Four Dollar Wire

rebuy
rebuy Posts: 695
edited September 2011 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
So I have the Onkyo and the rti4's ready to go except for a larger gauge wire.
We do have a Rat Shack which I've visited but I didn't want to buy Monster Inc.
I said to myself, "hey, go to the "True Value" hardware store and see if they have bulk wire to buy by the ft". So I did and they did, so we made the transaction and they kept the four dollars and I left with 20 feet of 16 gauge wire for the mains. Exciting isn't it?

When I bought the wire I noticed in the 16/2 mix that one of the jackets was slightly off color from the clear side and thought that is ok since it helps for polarity identification. How nice of the manufacturer to help by coloring the jacket. You know where we are going?

Well, it seems that one jacket is a green tinted because the wire on the inside of the jacket is corroded. Wasting away inside the true value hardware store and in my house. :eek:

You know, wire is wire, and this was a True Value

Thanks Paul

Good day
Post edited by rebuy on
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Comments

  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited July 2011
    www.monoprice.com

    100 ft of 12 gauge oxygen free wire for about $18
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • TouchOfEvil
    TouchOfEvil Posts: 967
    edited July 2011
    riveting tale.
    Living Room Rig:D
    Rotel RSP-1069/Rotel RMB-1095/Rotel-1072/Polk lsI15's W/modded xoverW/DBsubs/Polk LsiC/lsI7's/Klipsch sub-12"the weak link"/DLP Mitsubishi 65"
    Xbox360/PS3/WII
    M.Br. setup:)
    Emotiva MMC-1/Rotel RMB-1075/Polk BlackStone TL350's/Velodyne SPL1000/Samsung 51" Plasma
    Computer Rig:
    Rotel RB1050/Tannoy DC4's/Klipsch RW-10d/ImodIpod/HK AVR230 for now....
    Headphones-Ultrasone-HFI780's w/LittleDot MK Vamp Portables Panasonic HJE-900's
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  • djperez81
    djperez81 Posts: 388
    edited July 2011
    TNRabbit wrote: »
    www.monoprice.com

    100 ft of 12 gauge oxygen free wire for about $18

    I bought a spool of that wire. Good bang for your buck!!
    Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.
    -Jimi Hendrix
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited July 2011
    If you're looking for cheap and NOT green, Monoprice is a good choice. If you want something that's a few notches above that, still reasonably priced and hand made? www.signalcable.com with a Polk discount to boot.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • matchan
    matchan Posts: 73
    edited July 2011
    monoprice is unbeatable for the price. cant imagine any other wire being better than this one - atleast better percieved sound quality
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited August 2011
    Four dollar wire, four dollar sound.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • TouchOfEvil
    TouchOfEvil Posts: 967
    edited August 2011
    four is a four letter word......:eek:
    Living Room Rig:D
    Rotel RSP-1069/Rotel RMB-1095/Rotel-1072/Polk lsI15's W/modded xoverW/DBsubs/Polk LsiC/lsI7's/Klipsch sub-12"the weak link"/DLP Mitsubishi 65"
    Xbox360/PS3/WII
    M.Br. setup:)
    Emotiva MMC-1/Rotel RMB-1075/Polk BlackStone TL350's/Velodyne SPL1000/Samsung 51" Plasma
    Computer Rig:
    Rotel RB1050/Tannoy DC4's/Klipsch RW-10d/ImodIpod/HK AVR230 for now....
    Headphones-Ultrasone-HFI780's w/LittleDot MK Vamp Portables Panasonic HJE-900's
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  • HTguru1982
    HTguru1982 Posts: 1,066
    edited August 2011
    Monoprice wire turned green on me.
    Display: Sony 42" LCD
    Sources: Harman Kardon DVD-27,
    Panasonic DMP-BDT110 blu ray player
    AVR: Sony STR-DA2400ES
    Amps: Sonance Sonamp 260(fronts),
    Kenwood KM-894(surrounds)
    Fronts: NHT 2.5
    Center: NHT VS-1.2A
    Surrounds: NHT Super One
    Subwoofer: SVS PB10-ISD
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited August 2011
    To the original poster: IMO, skip that crap. Doro's suggestion about signal is good.

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,129
    edited August 2011
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    Four dollar wire, four dollar sound.

