speaker cable guage question
bemgolf
Posts: 7
The speaker cable run is 30 ft rears and 15 ft fronts. 6 ft center. I have polk monitor 30 for all. would 12 awg be over kill? Would that guage be too much for that type speaker?
Post edited by bemgolf on
Comments
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IMHO 12 ga would NOT be overkill for that or any speaker. I'm sure some will differ w/that opinion.The speaker cable run is 30 ft rears and 15 ft fronts. 6 ft center. I have polk monitor 30 for all. would 12 awg be over kill? Would that guage be too much for that type speaker?
Shalom, TonySamsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro, Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer
Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside
BJC 10 ga - LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
*soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop)
LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels*. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - RB981*
Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981* -> Bi-amped CSi A6
Surrounds: Rotel 981* -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3
*all connected w/Premiere ICs
5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”
Power Conditioning & Distribution:
4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s -
In this case, no such thing as too much, only too little. For a 30-foot run of an 8-ohm load, 18AWG would be the minimum gauge you would want to use. 12AWG would be more than adequate.
RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII -
i use 10 awg all around....when i made the switch from 16 to 10 the difference was NOTICABLE. found a good seller on ebay and bought up a bunch of it. i use it all the way aroundMy Living Room
2 Channel
source > Sony DA555ES >
Kenwood GE-74 > Marantz SR4400 > Rotel RB980BX > Polk SDA2.
Pioneer VSX-D909S > Carver TFM-25 > Polk SDA1c.
Pioneer Elite VSX-99 > PSB imageB25.
Marantz 2226 > Polk SDA CRS.
Yamaha RX-V690 > Velodyne Servo F1000.
Home Theater
source > Onkyo TX-DS898 > B&W CC6 (center), B&W DM603, B&W DM601, B&W Rock Solid (rears), B&W AS6.
Bedroom
source > Pioneer Elite VSX-92TXH> ML Quest, B&W DM600 (center), B&W DM601 (rears), Velodyne Servo F1000. -
You can't go wrong with 12AWG all around.Anaheim Hills CA,
HT 5.1: Anthem MRX 720 / BDP-Denon DBT1713UD / Polkaudio LSiM703 / W4S mAmp's / Polkaudio LSiM706c / Polkaudio LSiM702F/X's / SVS PC12-NSD / Panasonic TC P55VT30
2 Channel: Rogue RP-5 / WireWorld Electra power cord / Marantz TT-15S1/ Ortofon - Quintet Black MC / Marantz NA8005 DAC / W4S mAmp's / Synology DS 216+ll-4TB / Polkaudio LSiM703 -
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12 AWG for your system and those lengths is a waste of money. I would run 14 AWG for those speakers and most speakers up to extreme high end and super powerful amps , then I would consider 12 AWG wire.Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
Gauge alone is not the way to buy speaker cable. Other important factors include solid or stranded (if stranded, how many?), copper (if copper, is it oxygen free?), silver or plated copper, the dielectric, etc.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 -
Thanks for all that responded. I always heard 12 AWG would give you better sound quality. I also notice that one post said its not worth the expense, but at monoprice I think 100 ft is like $31.00
that is a lot for just cable but not like $199.00 at some locations. Whats with the price difference I mean Mono get a ton of people saying it is great place to buy cable but is that cable as good as say Monster, or audioquest? Just curious. Maybe guide me to other places with great cable? I think I am sold on 12 G but I really don't want to spend $200 on it. Thanks -
Gauge and solid, durable connectors are the most important factors in a cable. All else is gravy.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 -
Gauge and solid, durable connectors are the most important factors in a cable. All else is gravy.
So wrong.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 -
but at monoprice I think 100 ft is like $31.00
that is a lot for just cable
So much to learn.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 -
I confess better wire is pricier. All the 12 ga I have I bought from Parts Express. 30' rolls of 99.%+* OFC, very fine stranded. Branded as Acoustic Research. $9.80! Hardly the best, but... ...and 10 ga Monster Cable from many years ago.
* 99.9%?, 99.99%? oxygen free copper. I don't remember how many decimal places.
If 14ga is what your budget can handle right now, go for it. Brown bag it to work for 2-3 weeks then pick up another roll or 2. Try a double run to your left OR right channel. Press 2 channel, play a favorite CD and crank it up. See if that channel seem to get louder than the other as you go higher. You might be surprised. Try the same with your surrounds connected to your LR jacks. You might be more surprised! If you realize a difference after trying the above you'll brown bag it long enough to do all channels 12ga or better to include rewiring your sub!!
We could talk opinions 'till the cows come home. John K might find this interesting. What follows I copy & paste from a text file I keep on my hard drive for these "discussions" about wire length, guage, purity, "special dielectrics," high power systems, etc, etc, etc.
ICs, Wire, gage, & quality. I find the most controversial topic in audio. You can find a [closed] thread on diyaudio.com w/nearly 15K replies!
