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Speaker Wire Questions

#1
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10/31/09 at 4:12am
  • Joined: October 2009
  • Post Count: 1
Hi all-

I'm building my HT in our basement (mostly framed, working on mechanical/electrical), and have some questions on speaker wire:

1) I'm using 1" flexible PVC as a chase through the wall.  Do I still in in-wall rated speaker wire, since the chase would be a better fire barrier than the PVC insulation jacket on the regular wire?

2) I've read in a few places that speaker wire runs should be the same for every channel, i.e. if one speaker is farther away, run extra cable to the other.  With the advent of self adjusting receivers, is this still necessary?  Seems to me the receiver would be smart enough to compensate for the slight difference in impedence.

3) I have a Klipsch surround system, F-2/C-2/S-2, and am scoping out a new higher end receiver with 100+ watts per channel for the new HT.  I orginally wanted to use 10 gauge speaker wire, but haven't been able to find any for in-wall use.  If I still need CL2 or 3 rated wire, will I be sacrificing to go with 12 gauge?  No run will be more than 25 ft in the new theater.

Thanks everyone!  Since I just joined, I hope to be able to contribute more.

Kevin

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#2
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10/31/09 at 7:00am
  • Joined: December 2003
  • Location: Charlotte, NC
  • Post Count: 2,812
1 - I'm not sure about the requirements if using flexible PVC.  I think your logic is sound that the flexible PVC would provide more protection than the insulation on the wire.  With that said, CL2-rated wire isn't usually much more expensive than non-rated wire.

2 - I have seen posted a couple times around here how long the wire run difference would have to be for there to be a noticeable difference . . . I want to say it was several hundred feet.  I don't think it's something you need to worry about at all.

3 - WIth runs under 25 feet I would not expect you to have any difference between 12 and 10 . . . I'm doubt you would even have an issue with 14.  If you really want to use 10, check out BlueJeans Cable.  They sell 10 gauge that is rated for in-wall use.
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