Beginning Wiring- Consistent guage?

xandra

Planning on running some 14g CL2 wiring to wall plates (distance varies from 30 - 100ft.)

naturally then running wire to speakers/receiver.
Should this (plates to speakers etc) be exact same:
1. gauge?
2. type?

Is there any harm in using unneccessarily heavy gauge wire to speaker?

PolkThug

Be consistent and go big for long runs. On a long run, if you wire is too skinny, it will create too much resistance and you'll lose volume among other things.

obieone

Here's a link to sizing wire/ distance, including what ohms values the speakers might:D

http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_216.html

good luck

skipf

This brings up a question I've always had. Everyone says to use 14-10 ga wire for speakers, but inside the speaker box all the drivers are usually wired with 22-26 ga wire. Granted, they are only 6" to 12" long, but it seems to my non electronically gifted mind all that extra wire is useless once it hits the speaker.

Face

skipf wrote: »

This brings up a question I've always had. Everyone says to use 14-10 ga wire for speakers, but inside the speaker box all the drivers are usually wired with 22-26 ga wire. Granted, they are only 6" to 12" long, but it seems to my non electronically gifted mind all that extra wire is useless once it hits the speaker.

Yes, but inside there are usually, 2, 3, 4+ pairs of wires.

ben62670

For in wall runs to the rears you should use 14ga, or 12ga. the fronts, and center if permissibly use wires externally (not in the wall) so you can upgrade them in the future. If you have to put them in the wall use Canary S411. You can get it in bulk for around a dollar a foot.
You need to let us know what you are using.
Amps?
Speakers?
Where are the amps going to be?

Good luck with your setup.
Ben

Bill Ayotte

I second the Canare 4S11 for the walls, that is a high quality cable at a low cost. Hit up www.markertek.com and search for 4S11. They are the cheapest I have found by far, and you can buy a roll if needed. The customer service is excellent and shipping was quick.

xandra

You need to let us know what you are using.
Amps?
Speakers?

The runs I'm talking about are currently- (no pun intended) going from reciever (Onkyo 705) to my 8 ohm surround speakers (RTi 6's). Wiring for Fronts, fortunately can run along the wall.

According to most charts I've seen, 16g required for the these my distances (comfortably under 50 feet). BUT, I'd like to future proof, So I thought 14g might be a better idea.

Should it matter: bulk of run will be along a very 'active' (heat runs, elect wires, ethernet etc) basement ceiling - so insulation is my biggest concern. From the basement, I should be able to come straight up to the wall plates, then only a few feet to the speakers.

ben62670

Stay away from household electric. Fluorescents are a big problem too. You can cross AC lines, but do not parallel them.
not only does your speakers pick up the noise, but when the amplified signal returns to the source it can add noise there. I'm not going to get into it, but NFB (negative feedback) can make your system buzz around 60hz, or worse 120hz if you have any 220 lines it is running with.
Ben

WilliamM2

skipf wrote: »

This brings up a question I've always had. Everyone says to use 14-10 ga wire for speakers, but inside the speaker box all the drivers are usually wired with 22-26 ga wire. Granted, they are only 6" to 12" long, but it seems to my non electronically gifted mind all that extra wire is useless once it hits the speaker.

The runs inside the speaker are short, so there is no significant resistance added. The longer the run, the higher the resistance, hence the larger guage to get to the speaker.

Ricardo

obieone wrote: »

Here's a link to sizing wire/ distance, including what ohms values the speakers might:D

http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_216.html

good luck

From the link:

Thick Diameter Wire - Has high capacitance (energy storage).
Small Diameter Wire - Has low capacitance. Low capacitance is good for long cable runs.
Large Gauge Wire - Have more bass and can travel longer distances with less distortion.
Small Gauge Wire - Have high D.C. resistance resulting in poor dynamics.

So diameter vs. gauge.......isn't this basically the same?

John K.

Alexandra, the wire article that was linked in a previous reply based its suggested gauges on the amount of the power that was lost(when some of it penetrates into the wire and is lost as heat), which isn't the primary concern when a speaker is involved, and also made some comments that fall into the voodoo audio category(e.g., directional cable?, silver wire?). For a more realistic explanation of speaker wiring in general and suggested gauges in particular see this discussion by a veteran audio professional. As you note, 12ga wiring would be suitable for a 100' run to an 8ohm speaker, but 14ga, especially if you already have it, should be reasonably satisfactory, keeping in mind that the numbers given are said to be "conservative".

As to whether the gauge should be consistent all the way to the speaker, this isn't really necessary if it's more convenient to do otherwise. The overall resistance of the entire run is the determining factor, and a relatively short length of thinner wire at the end doesn't increase the resistance appreciably. This isn't analogous to a four lane highway suddenly turning into an 8' wide dirt road. This is also relevant to skipf's question about the short length of thin wire typically used inside the speaker enclosure. So if, for example, it would be easier to handle a few feet of 16ga or 18ga from the wall plate to the speaker, this shouldn't be a matter for concern.

ben62670

Ricardo wrote: »

From the link:

Thick Diameter Wire - Has high capacitance (energy storage).
Small Diameter Wire - Has low capacitance. Low capacitance is good for long cable runs.
Large Gauge Wire - Have more bass and can travel longer distances with less distortion.
Small Gauge Wire - Have high D.C. resistance resulting in poor dynamics.

So diameter vs. gauge.......isn't this basically the same?

From my experience heavy ga wires especially with ultra fine strands collapse the sound stage, and the highs suffer loss of detail.

Ben

treitz3

...but under what conditions?

ben62670

treitz3 wrote: »

...but under what conditions?

Mostly sunny, light breeze, and a high in the lower 80's:D

obieone

ben62670 wrote: »

Mostly sunny, light breeze, and a high in the lower 80's:D

Quit bragging! You're gonna piss off the snowbirds!:D

peffy03

i think by diameter they mean individual strands in the wire
gauge means the entire grouping of strands

xandra

John K - thanks for the exceptional link (see above)

well worth a read by all.