Cheapest speaker wire to test speakers

azsam
azsam Posts: 45
edited November 2012 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I cannot wait until my speaker wire arrives from monoprice. I already have the receiver and the speakers. Where can I get say 6 feet of speaker wire to test my stereo setup until my spool arrives?
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited November 2012
    The hardware store. Get 12 gauge stranded twisted copper.
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  • michael1947
    michael1947 Posts: 775
    edited November 2012
    You can pick up some nice 14 guage speaker wire at Home Depot and maybe Lowes however Menards sells by the full coil only. Good luck.
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited November 2012
    You better be careful hooking them up if you don't even know where to purchase wire.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited November 2012
    Yes. It is almost a troll question.
    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

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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited November 2012
    BlueFox wrote: »
    The hardware store. Get 12 gauge stranded twisted copper.

    I forgot to mention to use the generic low voltage wiring, and you can buy it by the foot. About 8 years ago, my HT wiring was a mix of 12, 14, and 16 gauge wire, with multiple links held together with wire nuts, and it seemed pretty good. Why not? Wire is wire, right?

    Anyway, one Saturday I bought 100+ feet of Orchid Supply 12 gauge, stranded twisted copper, and rewired my HT with each link cut to it's length. I also replaced 4 LSi15 jumpers with this cable. Believe it or not, but that night when I watched a movie I knew instantly the sound was better. I think that was when I really started to take the cable discussions seriously.
    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.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,654
    edited November 2012
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    You better be careful hooking them up if you don't even know where to purchase wire.

    Ouch....LOL
    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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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited November 2012
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    You better be careful hooking them up if you don't even know where to purchase wire.

    I was thinking the same thing !!!!
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,981
    edited November 2012
    Imho, the home depot wire is practically the same as the monoprice wire anyway.
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  • azsam
    azsam Posts: 45
    edited November 2012
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    You better be careful hooking them up if you don't even know where to purchase wire.

    Red on red, black on black... what do I need to be careful about? It is not rocket science, right? You are scaring me off now :)
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,981
    edited November 2012
    azsam wrote: »
    Red on red, black on black... what do I need to be careful about? It is not rocket science, right? You are scaring me off now :)

    Did you order them terminated with ends or just a basic spool of wire ? On a spool of wire, there is no red and black to distinguish positive and negative. Do you know how to tell which is which ? Do you plan on just using bare wire connections or did you order spades or bananas ?
    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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  • Bobsama
    Bobsama Posts: 526
    edited November 2012
    tonyb wrote: »
    Did you order them terminated with ends or just a basic spool of wire ? On a spool of wire, there is no red and black to distinguish positive and negative. Do you know how to tell which is which ? Do you plan on just using bare wire connections or did you order spades or bananas ?
    On the most cables, the sleeves are commonly asymmetric. And if they aren't (or even if they are, but it's tough to tell), a Sharpie works wonders.
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,437
    edited November 2012
    azsam wrote: »
    Red on red, black on black... what do I need to be careful about? It is not rocket science, right? You are scaring me off now :)

    Careful now, and welcome to the forum.

    Try to take EVERYTHING here with a grain of salt. Around here, if a guy doesn't do some kind of research on his own before asking questions, he may feel a little heat.

    If I may be brutally honest, your original question seemed pretty thin. But all that said, yes, the suggestion of Lowes or Home Depot carries an RCA brand of 14awg which you can purchase in various lengths at a fairly cheap price.

    As one here mentioned, plain wire won't be as simple as r on r and b on b, just make sure your polarities match on each end and you'll be fine. The magic marker suggestion was a good one.
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  • azsam
    azsam Posts: 45
    edited November 2012
    I ordered a spool of speaker wire and banana plugs which will arrive end of the week. Till then wanted to get like 10 feet speaker wire and test out my fronts. Thinking to go to home depot. I will just use bare wire till i get my bana plugs. Any guide that explains what to be careful about?
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,437
    edited November 2012
    The only guide is to make sure the polarity is the same at both ends. Your wire should have a solid stripe on one side. If you hook up the solid stripe wire to your positive terminal on your AVR, make sure you hook up the solid stripe to your positive terminal on your speaker.

    Piece of cake, just take your time and double check your work.
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited November 2012
    The wire you seek....should be on the shelf next to the black paint.:smile:
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  • PolkieMan
    PolkieMan Posts: 2,446
    edited November 2012
    You can use lamp cord till your order comes in. Almost every 2 wire cord one is marked on lamp cord one wire has a slight ridge on the insulation.

    Tell us more about the wire and banana plugs that you ordered catalog or web page

    azsam wrote: »
    I ordered a spool of speaker wire and banana plugs which will arrive end of the week. Till then wanted to get like 10 feet speaker wire and test out my fronts. Thinking to go to home depot. I will just use bare wire till i get my bana plugs. Any guide that explains what to be careful about?
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,304
    edited November 2012
    I use that cheap **** MIT Shotgun crap myself....
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  • 20hz
    20hz Posts: 636
    edited November 2012
    Just be carefull none of those strands short side to side AND make sure plus is to plus , if you get a side backwards ( as in right to left ) you will have less bass since one will cancell the other ( when one cone goes out the other will go in ) .
    While I lay down wires I often test them by switching polarity to get the best sound and check my work also .
    I use home depot 14 gauge wire for the mains it works fine but the ends turn green over time so I cut them shorter ( but they are 10 years old )
    azsam wrote: »
    I ordered a spool of speaker wire and banana plugs which will arrive end of the week. Till then wanted to get like 10 feet speaker wire and test out my fronts. Thinking to go to home depot. I will just use bare wire till i get my bana plugs. Any guide that explains what to be careful about?
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited November 2012
    When you get it, don't be cheap. Spend another 10 cents or so per foot and get the 12 gauge wire. When using this type of wire bigger is always better, and it certainly is not going to bankrupt you.

