Wire Gauge for ~ 20 foot surround run

RutgersFTW
RutgersFTW Posts: 458
edited June 2008 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I'm in an old apartment with wood floors, so I'm going to have to tuck it under the trim and in the cracks and crannies some might call "character." Could I get away with 24 gauge wire, or is 18 a safer bet? Also - if a major consequence of wimpy wire is high frequency roll off, could that be a positive with Monitor 30s?

Another question - socks in the rear ports? They'll be in a bookshelf with less than 2" behind them, so they could get boomy and out of control. On the other hand, if I cross them at 100hz, would plugging the ports be less crucial?
Currently listening to:

Marantz SR5004
Sony BDP-S370
Apple TV V2
Audio Technica AT-LP120
Mirage CMD-5 x 5
Bic H-100
Post edited by RutgersFTW on
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Comments

  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited June 2008
    Wow, if anything 18 ga. It wouldn't be my choice, but it'd work.

    Even 100hz could boom. Try plugging with and without, what have you got to lose?
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  • RutgersFTW
    RutgersFTW Posts: 458
    edited June 2008
    amulford wrote: »
    Wow, if anything 18 ga. It wouldn't be my choice, but it'd work.

    So 18 is your "how-low-can-you-go" threshold? What if I'm a pioneer in a brave new world where up is down and 36awg lamp wire is the holy grail? ;)
    amulford wrote: »
    Even 100hz could boom. Try plugging with and without, what have you got to lose?

    I've never done it before and am being kind of a nancy boy about it, I guess. Any experience or tips? I make a complete seal but don't push it in too deeply, right?
    Currently listening to:

    Marantz SR5004
    Sony BDP-S370
    Apple TV V2
    Audio Technica AT-LP120
    Mirage CMD-5 x 5
    Bic H-100
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  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited June 2008
    Yeah, you wanna be able to get it. Unless you want to add to the interior damping...
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  • RutgersFTW
    RutgersFTW Posts: 458
    edited June 2008
    amulford wrote: »
    Yeah, you wanna be able to get it. Unless you want to add to the interior damping...

    I've read this reply four times and can't figure out what you're telling me.
    Currently listening to:

    Marantz SR5004
    Sony BDP-S370
    Apple TV V2
    Audio Technica AT-LP120
    Mirage CMD-5 x 5
    Bic H-100
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  • RutgersFTW
    RutgersFTW Posts: 458
    edited June 2008
    I would like to also, but it's a limitation of my installation. WAF and all, and with a $200 AVR and a $60 pair of speakers, I'm not going to lose sleep about using cheapie, skinny wire to my rears.
    Currently listening to:

    Marantz SR5004
    Sony BDP-S370
    Apple TV V2
    Audio Technica AT-LP120
    Mirage CMD-5 x 5
    Bic H-100
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2008
    http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable

    According to the chart, you should be ok with 18, but I would be more comfortable with at least 16.
    "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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  • RutgersFTW
    RutgersFTW Posts: 458
    edited June 2008
    I've got it cut and tinned @ 24 feet, so I should be fine. Thanks for the replies, and I hope I didn't cause any cable junkies undue stress.
    Currently listening to:

    Marantz SR5004
    Sony BDP-S370
    Apple TV V2
    Audio Technica AT-LP120
    Mirage CMD-5 x 5
    Bic H-100
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited June 2008
    I would get some 14ga. generic if you want to keep costs to a minimum. Then again, you could get 2 - 20' runs of 10ga cable from blue jeans for about $36 bucks so it just depends on how tight your budget is. (word of warning - the 10ga. wire from blue jeans is not very flexable and impossible to tuck under stuff like baseboards (at least at my house))

    Just get some decent 12-14 ga. and be happy. (I tend twords the bigger is better camp, but I am willing to admit there are other factors to take into consideration)

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited June 2008
    RutgersFTW wrote: »
    I've read this reply four times and can't figure out what you're telling me.

    Don't push the damn thing in too far... Aren't you going to college???:p
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  • RutgersFTW
    RutgersFTW Posts: 458
    edited June 2008
    amulford wrote: »
    Don't push the damn thing in too far... Aren't you going to college???:p
    In my defense, I... well... good grief.
    Currently listening to:

    Marantz SR5004
    Sony BDP-S370
    Apple TV V2
    Audio Technica AT-LP120
    Mirage CMD-5 x 5
    Bic H-100
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter