12 gauge wire

NJHifi
NJHifi Posts: 11
edited June 6 in Vintage Speakers
Hi-

I have a pair of Monitor 5jr. speakers— 2 way with front port.

I just bought some new 12 gauge wire and have it wrapped around the terminal posts but it’s so think the connections aren’t very tight.

It sounds fine but wondering if anyone has any suggestions for making them more secure. The wire is too heavy to thread through the pinhole— I know Polk originally recommended 16 gauge and I replaced old 18 gauge.


Thanks in advance.
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Comments

  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 9,056
    NJHifi wrote: »
    Hi-

    I have a pair of Monitor 5jr. speakers— 2 way with front port.

    I just bought some new 12 gauge wire and have it wrapped around the terminal posts but it’s so think the connections aren’t very tight.

    It sounds fine but wondering if anyone has any suggestions for making them more secure. The wire is too heavy to thread through the pinhole— I know Polk originally recommended 16 gauge and I replaced old 18 gauge.


    Thanks in advance.

    Install bananas or spades...
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 52,128
    Banana plugs
    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

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  • NJHifi
    NJHifi Posts: 11
    Thank you both. I will try one. The speakers seem to sound better with the new wire but not sure if it’s my imagination.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,842
    I'm pretty sure they sound better now.

    Just think if you used $$$$$ wire...who knows what those Polk 5jrs would sound like.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.

    “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”
    --Mark Twain.

    “If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.” - Steven Wright
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  • odcics2
    odcics2 Posts: 389
    If you use $$$$$ wire, remember to tell the electrons.

    https://ethanwiner.com/audiophoolery.html
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 52,128
    ^BS!!!^
    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

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  • NJHifi
    NJHifi Posts: 11
    edited June 8
    The 12 ga. wire I used was pretty cheap. LOL Wirecutter recommended and used on Amazon (Someone had returned it?)

    I found an old Stereo Review article; it said the testers preferred 16 ga. to 22. back at the beginning of “status” wire brands. But advised against over paying for wire.

    I’ll read the one you posted from Ethan Winer, too.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 52,128
    edited June 8
    This is real world experience from folks here that didn't spend any of their money (other than shipping costs) to demo some cables in their rig. So, forget that over used expectational bias or the cables are cables crap that naysayers love to spout.

    https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/129583/mit-shotgun-s3-3-cable-demo-review-round-4

    There are many other cable demo threads here for your viewing pleasure, so get your search on.

    Edit: buying cables strictly by the gauge of it is not how one should buy cables.

    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

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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,855
    It's pretty easy these days to find a decent pair of 10 ft copper speaker cables pre-terminated with soldered on banana connectors for around $40. They can last for decades.
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  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 6,007
    Big question is, will there be an audible difference with $5,000 speaker cables listening through an old pair of 5jr's powered by a hello kitty boom box receiver.
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
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    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)

    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 20,200
    Probably, but negligible. Money would be better spent improving other areas of that type of system, rather than jumping straight to a 5K cable.

    Tom
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 52,128
    edited June 9
    audioluvr wrote: »
    Big question is, will there be an audible difference with $5,000 speaker cables listening through an old pair of 5jr's powered by a hello kitty boom box receiver.

    I used cables in that price range on speakers with an MSRP around $1000.00, but with upstream gear much better than a boom box. The cables made an absolutely obvious improvement.
    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

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  • NJHifi
    NJHifi Posts: 11
    I have a Marantz PM 7000. The spool was $30 bucks.

    I found that I could secure the 12 gauge after all without the banana plugs or lugs but these were good ideas.

    I’m basically the original owner of the vintage Polks— my dad bought them from my uncle when I was 15. My uncle loved gear and had bought them for his kitchen and paired them with a Nakamichi SR-2A but wanted something else. So he sold us the gear.

    The Polks still sound great. I had the Nakamichi years ago until it gave out- it was a great little receiver. The Polks sound good on my PM7000.

    This is a great forum and hope Polk keeps it running.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 27,514
    In the long run banana's would be a better option. Keep the copper wire from corroding and causing issues.
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