wire" usually has clear insulation and one of the wires in the pair is marked to help you connect the speakers for correct phasing.

I personally prefer lamp cord because it is cheaper, it comes in white, which matches the baseboard in my room, and with a simple continuity tester and a felt tip pen, you can mark the ends of each cable to make connections for phasing just as easy as the expensive stuff.

It's just like HDMI cable. The only real difference between a $50 and $10 cable is $40.

Thanks aed55, I've already fished my front 3 speaker wires and got the other 2 done, just forgot I was short on the rear spk. wires. I've also got my baseboard removed for the wires to be concealed.

Stew4HD · 03-17-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daleb

Actually, most lamp cord is also marked by ribbing patterns for phasing (or ground) concerns.

You da man! I have been using 14AWG lampwire for some time now. I work in the electrical engineering field and have to do voltage drop calcs all the time. I LMAO at those that think Monster can do special things to cable to make them carry the current better.

Ohm's law has yet to be proved wrong! E=IxR

03-17-2009, 08:39 AM	#1
brownie75 How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 23	Speaker Wire - Brand and Gauge ? Can anyone advise, what kind of gauge and brand shoud I buy to get the best effect from my speakers

03-17-2009, 09:14 AM	#2
tcarcio High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: MA. Posts: 2,732	A good quality copper wire is all you need, no bells and whistles, you will just pay extra.I actually only use copper wire that I buy at Home Depot that is really the same as extension cord cable. Don't be fooled by the hype of expensive cable especially if all you need is some basic cable to listen to your system. This guide should help..http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_216.html __________________ Marantz SR-5004 as a pre amp Behringer EP 4000 for the Danley DTS-10 sub Crown CTS600 amp for mains Crown XLS 402d amp for center 2 Crown CTs 600 amps for surrounds B+W 801 series 80 speakers for mains B+W CDM CSC special edition center Cambridge Soundworks S-300 surrounds x 4 Oppo BDP-93 universal BD player Toshiba HD XA2 HD dvd player Sony VW-VPLPRO1 1080p PJ

03-17-2009, 10:59 AM	#3
daleb High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Clovis, CA Posts: 7,657	Handy guide.. The first cables to have directional arrows had shields terminated at only one end. Since then, some boutique cables claim they have aligned the strands, etc. to produce the best sound if they are treated as directional. I guess if I run my speaker wires (there are two per speaker) in a random fashion I still have a 1 in 4 chance of getting it right. LOL __________________ Samsung PN50A650 plasma, Arcam AVR350, Dali Ikon6 (Vokal2&OnWalls), Outlaw Audio LFM-1EX sub, Anti-Mode 8033B, Oppo Digital BDP-83SE, Roku Digital, Furman Elite power conditioner

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03-17-2009, 11:35 AM	#4
brownie75 How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 23	Ok, I am lost, I should have mentioned I'm not really a techie guy when it comes to these things, I just need a gauge thickeness and brand name, and place where I can pick it up from. Should i just walk into say home depot and ask them for 60 ft ( i.e. how much I require) of copper wire for speakers ???

03-17-2009, 12:04 PM	#7
aed55 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 178	IMO the only real difference, beside price, is that "speaker wire" usually has clear insulation and one of the wires in the pair is marked to help you connect the speakers for correct phasing. I personally prefer lamp cord because it is cheaper, it comes in white, which matches the baseboard in my room, and with a simple continuity tester and a felt tip pen, you can mark the ends of each cable to make connections for phasing just as easy as the expensive stuff. It's just like HDMI cable. The only real difference between a $50 and $10 cable is $40.