Home Theater Forum  ›  Forums  ›  Home Theater  ›  Basics  ›  Extending HTIB Cables

Extending HTIB Cables

#1
Rating: 0
Okay so i got a really good deal on a Home-Theater-In-A-Box (1000 watts), and the cables for the speakers are attached at the speaker end, and they have a large adapter at
the other that plugs into the receiver. I'm fairly new to home theater, so i was wondering if anyone has moved this receiver to a back cabinet (the receiver was meant to be put in the front, as the speaker wires are all different lengths), and how they did it? Because the front 3 speakers have very short wire lengths, I wanted to take standard audio speaker cable from Radio Shack etc. and simply snip the wires at the end of the adapter and use wire nuts to add more speaker cable. Is this possible? Thanks.
Export to Wiki
#2
Rating: 0

Re: Extending HTIB Cables

It's easy to splice more speaker wire. But wire nuts may not be the best because I dont think they do strain relief very well.

Also - every 2 years or so you should cut the exposed wire off (it will turn dull-brown with oxidization) and re-strip and re-splice.

Short of that - it should work fine.

Get a spool of speaker wire from Parts Express - Amplifiers, Head Units, Speakers, Wiring Kits, Subwoofers, Dampening or buy the bulk stuff from Home Depot. Radio Shack now carries Monster and they may not have their "MegaCable" stuff anymore.

Anything about $0.50/ft is good. Less is better, more than about $1/ft ... shop around.
Export to Wiki
#3
Rating: 0

Re: Extending HTIB Cables

thanks so much for the help. what should i use instead of wire nuts? and is there different kinds of wire to buy?
Export to Wiki
#4
Rating: 0

Re: Extending HTIB Cables

I've used butt splices; the wires are joined "in line" and they're easy to apply.
Export to Wiki
#5
Rating: 0

Re: Extending HTIB Cables


Quote:
Originally Posted by chris.big.money
thanks so much for the help. what should i use instead of wire nuts? and is there different kinds of wire to buy?
You might want to take a look at the article on spicing speaker wire in my signature.

Wayne A. Pflughaupt
My Equipment List
“A nice mid-fi system,” according to an audiophile acquaintance.

My Tech / DIY Articles and Reviews
Export to Wiki
#6
Rating: 0

Re: Extending HTIB Cables

thanks everyone. it was a lot of help and great ideas. i really appreciate it. so i will attempt extending the wires and try to post back with results.
Export to Wiki
#7
Rating: 0

Re: Extending HTIB Cables

okay so what gauge speaker wire should i use? the website for the system doesn't say what the pre-packaged wire is, and unfortunately i don't know any other way of determining it.
Export to Wiki