Suggestions for Safety Approved In Wall Speaker Wire

[Deleted User]

Working on a kitchen addition and I need to find a source for some good quality in wall speaker wire. Looking for wire that has all the safety approvals etc. Suggestions welcome, as always thanks in advance. Cheers. :cool:

decal

Parts Express

mantis

You want speaker wire rated for CL2 or CL3. many wire companies make in wall rated wire. I suggest Audioquest FLX series of gauge and type you need. I also like Liberty wire and cable.

michael1947

Blue Jeans Cable has some info on this and it may be the Belden Canre wire.

[Deleted User]

mantis wrote: »

You want speaker wire rated for CL2 or CL3. many wire companies make in wall rated wire. I suggest Audioquest FLX series of gauge and type you need. I also like Liberty wire and cable.

What the difference between CL2 or CL3 ? Asking to educate myself and in case anyone else is doing the same thing in the near future. Thanks. :cool:

mantis

This is a good write up on what CL2 and CL3 is. Basically for all home use CL2 or CL3 rating is in wall safe. There isn't much more you really need unless you need plenum or Direct burial rated cables. Read this I think you'll find it informative.
Audio interconnect cables and speaker wires fall under Article 640, and so whether they can be installed in-wall or in other specific settings will depend on that article. Under NEC 640.21(C), these are in turn governed by Article 725, "Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 Remote-Control, Signaling, and Power-Limited Circuits."

General installation of wiring, including installation inside of walls, is governed by 725.61(E), the principal features of which, for our purposes, are:

(1) CL2 and CL3 are always permitted;
(2) CL2X ("X" is a residential suffix, signifying a lower grade than plain CL2) or CL3X may be installed in raceways;
(3) CL2X or CL3X, if under 1/4 inch in diameter, may be installed in a 1 or 2 family residential dwelling without a raceway; if nonconcealed, it may also be installed in multifamily dwellings.
So, if a cable isn't marked CL2 or CL3, is it suitable for in-wall installation? It may be. The NEC allows cable of a higher rating to be substituted for a lower rating, and therefore, any of the following may be used: CM, CMP, CMR, CMG, CL2R, CL3R, CL2P, CL3P, PLTC. CMX also may be used where CL2X or CL3X is required.

In a plenum, 725.61(A) governs; CL2P or CL3P are required, and CMP is a permitted substitution.

A riser presents a bit different situation, governed by 725.61(B). If you're in a single or two-family dwelling, CL2, CL3, CL2X and CL3X may be used (and, of course, any of the substitutions listed above). In a commercial building or multifamily dwelling, any of those cables are permitted if they are installed in metal raceways or located in a fireproof shaft having firestops at each floor. In a commercial or multifamily building, without a raceway or shaft, if the vertical run of the cable penetrates more than one floor, CL2R or CL3R must be used (or any of these substitutes: CMR, CMP, CL2P, or CL3P).

zingo

Just did an install using Liberty cable from AV-outlet.com. Great sound, In-wall rated, and well priced. Good luck!

Systems

zingo wrote: »

Just did an install using Liberty cable from AV-outlet.com. Great sound, In-wall rated, and well priced. Good luck!

+1
I have heard a couple of Liberty products and thought they where great bang for buck.

[Deleted User]

zingo wrote: »

Just did an install using Liberty cable from AV-outlet.com. Great sound, In-wall rated, and well priced. Good luck!

Added to the list. Will be checking those out.

[Deleted User]

mantis wrote: »

This is a good write up on what CL2 and CL3 is. Basically for all home use CL2 or CL3 rating is in wall safe. There isn't much more you really need unless you need plenum or Direct burial rated cables. Read this I think you'll find it informative.
Audio interconnect cables and speaker wires fall under Article 640, and so whether they can be installed in-wall or in other specific settings will depend on that article. Under NEC 640.21(C), these are in turn governed by Article 725, "Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 Remote-Control, Signaling, and Power-Limited Circuits."

General installation of wiring, including installation inside of walls, is governed by 725.61(E), the principal features of which, for our purposes, are:

(1) CL2 and CL3 are always permitted;
(2) CL2X ("X" is a residential suffix, signifying a lower grade than plain CL2) or CL3X may be installed in raceways;
(3) CL2X or CL3X, if under 1/4 inch in diameter, may be installed in a 1 or 2 family residential dwelling without a raceway; if nonconcealed, it may also be installed in multifamily dwellings.
So, if a cable isn't marked CL2 or CL3, is it suitable for in-wall installation? It may be. The NEC allows cable of a higher rating to be substituted for a lower rating, and therefore, any of the following may be used: CM, CMP, CMR, CMG, CL2R, CL3R, CL2P, CL3P, PLTC. CMX also may be used where CL2X or CL3X is required.

In a plenum, 725.61(A) governs; CL2P or CL3P are required, and CMP is a permitted substitution.

A riser presents a bit different situation, governed by 725.61(B). If you're in a single or two-family dwelling, CL2, CL3, CL2X and CL3X may be used (and, of course, any of the substitutions listed above). In a commercial building or multifamily dwelling, any of those cables are permitted if they are installed in metal raceways or located in a fireproof shaft having firestops at each floor. In a commercial or multifamily building, without a raceway or shaft, if the vertical run of the cable penetrates more than one floor, CL2R or CL3R must be used (or any of these substitutes: CMR, CMP, CL2P, or CL3P).

Thanks Dan.

transmaster

Monoprice is where I go. They have real nice in Wall UL listed, CL2 rated 12AWG O2 free two and four conductor cable. I personally use the two conductor for my regular speaker wire.

Just discovered Blue Jeans Cable. which is how I found this thread. What a breath of fresh air BJC is not into false claims and voodoo mysteries, just solid facts. The write up BJC has about speaker cable does not have any of the Bovine Scatology found at so many other outfits who are trying to sell you $100 dollar a foot speaker wire (these outfits hate to have their stuff called "wire", they prefer something like "Audio Transmission line.:rolleyes:) BJC is the only place I have run into that has 10AWG cable, over kill for 99.9% but if I was running speaker cable in a wall I might consider it as no matter what I am going to do in the future hedge. BJC is definitely going to get an order for some inter-connect cables for my new Onkyo TX-NR709.

disneyjoe7

Blue Jean Cables the Belden 12g wire.