Using Stereo Audio Cables as Pre-Terminated Speaker Wire?

GaryB

Hi Folks, I recently bought RTi4 bookshelves & CSi3 center speaker, along with Yamaha RXV-467 AVR (I've not yet unboxed any of these items). Rather than fooling around with banana clips or stripping/wrapping bare wire, will something like the "stereo audio cable" shown in link below work? It appears to have dual plugs on each end and so I'd only need three cables (~$10 total), which would be more cost effective and convenient than bare wire and/or banana plugs.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00116VJIO/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=A19HVCG16XC5A9

I'm not sure what the AWG is, and so I've emailed the company to ask. If it's over 16AWG, I won't bother with it.

Thanks and Happy Holidays!
Gary

zingo

This would work better for you, cheap and no terminating necessary.

10ft VELOCITY™ SPEAKER INTERCONNECT 12AWG

GaryB

Thank you, Zingo. I guess what I'd really like to know is which type of connector and/or other important features should I look for in a speaker cable? Will the ordinary 3.5mm (1/4") mini-plug work? Did you not recommend the cable in my link for a certain reason?

As I mentioned, I've not yet even unboxed the components. I'm just trying to get everything together so I have what I need by early next week when I set up my system.

jinjuku

GaryB wrote: »

Thank you, Zingo. I guess what I'd really like to know is which type of connector and/or other important features should I look for in a speaker cable? Will the ordinary 3.5mm (1/4") mini-plug work? Did you not recommend the cable in my link for a certain reason?

As I mentioned, I've not yet even unboxed the components. I'm just trying to get everything together so I have what I need by early next week when I set up my system.

There are two basic connections made in an audio system: Line level and Speaker level.

Line leve is any connection that goes source <> receiver. Speaker level is any cable going to, well, a speaker (from amp or receiver).

The cable you linked to isn't going to work with what you posted. You need speaker level cable (14 or 12 AWG) with bananas/spades/tinned leads.

GaryB

Thanks jinjuku! That's the type of info I need since I didn't know about that (line level vs. speaker level). So I take it that standard audio cables won't work. Can you tell me what keywords I should search the internet for, for example "14 AWG Speaker level cable"?

Thanks again!

jinjuku

GaryB wrote: »

Thanks jinjuku! That's the type of info I need since I didn't know about that (line level vs. speaker level). So I take it that standard audio cables won't work. Can you tell me what keywords I should search the internet for, for example "14 AWG Speaker level cable"?

Thanks again!

You can go to monoprice.com and search with:

12AWG (speaker level)
RCA (line level)
TOSLink (line level)
S/PDIF (line level)
HDMI (video/line level)

What are your sources? Some sources could use most of the above line levels.

GaryB

Thanks! Other than the AVR, my only source at this time is a Magnavox combo DVD Recorder/VHS. It and my TV will be HDMI-fed in/out of my Yamaha RXV-467 AVR. So I assume I won't need any other line level cables.

When you suggested the line level keywords above, am I correct that you only meant those to apply to source-to-AVR (or AVR-to-TV) connections, and not speaker-to-AVR connections? If so, then I guess I just need to search for "12AWG speaker level cable" (although I assume 14AWG will work also). Thanks again!

tonyb

GaryB wrote: »

Thanks! Other than the AVR, my only source at this time is a Magnavox combo DVD Recorder/VHS. It and my TV will be HDMI-fed in/out of my Yamaha RXV-467 AVR. So I assume I won't need any other line level cables.

When you suggested the line level keywords above, am I correct that you only meant those to apply to source-to-AVR (or AVR-to-TV) connections, and not speaker-to-AVR connections? If so, then I guess I just need to search for "12AWG speaker level cable" (although I assume 14AWG will work also). Thanks again!

You have a DVD/VHS recorder with HDMI output ?? Never seen one.
Do you have a cable box ?

GaryB

tonyb wrote: »

You have a DVD/VHS recorder with HDMI output ?? Never seen one.
Do you have a cable box ?

Yes, it's the Magnavox Model ZV427MG9. And yes, I have a satellite box (Dish Network).

tonyb

GaryB wrote: »

Yes, it's the Magnavox Model ZV427MG9. And yes, I have a satellite box (Dish Network).

Cool, well if you want to hear your tv through the speakers you just bought, you'll also need a digital toslink cable from the cable box to the receiver. That is, if you have a HD cable box.

As a side note, you could also run over to the nearest radio shack,home depot, and get a spool of 14 ga. speaker wire, and any other cable you may need. IMHO just as good as the lower level cables you see at monoprice or Belden.