Proper Cable To Use

bkfk

I need to hook up some f/x500i surround speakers to my Denon 3802 receiver(100 watts x 7) and also a powered sub-woofer.In both cases I will need to run cable in my attic with runs as long as 60 feet.
What would be the appropriate guage/type wire to use in each case and does anyone have advice on the best place to buy it?
Thanks in advance for your advise

RuSsMaN

One example

You don't have to buy a cable with the extra outer jacket and a CLR3 rating, but if you want to be totally 'up to code', do it.

16 awg will be plenty for your runs, feel free to go 14 awg if it will help you sleep better at night.

Where in Texas?

Cheers,
Russ

gregure

I'm sure others more knowledgable will chime in, but it seems to me that at that length at least 14 awg would be required. Perhaps even 12, especially to shield it well enough through attic. www.bluejeanscable.com is a good starting point. For standard cable that would be a good way to go. You even have the option of having them terminate the wire in banana or spade plugs for you. I've also seen mention of decent 14 awg at Home Depot, which is also on the cheap side but said to produce decent results. Good luck.

dbournival

Don't use the Home Depot wire and make the same mistake I did. My #1 system is wired with 14 gauge inwall Monster Cable (it was installed by Tweeter). When I put together my #2 system I did it myself with 12 Gauge Home Depot (Carol brand) CL3 inwall speaker cable based on the posts here. The system did not sound as good as a thought it should. After a time I replaced my mains with 20 year old Monster cable that I had. The improvement was great. I never did the rears as they were 50 runs each in-wall. The rears (RT35i) sounded muddy and a couple of weeks ago I finally got fed up and rewired them (it took all afternoon) with Monster XP-CI. The improvement was great, if I had spent $800 for a new receiver vs $80 for wire I would have thought it to be a good deal for the improvement I've gotten... I just replaced the mains and center with Cobalt Cables speaker wire (www.colbaltcable.com) the improvement was slight for the mains (wired with origional Moster Cable) but considerable for the center that was biwired with Home Depot wire. The center now is single wired with the stock metal jumpers back in place. You have a nice system don't waste it by using Home Depot Cables!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dbournival

Oops, I made a typing mistake the correct web address is: http://www.cobaltcable.com

read-alot

I know,I know but this one quotes Gordon Gow from McIntosh.

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

dcarlson

Again? :rolleyes:

bkfk

Thanks for all the feedback.Russman-per your question I'm from Cypress,Texas(just outside of Houston).

dbournival

The roger-russell,com website is why I deceided to use the Home Depot wire at first, that I've replaced. I wonder if I can get him to refund the money I wasted on the Home Depot wire.

amulford

Or get HIM to come over and do the re-wire. 14 ga. would be my minimum, but thats me...

mantis

Wire..........always a hot topic.

Bottom line is your SYSTEM is a good as it's weakest link.You be the judge what link that may be.

With that being said,wire is something to be experienced not told.Some guys around here are happy with the tipical Home depot running there rigs.WHY???because they feel no need in spending the money.It's not about the quality,it's about the price tag.It's not about sound quality,it's about the price tag.....

Funny 2 as some guys will spend thousands on there systems and cents on there wire.Does it make any difference??I don't know but it's not up to me to judge this....

You will never find cheap wire in any of my systems.Importance needs finding ...... not told.

RuSsMaN

Originally posted by HK Fooey
Importance needs finding ...... not told.

The Zen Master has spoken. What he said, we have no idea, but he has spoken.

Cheers,
Russ

TroyD

Hey, if you want to waste a ton of cash on what amounts to rear ambient noise, consult Dan's flavor of the month chart. Are we on Kimber or Transparent this month? I forget.

Otherwise, get yourself some HD (or whatever) wire of decent gauge. 14awg should be fine, and go to town.

In a full blown 5.1, 6.1....anyone that says that they can discern the difference in wire on rear ambient channels have much better hearing than I do.

BDT

George Grand

Throwing my hat in with the men. That would be Russ and Troy.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

mantis

The Zen Master has spoken. What he said, we have no idea, but he has spoken.

I gotta admit,that was funny ****.I laughed my **** off.You got me.....waaaaaaaaaaaaa

TroyD,
Fooey's flavor of the month is still Kimber.........Long live the flavor.

HK

dbournival

"Hey, if you want to waste a ton of cash on what amounts to rear ambient noise, consult Dan's flavor of the month chart. Are we on Kimber or Transparent this month? I forget. "

I disagree after changing my rears on my #2 system from 12 ga HD wire (made by Carol) to Monster XP-CI the difference was huge. When a friend heard it (without me telling that I did anything) he asked if I bought a new receiver or speakers.

mantis

Always my point exactly

TroyD

As I said, feel free to knock yourself out.

I'm not saying that all wire sounds the same. I am saying that if you've got six, seven or eight speakers all producing sounds at the same time, very few people have the hearing to discern subtle differences with that much sensory input. You will never convince me otherwise.

Some guys around here are happy with the tipical Home depot running there rigs.WHY???because they feel no need in spending the money.It's not about the quality,it's about the price tag.It's not about sound quality,it's about the price tag

This is about the biggest pantload of arrogant, self serving crap I've read in a while.

