Another wire gauge question...
Xterrapin
Posts: 15
Sorry to open up this can of worms again, but I am trying to get a definative answer to my question.
I am getting ready to wire my first system, which consists of a PSW111 sub, 4 RM8 speakers, and an RM8 center. I am using a Sony STR-DH810 reciever, and a Sony 570 BlueRay player, as well. I was planning on using 18 gauge wire because I got a nice reel of it from a friend for free, who said it would be more than adequate for the job.
What do you guys think, should I spend the cash and get 16, 14, 12 ?
It will be going in a small room with runs no more than 20 feet for the surrounds.
I am getting ready to wire my first system, which consists of a PSW111 sub, 4 RM8 speakers, and an RM8 center. I am using a Sony STR-DH810 reciever, and a Sony 570 BlueRay player, as well. I was planning on using 18 gauge wire because I got a nice reel of it from a friend for free, who said it would be more than adequate for the job.
What do you guys think, should I spend the cash and get 16, 14, 12 ?
It will be going in a small room with runs no more than 20 feet for the surrounds.
Post edited by Xterrapin on
Comments
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This should help: http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable. What you will find is most will recommend going with 14-12 gauge wire from Monoprice as its really cheap. Plus since you may switch to speakers that need more power, its normally better to run wire once with 12 or 14 gauge and then not have to worry about re-running wire because its to thin later.
But if cost is an issue, go with what you got. Looks like it should be ok."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
EndersShadow wrote: »This should help: BS DELETED
Another TROLL who lurks and just waits for the opportunity to start a fight.
To answer the question, with your gear it will most likely be difficult to hear any difference between the 18 guage and, for example, 12 gauge.
So, do an experiment. Go to the hardware store and buy enough stranded, twisted, copper 12 gauge wire for your setup. Install the 18 gauge and get used to it. After sometime, install the 12 gauge, and let us know if you can hear the difference.
As an FYI, I did this maybe 2-3 years ago in my HT. I had a mixture of 16 gauge, and other sizes. I then bought 100 feet of 12 gauge at the hardware store for a few dollars. After cutting exact lengths for each speaker I was surprised to hear a positive improvement. It was a bit clearer.
Of course, this change was no where as near the improvement experienced when I went to higher cost cable. But that is a different story, and not for this thread.
Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
Thanks, BlueFox. I'm going to do just that.
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Another TROLL who lurks and just waits for the opportunity to start a fight.
To answer the question, with your gear it will most likely be difficult to hear any difference between the 18 guage and, for example, 12 gauge.
So, do an experiment. Go to the hardware store and buy enough stranded, twisted, copper 12 gauge wire for your setup. Install the 18 gauge and get used to it. After sometime, install the 12 gauge, and let us know if you can hear the difference.
As an FYI, I did this maybe 2-3 years ago in my HT. I had a mixture of 16 gauge, and other sizes. I then bought 100 feet of 12 gauge at the hardware store for a few dollars. After cutting exact lengths for each speaker I was surprised to hear a positive improvement. It was a bit clearer.
Of course, this change was no where as near the improvement experienced when I went to higher cost cable. But that is a different story, and not for this thread.
Not attempting to start a fight, and take some offense to being called a Troll. I simply suggested 12-14 gauge wire. You are correct in that 18 gauge will work with his current gear and I dont dispute that in any way.
My comment as to why to go with lower gear was more in case he later on buys better speakers, like the LSi line, or even RTi.
I could be wrong and if so apologize for it (call it ignorance if you want), but I thought there would be a difference between driving something like a RTi A9 or LSi 9 with 12-14 gauge wire as opposed to 18.
Like I said I just referenced what I read in some of the threads I pulled up with a quick search.
If I am wrong I apologize."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
EndersShadow wrote: »Not attempting to start a fight, and take some offense to being called a Troll. I simply suggested 12-14 gauge wire.
My apology. I replied to your first post before you edited it and added the part of trying 12-14 gauge. Your first post was simply the link to the world's most ignorant person, and that is just trolling for an argument. Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
My apology. I replied to your first post before you edited it and added the part of trying 12-14 gauge. Your first post was simply the link to the world's most ignorant person, and that is just trolling for an argument.
Comprende. Trust me, while I enjoy watching arguments unfold (like one currently going on about amps w/ Monitor 70's and TSi 500's), I prefer to sit on the sidelines.
Like we both agree, use what you got if cost is an issue, but thicker wire will make some improvements.
I had just seen that article linked to both here and at AVSFORUM's. I will consider it obsolte and forget I ever linked to it in the future."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