    The wire coating will most likely be black, brown, or white. The two strands are molded together into a single piece. Take an Xacto knife and separate the two strands, then pull on each strand until sufficient length to attach at either end. Each strand will be uniquely marked. Generally, one strand will have smooth insulation, and the other will have slight ridges. This is how you know which end you are dealing with. As others mentioned, use one strand for the positive (red) at each end, and the other for the negative (black).

    When attaching the cable use the Xacto knife to strip about 1 1/2 inches of insulation at each end. Since the wire is twisted stranded be sure to twist the exposed wire in the same direction as it is already. Once the end is twisted tight then take and wrap it around the connection at each end. Be sure to do this clockwise. Then when you tighten the connectors it will force the wire even better onto the terminal. If you wrap it counter clockwise then tightening the connector will tend to move the wire off the terminal. Electronics work better when you have a good solid connection.

    Finally, verify there are no stray strands at either end that are touching other connectors. If there are then cut them off with the Xacto or a pair of small wire cutters.

    Now you can turn the power on and enjoy your music knowing that you did the best possible with what you have.

    I am slowly getting to 4000 posts. :cool:
    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.
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  • Mon40CSMM10
    Mon40CSMM10 Posts: 161
    edited November 2012
    In addition to markers such as stripes or indentations on one side of the wire, another less obvious but usable indicator is some wire will have printing on one side but not the other. For example, I have some 18 gauge speaker wire that is red insulation on both sides--however, careful inspection shows that one side has small black printing on the red insulation.

    Absent of any obvious markers such as red/black, a black stripe on one side, printing, etc. Just be consistent about which side is positive and which side is negative to avoid out of phase connections.
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  • azsam
    azsam Posts: 45
    edited November 2012
    Hi guys thanks for the help. I got a 14 awg wire from lowes which is transparent. One side is silver, the other reddish. So I am goingto use that as my indicator (about to install now). Otherwise since someone asked, I purchased a 14 AWG from monoprice and nakamichi plugs from ebay :) I think I should be OK. I will let you know how I did. Again, appreciate the advice!
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  • nancyandroid
    nancyandroid Posts: 8
    edited November 2012
    just goto the market and buy a wire thats it
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  • azsam
    azsam Posts: 45
    edited November 2012
    OK, I hopped them up -- all good :) They sound amazing. The only thing is I have to turn the receiver to 50 when I watch TV to hear stuff. When I play off a USB it gets to the same loudness at 40. Is it normal to have to turn up the receiver that high?
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,654
    edited November 2012
    azsam wrote: »
    OK, I hopped them up -- all good :) They sound amazing. The only thing is I have to turn the receiver to 50 when I watch TV to hear stuff. When I play off a USB it gets to the same loudness at 40. Is it normal to have to turn up the receiver that high?

    Don't worry, when you get that high end cable from Monoprice it has magical properties that will even out the differences in volume levels between sources.
    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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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited November 2012
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    I use that cheap **** MIT Shotgun crap myself....

    Good to hear,Larry, just be sure to check if they're Chinese knockoffs or not! lol

    'cause I hear the Chinese versions are even "cheaper" than the original.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

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  • azsam
    azsam Posts: 45
    edited November 2012
    F1nut wrote: »
    Don't worry, when you get that high end cable from Monoprice it has magical properties that will even out the differences in volume levels between sources.

    Yes, please insult me more. I have never had a receiver, so I thought I'd ask if turning it all the way up to 50 is normal...
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited November 2012
    Azsam, it's OK. Some of the guys like to play rough around here. But, no one begrudges you the enjoyment of your new system regardless of what cables you use to fire it up.

    Just have fun with what you have. Heck, for "testing" even zip cord would do and you can get it cheap at any dollar store. Buy a couple of extension cords, for 2 bucks, cut and strip the ends and you have some of the "cheapest" 16 gauge testing wire you can buy. Then wait for what "will" be better than this!

    Will it sound the "best"? No! But it won't hurt your system either!

    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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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,654
    edited November 2012
    azsam, it was humor. Sorry you missed it.
    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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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited November 2012
    azsam wrote: »
    OK, I hopped them up -- all good :) They sound amazing.

    When I get 'hopped' up I notice the music sounds better. However, call me cheap, but I am not wasting good beer on my stereo.
    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.
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  • azsam
    azsam Posts: 45
    edited November 2012
    cnh wrote: »
    Azsam, it's OK. Some of the guys like to play rough around here. But, no one begrudges you the enjoyment of your new system regardless of what cables you use to fire it up.

    Just have fun with what you have. Heck, for "testing" even zip cord would do and you can get it cheap at any dollar store. Buy a couple of extension cords, for 2 bucks, cut and strip the ends and you have some of the "cheapest" 16 gauge testing wire you can buy. Then wait for what "will" be better than this!

    Will it sound the "best"? No! But it won't hurt your system either!

    cnh

    Cool. By the way, when I get the monoprice wire I will compare it with the lowes and see if I hear the difference :)
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