    No truer words have been spoken here.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,064
    edited August 2011
    Amen to that gents.

    4 buck wire ?? You would think new speakers deserve better.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • rebuy
    rebuy Posts: 695
    edited August 2011
    I only had to make 2, 10ft runs, Even though I did want larger gauge wire I was thinking New wire from the "True Value" hardware store would be ok since it is 16 gauge.
    Remember I am in a very small town and choices are limited. Who would have thought that new wire was corroded on the spool?

    I posted this experience to warn others about shopping for wires.
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited August 2011
    all I'm going to say is you get what you pay for.
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,389
    edited August 2011
    rebuy wrote: »
    I only had to make 2, 10ft runs, Even though I did want larger gauge wire I was thinking New wire from the "True Value" hardware store would be ok since it is 16 gauge.
    Remember I am in a very small town and choices are limited. Who would have thought that new wire was corroded on the spool?

    I posted this experience to warn others about shopping for wires.

    Corrosion is the main reason for oxygen free
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited August 2011
    Oxygen free is not really oxygen free
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • ROHfan
    ROHfan Posts: 1,014
    edited August 2011
    decal wrote: »
    Oxygen free is not really oxygen free

    Very true. Here's a good article on cable composition:

    http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/exotic-materials-and-cable-construction
    TV: 65" Samsung QLED 4K
    Fronts: Energy RC70 --- Center: Energy RC-LCR
    Front Heights: Polk RC65i --- Rears: Polk RC85i --- Sub: Power Sound Audio XS15
    Pioneer VSX-1120K --- Parasound HCA-1000A --- Oppo BDP-103
    Vincent Audio SA31 preamp --- Teac UD301 DAC
    AIYIMA Tube T7 preamp --- Nobsound 12AX7 tube preamplifier
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,064
    edited August 2011
    ROHfan wrote: »
    Very true. Here's a good article on cable composition:

    http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/exotic-materials-and-cable-construction

    Here's a little bit of that article...read closely.

    "We have cut into pieces of Belden coaxial cable twenty-five years old that have been used in radio transmission applications--and found them clean and bright, completely lacking any sign of oxidation."

    Sure if you cut in the middle a cable,most will be free from oxidation because of the coating used, but it's not the middle that usually oxidizes, it's the ends,the connections. I also noticed he compares everything to broadcast cable where soundstage, presence, tone and weight have little to do with and not much of a concern broadcasting the 5 o'clock news.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited August 2011
    Interesting! I've, also, never seen anything but the ends corrode....even in cheap wiring. And I mean cheap!

    What's described above must be some pretty badly coated copper that's been stored in a super hot humid space for a while!

    But the other choices mentioned should address those problems.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • Mr. Sharpe
    Mr. Sharpe Posts: 1,355
    edited August 2011
    MonoPrice is def the way to go for cheap 12 gauge:)
    Home theater:
    43” Westinghouse Displayer
    Marantz UD-7007 Player
    Emotiva MC-700 Processor
    Adcom GFA-5006 Amplifier
    Parasound Zamp Amplifier
    Ethereal ESO-1 Power Conditioner
    Klipsch RC-10 Center
    Klipsch R34c Fronts
    Klipsch RB-41 Surrounds
    Polk audio PSW-505

    Stereo:
    Polk audio RTA-12c’s fully upgraded crossovers
    DIY 12tc braided speaker cables
    Denon DVD-5910ci Spinner
    Parasound P6 Preamplifer
    Parasound HCA -1500a Amplifier
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited August 2011
    Monoprice has nothing to do with hi-fi. Basic listening, background music, sure. It will pass a signal, I'll give it that.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • Mr. Sharpe
    Mr. Sharpe Posts: 1,355
    edited August 2011
    haha ok thanks for that. All I'm getting from them are some Nanner prugs:)
    Home theater:
    43” Westinghouse Displayer
    Marantz UD-7007 Player
    Emotiva MC-700 Processor
    Adcom GFA-5006 Amplifier
    Parasound Zamp Amplifier
    Ethereal ESO-1 Power Conditioner
    Klipsch RC-10 Center
    Klipsch R34c Fronts
    Klipsch RB-41 Surrounds
    Polk audio PSW-505

    Stereo:
    Polk audio RTA-12c’s fully upgraded crossovers
    DIY 12tc braided speaker cables
    Denon DVD-5910ci Spinner
    Parasound P6 Preamplifer
    Parasound HCA -1500a Amplifier
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,259
    edited August 2011
    $4 sound isn't worth the effort of pushing the power switch.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • TouchOfEvil
    TouchOfEvil Posts: 967
    edited August 2011
    cnh wrote: »
    Interesting! I've, also, never seen anything but the ends corrode....even in cheap wiring. And I mean cheap!

