Alex_C

Newbie questions about speaker wire

I just started building my new HT system. Do you use stranded copper or a solid core copper? Do I need special connectors or do I just stick the bare wire into the speakers?

I have a run of about 50 ft to my rears so I was going to use 12 gauge. I was thinking of going to Home Depot but I want to make sure I get the right stuff.

Thanks for the help.

Justin Ward

I think most people use stranded. I'm not sure why you would need solid core. Stranded is much more flexible I think.




This is personal preference. I use bare wire, but if you change speakers around alot you may want banana plugs.







I hear the Home Depot stuff is every bit as good as the more expensive stuff.

DIY Speaker Stands
DIY Tempest Subwoofer
DIY Flexy Rack

HienD

I was using the home depot stuff. But I found it to be too stiff. Bought some more flexible 12 guage. Sounds the same to me. Home depot stuff is fine.

Rob Rodier

I beleive in better cables, but for 50 foot runs you almost have to use the hd stuff.

As for the terminations, I would invest in some bananna plugs or spades. Not that they are going to improve the sound but oxidation becomes a problem with the bare wires exposed.

They are cheap anyway...

-rob

Randall Duncan

I've thought of trying Anaconda solid 12 AWG wire for my speakers...
Never did though. If you can find Carol Command cables, I hear
that they're really good for speaker cables.

Lines join in faint discord and the Stormwatch brews a concert of kings as the white sea snaps at the heels of a soft prayer... Whispered.

Barry BB

I am very happy with Sound King 12ga from Parts Express. Inexpensive and well jacketed. Home Depot wire should be OK also. No need to spend a penny more than these two suggestions.

John Garcia

I use solid wire (Audioquest type 4 bi-wire) in my 2ch system and I feel it helps out a bit. I leave it bare, no connectors. This makes connections a bit more difficult, but it sounds good. I may move to spades or bananas for ease of use on the speaker side. The high quality solid copper does seem to give me more detail in the midrange, but it is a very subtle change.

In my HT system, I am using Monster MCX-1S with bananas.

"The trouble with the world is not that people know too little, but that they know so many things that ain't so." - Mark Twain

HT: Marantz SR-8300, MA500 monoblocks x 2, 5X GR Research A/V-2s, Adire Audio Tempest sub, Denon 2900, Oppo 980H, Toshiba HD-A2, RC2000MkII remote, Panamax 5100, Panamax Max2 sub, Slim PS2, PS3 60G + 320G USB

Bedroom: Marantz PM-7200 Integrated, GR Research A/V-1s, Sony 222ES SACD, RC3200 remote, Panamax M8EX

Audio: Audioquest * Video: Bluejeans

My DVDs My HT

David Preston

I just got new speaker wire for my rears. If you are running it in the wall through the attic and back down the back wall you need to get in wall rated speaker wire. Home Depot has it I got 14ga. Do a search on wall and you will probably see it.