If a person is happy with the level of performance that something gives, who is anyone else to scoff or say he's wrong?

There are cases where, for me anyway, I don't hear a difference. There are cases that the difference I hear doesn't justify the cost. There are cases where more expensive doesn't mean better sound. There are several possible scenarios.

In Dan's case, he tends to be of the school of thought that if it's not new, isn't top dollar then it's not top quality. That's fine, it's his gear and his money.


The point is, go with what you are comfortable with. The opinions of others are swell but at the end, it's your gear. In my case, I don't really give a rats **** if someone else likes it. I do.

BDT

Frank Z

Once again Schmantis shows his intelligence! I can't wait for him to stuff the other $109 Nike in his pie-hole!:rolleyes:

George Grand

It's a laugh a minute with some folks. Whether they intend it or not.

Good observation Frank.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

mantis

TroyD,
From what I read from most of the guys around here is that money is a huge fator when buying anything audio and video.We all share this but where you decide to keep your pennies is your own doing.
Honestly I don't care to convince you or anyone else of there belief.Home theater isn't your thing anyway.Why should the rears make any difference?Your call man.

As Far as Nike is concerned FrankZ,you can cram that up your ****.Don't like my words,don't read them.

If I did decide to wear $109 Nikes,thats my bussiness.I'll be sure to wear booties over them when I get into my BMW.

Frank Z

A little something for ya Schmantis, for those deeply moving upgraded shoe lace moments....

Zen Enlightenment

And if those OEM laces just don't do it for you...

Upgraded Cadillac Laces
They might clash with your Beamer though.:rolleyes:

TroyD

Dan,

Your post drips with the usual arrogant, elitist theme that those of us who are interested in dollars and sense, aren't interested in good sound and that's simply not true.

Of course money is a huge factor. Why do you not have your beloved Danes? Why don't I have a pair of Beemer Nautilus 801's? Simple, money. We all have to balance what we want with what we can afford. However, to imply that someone is going to skimp out just because they are more concerned about money than sound is a crock.

It just irritates me that you automatically dismiss the opinions of others because you assume that if someone has a different opinion it is wrong and of less value.

BDT

bkfk

After reading all the feedback all that I can say is WOW.I didn't think that my simple question could generate so many vent-up attacks.If I knew this at the beginning I would have never asked the question.
For those members who provided meaningful feedback to the question 'THANKS AGAIN'.

HBombToo

Originally posted by bkfk
After reading all the feedback all that I can say is WOW.I didn't think that my simple question could generate so many vent-up attacks.If I knew this at the beginning I would have never asked the question.
For those members who provided meaningful feedback to the question 'THANKS AGAIN'.

Dude don't get wrapped around the axil over it... it is nothing more than the old rubber band theory. That is, it can stretch 1 way maxed out without breaking or the other... then there is the middle of the road.

What is being said here is that your choice is just that, "Your Choice!". As a consumer you have many options so enjoy your flavor of the month because it will probably change based on your perception.

HBomb

mantis

Troy,
I'll use you as my example.You have no intrest in Home theater.You would rather listen to movies in 2 channel you said many times in the past.I can see why not spending anything more then HD wire is plenty good enough for you.Which is fine.Some might actually use there system for more then just movies.Ever hear of SACD or DVD Audio?How about Musical DVD's??

Think what you what you and I will never see eye to eye on anything so I don't see any reason to sit here and talk to you about this or anything else for that matter.

You take my posts and blow them way out there.My point is wire no matter where you use it should be the highest quality one can afford or get to the level of a brand that matches the level of the gear and speakers going to be used with it.

I don't personally like HD wire and hince the reason I turn my nose up at it.I think it stinks.I'd rather see someone use Monster Ci pro,Belden or Liberity before that wire.It turns green and doesn't last long.

Money is always a factor no matter who you are.Even me troy or I would have by Dyn's.Today and for awhile it's Lsi.......and my damn reciever.

It just irritates me that you automatically dismiss the opinions of others because you assume that if someone has a different opinion it is wrong and of less value.

This is not true.nothing wrong with different opnions.I don't remember doing so in this thead.I could be wrong but I said wire makes a differnce.
The end it really doesn't make any difference.

George Grand

Where the hell did I put my decoder ring? It's with Darrin's remote, I just know it.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

TroyD

Well, what the hell, I'm in a generally pissy mood so why not

Some guys around here are happy with the tipical Home depot running there rigs.WHY???because they feel no need in spending the money.It's not about the quality,it's about the price tag.It's not about sound quality,it's about the price tag.....

As I've pointed out, this is an arrogant and eliteist statement based on your opinion and I don't think I'm blowing it out of proportion. You are insinuating that I'm not interested in quality, that all I care about is a price tag. Again, that's not true.

I've never said I don't have any interest in HT. 2ch is my passion but I've assembled what I feel is a very very respectable 5.1 system. To say that I don't care about it is simply not true.

I've heard of multichannel audio and all that....

The fact remains that I'll wager good money that if you have 6 (2 mains, center, sub, rears) all producing sound that very very few people have the capacity to make reliable evaluations of all channels simultaneously. If you can, knock yourself out.

Anyhow, I'm out on this subject.

BDT