RTiA7... 12AWG... 13AWG... 16AWG... or 18AWG?? Bare wires or banana-plugs?
FernandoTorres
Posts: 43
Hello, I recently bought a pair of RTiA7
I have 4 pieces, 2 metres each, of Neotech OFC 2x2,63mm2 13AWG. They have almost the same thickness as the binding posts, so they are quite difficult to install, and most banana-plugs cant be used with them (anyway I was told better not to use any plugs)
A)
12AWG... 13AWG... 16AWG... or 18AWG??
Would I have any audio-quality decrease using 2,64mm2=13AWG cable (designed to 300w) but using it at 105w?
Bare wires or banana-plugs?
are banana-plugs recommended just for being "confortable/easy to install", or they improve audio quality somehow?
Thanks a lot for your help and time
I have 4 pieces, 2 metres each, of Neotech OFC 2x2,63mm2 13AWG. They have almost the same thickness as the binding posts, so they are quite difficult to install, and most banana-plugs cant be used with them (anyway I was told better not to use any plugs)
A)
12AWG... 13AWG... 16AWG... or 18AWG??
Would I have any audio-quality decrease using 2,64mm2=13AWG cable (designed to 300w) but using it at 105w?
Bare wires or banana-plugs?
are banana-plugs recommended just for being "confortable/easy to install", or they improve audio quality somehow?
Thanks a lot for your help and time
Post edited by FernandoTorres on
Comments
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Audiophiles say all kinds of things.
At only 2 metres long, it hardly matters. Although 18AWG is rather small. Better to use good banana-plugs than make a poor connection. The thickness of the cores is more about the speaker impedance and the length of the cable than the amplifier power. PA systems with very long cables would be the exception. -
Speedskater wrote: »Audiophiles say all kinds of things.
At only 2 metres long, it hardly matters. Although 18AWG is rather small. Better to use good banana-plugs than make a poor connection. The thickness of the cores is more about the speaker impedance and the length of the cable than the amplifier power. PA systems with very long cables would be the exception.
Thanks, I have 13AWG, it is pretty thick (2,64mm2) and I typical banana-plug does not work since 13AWG cable has almost same side of their hole and its screws cant enter, so I cant add the plastic/metal shield. I saw there are some banana-plugs where cable is inserted by one side, and has no shield, those may work. -
If it was me, I'd use the 13 gauge.
Bare wire is fine, banana's are more convenient as well, but again not a HUGE issue to go with bare wire. Just keep in mind it will oxidize at the end so you may want to clean it occasionally, or keep cutting back new parts.
I would NEVER use 18 gauge wires unless it was a Home Theater in a Box that had small speakers with it.
The price difference between the gauges isnt enough to really matter, but I would make sure you use 14 or 12 gauge.
If you need more wire, Monoprice.com or BlueJeansCable have good speaker wire at a economical price.
I use 14 gauge to my LSi f/x surrounds and have biwire 14 gauge connections to my LSi 15's & LSi C."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
EndersShadow wrote: »If it was me, I'd use the 13 gauge.
Bare wire is fine, banana's are more convenient as well, but again not a HUGE issue to go with bare wire. Just keep in mind it will oxidize at the end so you may want to clean it occasionally, or keep cutting back new parts.
I would NEVER use 18 gauge wires unless it was a Home Theater in a Box that had small speakers with it.
The price difference between the gauges isnt enough to really matter, but I would make sure you use 14 or 12 gauge.
If you need more wire, Monoprice.com or BlueJeansCable have good speaker wire at a economical price.
I use 14 gauge to my LSi f/x surrounds and have biwire 14 gauge connections to my LSi 15's & LSi C.
Great info, thanks!!
Why it will oxidize? I just cutted bare wire as long as binding post (you cant see any copper outside. If I use banana-plugs bare wire inside will also have some few contact with air. So bare wire will have same air contact inside binding post as using bananan plugs. Am I wrong??
I live in a normal department with no humidity issues. -
Copper oxidizes. The only way to get around it is to solder the connection, but thats not required here. And even with banana's the copper could oxidize.