My EXPERIENCE on wire: BIGGER IS BETTER!! Gage is King*, purity, Queen**. All else are members of their court.
* especially for bass
**mids and especially highs
Experience 1: a pair of speakers that I paid $650 in 1980. About 6 months later I rewired them w/some leftover* 12 ga Monster Cable & upgraded to 5-way binding posts. Did one; connected it to my NAD 45W/ch, w/other speaker stock. Had to adjust balance control between 10 & 11 o'clock to "balance" the modest volume setting. When I rewired the other the "balance problem" went away.
* same between amp & speakers
Experience 2: 10 years later, built a pair of subs with 2 12*s in each, one driver daisy-chained to the other. I hard wired them each w/about 12' of 10 ga Monster cable. I EXO'd @ 110 hz, drove them w/a Belles 1 power amp; a mere 80 high current watts into 8 ohms. 6 months later I bi-wired them; a separate run to each driver, half the length. Thats right-twice as thick, half as long. Had to make a signifcant adjustment to XO LP output setting because EVERYTHING sounded fat & heavy.
* 4 ohms nominal impedance
Experience 2 fortified my belief in Experience 1. So much so, I've begun the rewire process w/my my HT speakers. I started w/the subs* of one my 'A7s w/ 8 gage. Like experience "1" above, I had to turn DOWN the rewired** subs** 6 dB to BALANCE them! Had to turn DOWN my CC relative to the other channels.
* step by step towards tri-amping my LR
** rewired more percussive regardless of XO frequency
So! To those preaching that size (gage) doesn't matter, or rewiring speakers a waste because of the super thin wire in the XO components, plan to take 31 years to change my mind w/ a very hard sell!
Happy listening, TonySamsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro, Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer
Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside
BJC 10 ga - LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
*soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop)
LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels*. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - RB981*
Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981* -> Bi-amped CSi A6
Surrounds: Rotel 981* -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3
*all connected w/Premiere ICs
5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”
Power Conditioning & Distribution:
4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s -
Not another cable thread...
RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII -
So wrong.
Well, coming from someone who does copper wire and fiber optic certification for a living, I'd say "no, not really." But you, your ears, and your 24,000 posts can go and have a nice day.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 -
Well, coming from someone who does copper wire and fiber optic certification for a living, I'd say "no, not really." But you, your ears, and your 24,000 posts can go and have a nice day.
Does that living of yours involve actually listening to the different copper wire or fiber optic cable in home audio situations?
Thanks, we had a fantastic day.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 -
Does that living of yours involve actually listening to the different copper wire or fiber optic cable in home audio situations?
Thanks, we had a fantastic day.
I stated my opinion to the OP's post. You attacked my opinion. Since this will go nowhere but downhill, howsabout you stay off my lawn and I'll stay off yours?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 -
Not another cable thread...
Not really. Just providing the OP with options, data, and correcting bad information.
To the OP, for your situation, use 12 gauge. For me, there is an audible difference on even 12 foot runs between 16 and 12 gauge. Of course, the 16 gauge was spliced together with wire nuts, while the 12 gauge was high quality twisted, stranded copper low voltage wire from the hardware store which was cut to the exact length.
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. -
There will always be another cable thread... we stab them with out steely knives, but we just can't kill the beasts...Not another cable thread...
Monoprice, Blue Jean and Signal (a friend of Club Polk) are all popular pre-made choices. Also the spool option gp4j mentioned is a more economical way to go.Thanks for all that responded. I always heard 12 AWG would give you better sound quality. I also notice that one post said its not worth the expense, but at monoprice I think 100 ft is like $31.00
that is a lot for just cable but not like $199.00 at some locations. Whats with the price difference I mean Mono get a ton of people saying it is great place to buy cable but is that cable as good as say Monster, or audioquest? Just curious. Maybe guide me to other places with great cable? I think I am sold on 12 G but I really don't want to spend $200 on it. Thanks
Solid advice... and cut and paste is a time saver.If 14ga is what your budget can handle right now, go for it. Brown bag it to work for 2-3 weeks then pick up another roll or 2. Try a double run to your left OR right channel. Press 2 channel, play a favorite CD and crank it up. See if that channel seem to get louder than the other as you go higher. You might be surprised. Try the same with your surrounds connected to your LR jacks. You might be more surprised! If you realize a difference after trying the above you'll brown bag it long enough to do all channels 12ga or better to include rewiring your sub!!
What follows I copy & paste from a text file I keep on my hard drive for these "discussions" about wire length, guage, purity, "special dielectrics," high power systems, etc, etc, etc...
So typical... but tell you what, let us try a different tact this go 'round and see if we can actually elicit some useful info from you for the OP.So wrong.
Jesse,
Based upon your experience, just what wire(s) would you recommend our new friend, bemgolf, consider for his Mon 30 based HT rig? And what would the budget be for your recommendation(s)?
Thanks in advance...More later,
Tour...
