What speaker cables to use?

deebee
deebee Posts: 1
edited September 2011 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I have just purchased a pair of Polk RTIA7 floor standing speakers and a Onyko 609 7.2 channel AV receiver. My question is what is the best type of speaker cable to use and what gauge? Thanks.
Post edited by deebee on
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited September 2011
    www.signalcable.com Just check out the Classic series.

    30 day money back deal....5% discount for Club Polk members. One of the best DIY style cables on the market.
    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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  • John K.
    John K. Posts: 822
    edited September 2011
    Deebee, welcome to Club Polk. The term "best" really doesn't have much application to something as simple as a piece of connecting wire. Get regular copper electrical wire at a local supplier such as Home Depot or at a low-cost online source such as MonoPrice.

    Yes, you should use an appropriate gauge, depending primarily on the length of the run. For accurate no-nonsense information on speaker wire in general and gauge suggestions in particular study this explanation by a respected veteran audio professional which has helped many listeners.
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  • dcmartinpc
    dcmartinpc Posts: 844
    edited September 2011
    dorokusai wrote: »
    www.signalcable.com Just check out the Classic series.

    30 day money back deal....5% discount for Club Polk members. One of the best DIY style cables on the market.

    Great recommendation Mark. Signal Cable is a great entry level cable. The build quality is excellent, and you can be proud to display them with your system.

    Don
    Living Room: Adcom GFP-750 (Upgraded), Squeezebox Touch, Oppo BDP-83, Pioneer DV-79AVi, Parasound HCA-3500 (Upgraded), SDA SRS 2 P/B (Gimpod, Sonicaps, & Mills)

    Theater: Denon 4311ci, Oppo BDP-93, Parasound HCA-2205+HCA-2200II, Polk LSi9, LSiC, LSiFX, LSi7, Custom 18" TC Sounds sub with 2 18" PR, Sharp XV-Z12000, Pioneer Kuro KRP-500M (isf Enabled)

    Bedroom: HK AVR354, Pioneer DV-47a, Parasound HCA-1500a, Polk LSi9
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited September 2011
    Best is in the eye/ear of the beholder.
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited September 2011
    I recommend Luminous Audio as Tim has a cable to meet any budget.
    Jake
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  • dcmartinpc
    dcmartinpc Posts: 844
    edited September 2011
    Looks like MIT still has some B Stock left. If 10 footers are enough, here you go. Heck of a deal for $50...

    http://www.mitcablesexpress.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=382&category_id=108&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=14

    Don
    Living Room: Adcom GFP-750 (Upgraded), Squeezebox Touch, Oppo BDP-83, Pioneer DV-79AVi, Parasound HCA-3500 (Upgraded), SDA SRS 2 P/B (Gimpod, Sonicaps, & Mills)

    Theater: Denon 4311ci, Oppo BDP-93, Parasound HCA-2205+HCA-2200II, Polk LSi9, LSiC, LSiFX, LSi7, Custom 18" TC Sounds sub with 2 18" PR, Sharp XV-Z12000, Pioneer Kuro KRP-500M (isf Enabled)

    Bedroom: HK AVR354, Pioneer DV-47a, Parasound HCA-1500a, Polk LSi9
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited September 2011
    JohnK - I think we're in some pretty reasonable areas of suggestions here as opposed to what could have been thrown about don't you think? C'mon....man. I know I'm not a veteran audio professional but I'm not just out of High School either.
    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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  • dcmartinpc
    dcmartinpc Posts: 844
    edited September 2011
    zingo wrote: »
    I recommend Luminous Audio as Tim has a cable to meet any budget.

    The answer is, there are a LOT of great options! Whatever fits your budget and is not lamp cord is the best recommendation. :biggrin: There are several go to vendors here that we recommend for a quality built cable that will last you a long time. 2 of them have already been mentioned. If you have $10,000 to spend on speaker wires, there are solutions for that! :eek:

    For my subs and my home theater, I don't run anything fancy at all :biggrin: Bulk In Wall 12/2 Speaker Wire from Cables To Go... In my 2 channel system, I run MIT EXP 3 currently. I do have some AudioQuest DBS 48V purchased, but they have not shipped yet. I can't wait to try those!


    Don
    Living Room: Adcom GFP-750 (Upgraded), Squeezebox Touch, Oppo BDP-83, Pioneer DV-79AVi, Parasound HCA-3500 (Upgraded), SDA SRS 2 P/B (Gimpod, Sonicaps, & Mills)

    Theater: Denon 4311ci, Oppo BDP-93, Parasound HCA-2205+HCA-2200II, Polk LSi9, LSiC, LSiFX, LSi7, Custom 18" TC Sounds sub with 2 18" PR, Sharp XV-Z12000, Pioneer Kuro KRP-500M (isf Enabled)

    Bedroom: HK AVR354, Pioneer DV-47a, Parasound HCA-1500a, Polk LSi9
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  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,607
    edited September 2011
    -Blue jeans cables were good w/ the A7s, though the bass was a little boomy. Inexpensive and better than that lamp cord.
    -Running Kimber 8TC right now which tightened up everything.

    And as Doro mentioned, Signal cables are awesome.
    Dali Optikon 1Mk2
    NAD D3020 V2
    Schiit Bifrost 2/64

    ..the rest are headphone setups.
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  • dcmartinpc
    dcmartinpc Posts: 844
    edited September 2011
    PrazVT wrote: »
    -Blue jeans cables were good w/ the A7s, though the bass was a little boomy. Inexpensive and better than that lamp cord.
    -Running Kimber 8TC right now which tightened up everything.

    And as Doro mentioned, Signal cables are awesome.

    Yet another great option. Mark, I think we have behaved ourselves quite well in regards to our recommendations. :cool:

    Don
    Living Room: Adcom GFP-750 (Upgraded), Squeezebox Touch, Oppo BDP-83, Pioneer DV-79AVi, Parasound HCA-3500 (Upgraded), SDA SRS 2 P/B (Gimpod, Sonicaps, & Mills)

    Theater: Denon 4311ci, Oppo BDP-93, Parasound HCA-2205+HCA-2200II, Polk LSi9, LSiC, LSiFX, LSi7, Custom 18" TC Sounds sub with 2 18" PR, Sharp XV-Z12000, Pioneer Kuro KRP-500M (isf Enabled)

    Bedroom: HK AVR354, Pioneer DV-47a, Parasound HCA-1500a, Polk LSi9
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited September 2011
    The cables suggested cost $25-100, come with free shipping and a money back offer. Hardly exotic.
    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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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited September 2011
    of course many veteran audio professionals use many different brands of cables. should I provide a link...no, not I think, of course I am quite exotic.

    seems its a stir the cable-pot day at CP.

    RT1
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  • B Run
    B Run Posts: 1,888
    edited September 2011
    +1 on the MIT exp2's for $49.00 a pair. If you don't want to spend that much I really like the Canare starquad 4s11 for $1.20 a foot, best bang for your buck around IMHO.
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  • GoBigBlue
    GoBigBlue Posts: 212
    edited September 2011
    dcmartinpc wrote: »
    Looks like MIT still has some B Stock left. If 10 footers are enough, here you go. Heck of a deal for $50...

    http://www.mitcablesexpress.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=382&category_id=108&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=14

    Don

    I just picked up a 10' speaker wire pair and an interconnect from MIT. I'm very, very happy with them. The only thing wrong is that the arrow is printed in the incorrect direction, but the labels on the ends are correct. And they charged me twice for my one order, and that was a big, irritating ordeal.
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited September 2011
    Reported!
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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