New To Audio

daniel.layher

I am sure this has been asked a million times and I am sure there a million different opinions how what the right answer is. I will, however ask my question anyway. First I would like to start off by informing everybody that I am new to the audio world. Not that I was deaf and can now hear, but that I never took the time to appreciate and research much about audio components and the science behind it. However, I find myself in my first home, have a 50' television, and am listening to the speakers on the back of my television rather than a good quality audio system. After just enough research to get by, I have decided to outfit my living room with Polk Audio speakers and have purchased the first one (a CS1 center channel speaker).

NOW TO MY ACTUAL QUESTION(S): I have not yet bought speaker cable and do not want to fall victim to the trap of buying hundreds of dollars of equipment and only spending $10 on the cheapest speaker wire I can find. I intend on putting the wiring in the walls/ceiling to conceal them. What is the best "bang for my buck" when it comes to speaker wires in my case? Does gauge really matter as long as I am in the 14-16 gauge range? Does brand matter or is one brand pretty much the same as another? I am not necessarily looking for the best wire, just the best for the money (I am still going to school to finish up my MBA and have a frugal wife so I am working on a budget).

zarrdoss

http://www.parts-express.com/wizards/searchResults.cfm?srchExt=CAT&srchCat=376

the longer the run the bigger the wire (lower gauge) I would use at least 16-14 on the mains if not 12 depending on your amp and speakers used.

we will all pretend that we didn't hear "is one brand pretty much the same as another" lol

Knucklehead

try monoprice or blue jeans cable as well. Welcome to CP.

dorokusai

Just get something in-wall rated from any of the aforementioned sources. Worry about tweaking and all the crazy stuff much later. You're going to save money anyways, go 12g all around so when you decide your final solution, you either have a larger gauge then you actually need, which never hurts anyone....even children or have already upgraded and can laugh at everyone else like Dr. Evil.

That way you satisfy the people that hate cables and the people that find value in cables.

If you have room, I'd run a single run of CAT5/6 with it as well.

schutz2106

I just purchased a 100 ft of cable from Blue Jeans cable. I replaced my rear surround from 16 guage to 12 guage now. Was very easy to pull through walls, attic and back down the wall. Cable looks great and was a great price.