    What's described above must be some pretty badly coated copper that's been stored in a super hot humid space for a while!

    But the other choices mentioned should address those problems.

    cnh

    I have had a power cable turn green. Not home audio though lol. It was roughly 5 years old and in one of my cars a long time ago. The entire thing all the way through was corroded and green. Tore it apart and it looked like bakingsoda inside the wire strands.
    Living Room Rig:D
    Rotel RSP-1069/Rotel RMB-1095/Rotel-1072/Polk lsI15's W/modded xoverW/DBsubs/Polk LsiC/lsI7's/Klipsch sub-12"the weak link"/DLP Mitsubishi 65"
    Xbox360/PS3/WII
    M.Br. setup:)
    Emotiva MMC-1/Rotel RMB-1075/Polk BlackStone TL350's/Velodyne SPL1000/Samsung 51" Plasma
    Computer Rig:
    Rotel RB1050/Tannoy DC4's/Klipsch RW-10d/ImodIpod/HK AVR230 for now....
    Headphones-Ultrasone-HFI780's w/LittleDot MK Vamp Portables Panasonic HJE-900's
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  • cembros
    cembros Posts: 172
    edited August 2011
    you get what you pay for I guess. Going cheep is a short term solution.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited August 2011
    Keiko wrote: »
    Moral of the story, the OP had to rebuy his speaker wires. :tongue:

    Why not take advantage of MIT's B Stock sale? Looks like they still have some left.

    http://www.mitcablesexpress.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=108&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=14

    wow, those are great deals!
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • Mr. Sharpe
    Mr. Sharpe Posts: 1,355
    edited August 2011
    My Dad's 12 gauge he had hooked to RTA 12c's were green once, but that was mostly because he procrastinates in getting new equipment slash upgrades for any of his stuff, except for his Cd player... that he doesn't use. but yeah, he probably had the same 12 gauge he put on them when he first purchased them lol I'm inheriting those so I'll have an all 100% original pair lol
    Home theater:
    43” Westinghouse Displayer
    Marantz UD-7007 Player
    Emotiva MC-700 Processor
    Adcom GFA-5006 Amplifier
    Parasound Zamp Amplifier
    Ethereal ESO-1 Power Conditioner
    Klipsch RC-10 Center
    Klipsch R34c Fronts
    Klipsch RB-41 Surrounds
    Polk audio PSW-505

    Stereo:
    Polk audio RTA-12c’s fully upgraded crossovers
    DIY 12tc braided speaker cables
    Denon DVD-5910ci Spinner
    Parasound P6 Preamplifer
    Parasound HCA -1500a Amplifier
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,594
    edited August 2011
    Post #29 reported for spam..
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,064
    edited August 2011
    4 dollar wire....5 dollar foot long....the worlds gone nuts I tell ya.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • rebuy
    rebuy Posts: 695
    edited August 2011
    LOL :smile:
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  • TouchOfEvil
    TouchOfEvil Posts: 967
    edited August 2011
    Kim wrote: »
    Don't forget two large with any topping for 10 bucks....

    That's a good deal.:smile:
    Living Room Rig:D
    Rotel RSP-1069/Rotel RMB-1095/Rotel-1072/Polk lsI15's W/modded xoverW/DBsubs/Polk LsiC/lsI7's/Klipsch sub-12"the weak link"/DLP Mitsubishi 65"
    Xbox360/PS3/WII
    M.Br. setup:)
    Emotiva MMC-1/Rotel RMB-1075/Polk BlackStone TL350's/Velodyne SPL1000/Samsung 51" Plasma
    Computer Rig:
    Rotel RB1050/Tannoy DC4's/Klipsch RW-10d/ImodIpod/HK AVR230 for now....
    Headphones-Ultrasone-HFI780's w/LittleDot MK Vamp Portables Panasonic HJE-900's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter