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Author Topic: Speaker Wire for Hi-Fi system  (Read 17933 times)

Scott Carneval

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Speaker Wire for Hi-Fi system
« on: March 07, 2013, 05:17:52 PM »

I would ask this on the hi-fi boards, but everything it seems they all swear by the $300/ft oxygen free magical twist french braided speaker wire.  Is there any difference compared to using a quality 12/2 or 14/2?  I have a friend who wants me to move his equipment to the back of his listening room and fish the wire through the floor and back up the wall.  Right now he has cables that are about the size of my thumb (didn't check the gauge) but they're only about 10' long each because the gear is in a bookshelf in the front of the room.  If we move it to the back we'll need about 30' per run.  The speakers are Ascendants by Avalon Acoustics, 4ohm impedence and rated for 50-200 watts each. I told him we could connect them with his magical wire and my West Penn 224 and see if we notice a difference, but I was hoping someone could give some input on what to expect. 
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duane massey

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Re: Speaker Wire for Hi-Fi system
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2013, 05:28:04 PM »

In my experience, the only person who hears an improvement is the person who bought the wire.
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Duane Massey
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Len Zenith Jr

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Re: Speaker Wire for Hi-Fi system
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2013, 06:03:29 PM »

Copper is copper. Usually if a difference is heard when replacing speaker wire it is beacuse the ends of the wire being replaced are badly oxidized. A simple cutting and restripping of the ends would bring about the same improvement heard with new wire.

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#resistancehigh


This calculator
will guide you for wire length and gauge determination.
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Paul G. OBrien

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Re: Speaker Wire for Hi-Fi system
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2013, 06:14:26 PM »

Some 14ga install speaker wire(has a shielded jacket) will do the trick, for the power level you're talking about here these giant welding cables the Audiofools love to use are absurd.
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Riley Casey

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Re: Speaker Wire for Hi-Fi system
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2013, 08:23:02 PM »

Why would you use shielded cable for speakers in a home stereo?

Some 14ga install speaker wire(has a shielded jacket) will do the trick, for the power level you're talking about here these giant welding cables the Audiofools love to use are absurd.

Bob Leonard

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Re: Speaker Wire for Hi-Fi system
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2013, 08:26:15 PM »

I've always used zip cord. Buy it at the hardware store. Flexible, handles plenty of power, white or brown, cheap.
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Ned Ward

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Re: Speaker Wire for Hi-Fi system
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2013, 08:34:35 PM »

FYI - if you don't want to fish wires through the floor, we used flexible molding trim at the wall/roof corner and added a nice touch to the room. A lot easier than potentially having to drill holes through joists. the PVC foam trim molding also molds to irregular walls, and your corner cuts won't shrink over time...

We used zip cord as well, 40' run of each for the surrounds. Of course, ours was that clear kind, which allows for more transparent sound...

Just a thought.
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John Roberts {JR}

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Re: Speaker Wire for Hi-Fi system
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2013, 11:03:27 PM »

I've always used zip cord. Buy it at the hardware store. Flexible, handles plenty of power, white or brown, cheap.
+1  zip cord

JR
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Tim McCulloch

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Re: Speaker Wire for Hi-Fi system
« Reply #8 on: March 07, 2013, 11:36:20 PM »

Copper is copper, and "you'll never take me alive, Coper!"

Avoid wire with a brand name or chemical composition that can be found in any AudioPhool publication or on such websites.  Avoid anything that costs more than $10/pound.

14ga. zip cord is ideal.  Go to a rock shop and get some pretty quartz or turquoise and tiny cloth bags to hold it.  Tie one to each speaker wire at whatever end matches the story you're about to make up.  These bags of rocks will provide the "magic" necessary to transform mere zip cord into an AudioPhool Delight.  Embellish as you see fit.

Remember that Freud thought a large fee to be therapeutic....

edit ps.  I'll PM you with an address for my commission.  8)
« Last Edit: March 07, 2013, 11:43:39 PM by Tim McCulloch »
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duane massey

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Re: Speaker Wire for Hi-Fi system
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2013, 12:13:47 AM »

Good one, Ned.....
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Duane Massey
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Houston, Texas

ProSoundWeb Community

Re: Speaker Wire for Hi-Fi system
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2013, 12:13:47 AM »


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