Vox Copuli
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb
"Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
"It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
"There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD -
Hmmm. Thanks BlueFox for helping me write a more succinct reply. "I heard a distinct difference between a single 12' run of 10ga versus a double 6' run of the same!"To the OP, for your situation, use 12 gauge. For me, there is an audible difference on even 12 foot runs between 16 and 12 gauge.
TonySamsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro, Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer
Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside
BJC 10 ga - LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
*soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop)
LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels*. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - RB981*
Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981* -> Bi-amped CSi A6
Surrounds: Rotel 981* -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3
*all connected w/Premiere ICs
5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”
Power Conditioning & Distribution:
4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s -
I stated my opinion to the OP's post. You attacked my opinion. Since this will go nowhere but downhill, howsabout you stay off my lawn and I'll stay off yours?
I didn't attack you, all I said was that you were wrong, which is still true. Hell, I even ignored your veiled insult instead asking a legitimate question.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 -
There will always be another cable thread... we stab them with out steely knives, but we just can't kill the beasts...
Monoprice, Blue Jean and Signal (a friend of Club Polk) are all popular pre-made choices. Also the spool option gp4j mentioned is a more economical way to go.
Solid advice... and cut and paste is a time saver.
So typical... but tell you what, let us try a different tact this go 'round and see if we can actually elicit some useful info from you for the OP.
Jesse,
Based upon your experience, just what wire(s) would you recommend our new friend, bemgolf, consider for his Mon 30 based HT rig? And what would the budget be for your recommendation(s)?
Thanks in advance...
Ditto! Waiting on asked replies.Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
So typical... but tell you what, let us try a different tact this go 'round and see if we can actually elicit some useful info from you for the OP.
Jesse,
Based upon your experience, just what wire(s) would you recommend our new friend, bemgolf, consider for his Mon 30 based HT rig? And what would the budget be for your recommendation(s)?
Thanks in advance...
I'd rather discuss **** bags. For example, did you know that the Japanese invented them and that to this date the highest quality ones still come from Japan? Have you seen the **** bags that come with the SHM-SACD's? Yeah, probably not as you're too cheap to buy one. Anyway, how are those plans coming along to sell the SDA driver gaskets on eBay?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 -
Yeah another cable thread. Who knows how to get the person that creates stickies to do so? Saw a similar "request" on "Receiver" thread. Sigh...Not another cable thread...Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro, Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer
Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside
BJC 10 ga - LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
*soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop)
LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels*. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - RB981*
Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981* -> Bi-amped CSi A6
Surrounds: Rotel 981* -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3
*all connected w/Premiere ICs
5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”
Power Conditioning & Distribution:
4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s -
Ditto! Waiting on asked replies.
I thought it was worth a shot, Dan... Obviously I was wrong.I'd rather discuss **** bags. For example, did you know that the Japanese invented them and that to this date the highest quality ones still come from Japan? Have you seen the **** bags that come with the SHM-SACD's? Yeah, probably not as you're too cheap to buy one. Anyway, how are those plans coming along to sell the SDA driver gaskets on eBay?More later,
Tour...
Vox Copuli
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb
"Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
"It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
"There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD -
You finally got something right, you are wrong.....a lot.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 -
this looks familiar. is it too late to take the blue pill?be patient, take your time and do it right the 1st time
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Hi everyone im new to this forum. Recently I bought a blackstone tl350, have'nt use yet since i still looking for the right speaker cable, can any one tell me which size is appropriate, i have a 3.5x10m room size. I canvass in our local electronic shop and they offer me these brands 1. quantum cables which is silver made in Germany, 2. Swan cable copper 3. Marshall cable copper all are stranded wires no. 16. Im confuse all these which one of these would you recommend. Thanks cheers to all.
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Welcome to Club Polk. Pardon my ignorance what's a Blackstone tl350?...I bought a blackstone tl350, have'nt use yet since i still looking for the right speaker cable, can any one tell me which size is appropriate, i have a 3.5x10m room size. I canvass in our local electronic shop and they offer me these brands 1. quantum cables which is silver made in Germany, 2. Swan cable copper 3. Marshall cable copper all are stranded wires no. 16. Im confuse all these which one of these would you recommend. Thanks cheers to all.
Can't remember if I posted this thread. I have posted on others.
"Bigger pipes carry mo' water, mo' better!" No one's opinion's can change the laws of physics."
Here's another place for SOME answers to this controversial topic.
http://diyaudioprojects.com/Technical/American-Wire-Gauge/Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro, Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer
Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside
BJC 10 ga - LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
*soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop)
LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels*. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - RB981*
Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981* -> Bi-amped CSi A6
Surrounds: Rotel 981* -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3
*all connected w/Premiere ICs
5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”
Power Conditioning & Distribution:
4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s -
Isn't it amazing how he talks in circles , kicks everyone and never offers a solution to the question asked. If one has much to learn , it would be nice to be instructed from one who makes such claims. I'm all ears and eyes.I thought it was worth a shot, Dan... Obviously I was wrong.Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