The odixation isn't a HUGE problem, just something to maybe clean your speaker cables once a year with a de-oxit wipe.
Not something I would see as a reason to use one connection method over the other.
Personally its nice to use banana's cause they are easy to plug in and pull out, and I've moved my speakers around enough that it became annoying to do without them."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
So bare wire will have same air contact inside binding post as using bananan plugs. Am I wrong??
Forget those screw down type banana plugs, they are junk. Solder the connection.If you need more wire, Monoprice.com
From what I've seen, not a good choice.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 -
FernandoTorres wrote: »Great info, thanks!!
If I use banana-plugs bare wire inside will also have some few contact with air. So bare wire will have same air contact inside binding post as using bananan plugs. Am I wrong??
Most people will use heat shrink tubing over the banana's to seal out any more air/moisture getting in. I understand what you are getting at. On my banana's after cutting i put a little deoxit on the bare copper and seal inside the banana plugs several years later the look the same as when I did it. -
From what I've seen, not a good choice.
Eh, I use it for my surrounds. Economical and not super expensive.
For 14 gauge wire for surrounds what would you suggest?"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
EndersShadow wrote: »Eh, I use it for my surrounds. Economical and not super expensive.
For 14 gauge wire for surrounds what would you suggest?
Anything in 14 ga for surrounds from BJC or Signal.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 -
Anything in 14 ga for surrounds from BJC or Signal.
BJC doesnt have 14 gauge, only 10 & 12. And the diameter on those is too large to put through the cable hiders I have. Signal Cable is cost prohibitive for surrounds as I need like 20+ feet per......"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
EndersShadow wrote: »Eh, I use it for my surrounds. Economical and not super expensive.
Dan, is it the clear or white jacket stuff?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 -
Dan, is it the clear or white jacket stuff?
The stuff I got is the clear jacket. bought a 100 foot roll some time back and wired everything with it. Replaced my fronts w/ Kimber, but given the distance to surrounds, never did those....
Everytime I've moved I cut about 3 feet off it (to remove oxidation) and redo the Monster quick connect banana's on both ends.
One day I'll snag some of the 50 foot MIT EXp2's that were b-stock off the forum or something...."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
Hard to beat Canare Dan. I got some in black and it lays so nice along the floor you never notice it.
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Hard to beat Canare Dan. I got some in black and it lays so nice along the floor you never notice it.
LOL... all fun and games till you have to put it under the carpet & pad and it looks like you've got a hose under there hehehehe....
the Canare is similar to the Audioquest FLX 14/4 I used before, but again to put it under the carpet its going to make a noticeable lip. Along the outter wall like my Surround Right no biggie since its not under the carpet...
Anyway no more threadjacking from me"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
EndersShadow wrote: »The stuff I got is the clear jacket.
Yeah, it's that clear jacket cable that turns green. I don't know if it's a chemical reaction with the jacket or if the jacket allows oxygen to pass thru it, but take a good look the next time.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, it's that clear jacket cable that turns green. I don't know if it's a chemical reaction with the jacket or if the jacket allows oxygen to pass thru it, but take a good look the next time.
Will do. I've looked at it each time and from what I remember no green color (yet)...."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
Most people will use heat shrink tubing over the banana's to seal out any more air/moisture getting in. I understand what you are getting at. On my banana's after cutting i put a little deoxit on the bare copper and seal inside the banana plugs several years later the look the same as when I did it.
cool advice, thanks.
by now I will use bare wire, but for the future I will add some banana plugs and use heat shrink tubing. -
EndersShadow wrote: »Copper oxidizes. The only way to get around it is to solder the connection, but thats not required here. And even with banana's the copper could oxidize.
The odixation isn't a HUGE problem, just something to maybe clean your speaker cables once a year with a de-oxit wipe.
Not something I would see as a reason to use one connection method over the other.
Personally its nice to use banana's cause they are easy to plug in and pull out, and I've moved my speakers around enough that it became annoying to do without them.
thanks for the advice. I will take care of oxide, and if I see it often then will use banana plugs with heat jackets.
