Glen_T

Wire length - effect on receiver...

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this question.

I am wiring some outside speakers for my deck and plan on using the "B" channel outputs from my receiver to drive them.

The problem is that due to the location of the speakers and the location of the receiver, one speaker will require about 25 ft of cable, but the other will require about 75ft.

Will this cause damage or problems with the receiver? I can't imagine the resistance per foot of the wire is that great, but one run will have only 1/3rd the resistance of the other run. I seem to recall this could damage amplifiers by essentially loading one side more heavily than the other.

Is this a concern, or am I just dreaming up things to worry about!

Thanks,
Glen_T

Nathan Stohler

I don't think this will damage the amp. One speaker will just receive less power than the other. If you do some searching, you can find tables that show the resistance and loss of power, given the length and guage (AWG) of the wire.

If the difference is significant, you may need to adjust the balance of the speakers, but I have a feeling that the balance knob on most receivers only applies to the "A" speakers (I'm only guessing though, I've never tried it).

--Nathan