Speaker wire for Polk LSi series

mwaarna
mwaarna Posts: 280
edited September 2007 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
What speaker wire and what gauge do you use?

I currently have for my LCR 10gauge blue jean cables...

What do you guys think about using 12gauge BJC for surrounds?
Click here To see My system
Polk LSI15,LSiC, LsiFX, SVS PB-12 Plus/2, Blue Jean Cables,Onkyo Pro PR-SC885P, Earthquake Cin
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  • Dave38
    Dave38 Posts: 101
    edited September 2007
    I'm using a 10 foot pair of Canare Star Quad S411 to my Lsi-15's. I have a 9 foot pair of Audio Quest type 4 I would like to try in place of that, just to compare.
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  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited September 2007
    I am using the 12 gauge to my rears and really like it. I have my Rti6's hooked with it and the sound is great. Also, it is very easy to work with and the wire is rated for in wall use. I used it to wire my bro's whole house and he couldn't be happier.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited September 2007
    Dave38 wrote: »
    I'm using a 10 foot pair of Canare Star Quad S411 to my Lsi-15's. I have a 9 foot pair of Audio Quest type 4 I would like to try in place of that, just to compare.

    I beleive Audioquest type 4 cable is awesome on Lsi's. It's probably one of the very best sounding affordable speaker cables out there. You really don't need anything better then that unless you go higher end. Even so remarkable speaker cable.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • 93mdk93
    93mdk93 Posts: 6
    edited September 2007
    my neighbor is an EE and he uses those orange electrical extension cords from Home Depot terminated with banana plugs for speaker cables.. he's always on about how much of a scam expensive cables are and that it all comes down to minimising resistance. i can't argue one way or the other but will readily attest to the sound - they're very expressive and not at all overly bright or cold.
    World peace?! We can't even get you a**holes to use your turn signals!
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  • m00npie
    m00npie Posts: 697
    edited September 2007
    93mdk93 wrote: »
    my neighbor is an EE and he uses those orange electrical extension cords from Home Depot terminated with banana plugs for speaker cables..

    Those are out of my league, I go with the Christmas end cap 'Brown Cords' from Sears. The ones that are on the end caps seem to be better than the cords in the lighting section.
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited September 2007
    I sarted with AQ type 4, and now use AQ bedrock...


    type 4 is a good place to start


    I may have some for sale soon , if your interested
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited September 2007
    The orange and brown don't match my decor'. I use the green cords you see only at Christmas time.

    In all seriousness, SignalCable makes some great speaker cables that are affordable.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited September 2007
    does it sound like bells and carolers ?
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • 93mdk93
    93mdk93 Posts: 6
    edited September 2007
    Face wrote: »
    The orange and brown don't match my decor'. I use the green cords you see only at Christmas time.

    lucky thing Home Despot sells spray paint too... :D
    Face wrote: »
    In all seriousness, SignalCable makes some great speaker cables that are affordable.

    i must admit, those look pretty nice... they remind me a bit of the cables i got from BetterCables a half-dozen years ago - most of which are still in use today.
    World peace?! We can't even get you a**holes to use your turn signals!
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited September 2007
    I have DH Labs Q10. I use it with my Von Schweikerts and I had it briefly on my LSI's as well. It's a very nice sounding cable and not expensive.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • fumoffu
    fumoffu Posts: 80
    edited September 2007
    mwaarna wrote: »
    What speaker wire and what gauge do you use?

    I currently have for my LCR 10gauge blue jean cables...

    What do you guys think about using 12gauge BJC for surrounds?

    I am really surprised that there is not more talk about gauge of the wire and the distances. I think these are the important factors. I am just starting to get my lsi speakers in now :D I have been using some 14 gauge wire all around. with my old 8 ohms speakers. But my surrounds have 30 and 40 foot runs of wire. While this should add less then 5% addition resistance to the load, I think I am going to oversize the wire to 12 gauge and get some swank looking banana plugs and some shrink tube. O, I have conduit in my ceiling so it's going to be easy to pull some new cable. Also my wire is UL CL3 so it's good for in wall installation.
    Home Theatre: Epson 5020ub, Elite Screen Sable Frame 100", Onkyo 818, Oppo BDP-103, Tivo Series 3, Xbox 360, Sealed Dual Sound Splinter RL-p 15" DIY sub powered by Behringer EP2500 with FBD, QSC RMX1400 powering LSi15, LSiC, LSiFX sides, and Lsi7 for the back, Technics SL-1200M3D
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited September 2007
    I got some Canare 4S11 BiWire (can be done single run as well) and they work great.

    Bluejeanscable.com sells it by the foot unterminated and terminated.
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
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  • 93mdk93
    93mdk93 Posts: 6
    edited September 2007
    fumoffu wrote: »
    O, I have conduit in my ceiling so it's going to be easy to pull some new cable.

    as someone who regularly has to pull cable on the job, i can't tell you how much that warms my heart. =)
    World peace?! We can't even get you a**holes to use your turn signals!
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited September 2007
    BJC 10g cable for LSi9/LSiC fronts and center, BJC 12g cable for LSiFX surrounds and LSi7 rears. Sounds great. The BJC cable lacks a little definition for music, and doesn't produce as deep of a soundstage as higher end cables. The Canare Star Quad S411 is a pretty neutral and musical cable for the price! For a 90% or more HT only system, I wouldn't spend more than the BJC or Canare cables cost. JMHO, your mileage may vary.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,055
    edited September 2007
    beardog03 wrote: »
    I sarted with AQ type 4, and now use AQ bedrock...


    type 4 is a good place to start


    I may have some for sale soon , if your interested


    Let me know if you sell them !
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  • zx_toth
    zx_toth Posts: 417
    edited September 2007
    I just got my Signal Cable Ultra Reference Speaker wire (10 gauge) a few days ago ... a bit useless until I get my amp on the 18th of Oct to push my LSi25s. I cant wait!!

    Zsolt
    My Home Theater Rig
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