Newbie Question using 4 wire to Klipsh Towers with Atmos Speakers on top

[vfz]

Hi all, forgive any ignorance here but updating my theater from 5.1 with a 7.2.2 systems (Denon) with Klipsh speakers.. 2 front Towers with Atmos speakers built in, 1 Center, 2 subs, two surround back (mounted wall speakers), and 2 side surrounds. Got a new receiver 9.2 for this to run Atmos channels and add surrounds..

all thats left to do is wire the surrounds and run wires to the front Atmos speakers on the Towers. Is there any consideration if I swap the existing 12 gauge 2 wire, for a 4 wire 12 gauge and use green/white for Atmos and Red/Black for Tower? or should a run another 12 gauge 2 wire? If so, i will have to replace wall plates, and run 2 wires, instead of 1.

 

[ryanosaur]

You can do either. 2 ea, 2 conductor cable, or 1 ea, 4 conductor, per speaker.
If it were me, I would just buy a 100' roll of something like the Monoprice Choice 12AWG and just use that all around. But if you want to buy different wires, that's up to you.

Just make certain you keep your colors straight.

 

[vfz]

thanks

You can do either. 2 ea, 2 conductor cable, or 1 ea, 4 conductor, per speaker.
If it were me, I would just buy a 100' roll of something like the Monoprice Choice 12AWG and just use that all around. But if you want to buy different wires, that's up to you.

Just make certain you keep your colors straight.

Thanks, thats for sure.. I know i can do both, i was just wondering if there was any "sound" impact using 1- 4 wire cable vs 2 2wire cables. For me that would be better as i would not have to change wall plates and use 1/2 the wire. if it impacted the sound going to the towers/Atmos speakers, then i'll use 2-2wires vs 1-4wire. Make sense?

 

[ryanosaur]

Cables are not sound quality.
Amps are not sound quality, most of the time.
Speakers are sound quality. That, and the interaction the speakers have with your room.

Cables are just a pathway for electrons. Electrons don't care if the copper crystals are aligned in a matrix formed by comet dust and unicorn farts. Lamp cord works just fine.

Everything you need to know about speaker cables, courtesy of the former director of acoustic research for McIntosh Labs:
Speaker Wire

Monoprice Speaker Wire, Oxygen-Free CL2 Rated, 2-Conductor, 12AWG, 50ft - Monoprice.com

Get the most out of your home audio system with high quality, oxygen-free, pure bare copper speaker wire from Monoprice!This speaker wire features two conductors made of high purity (greater than 99.9

www.monoprice.com

Monoprice Speaker Wire, CL2 Rated, 2-Conductor, 12AWG, 100ft, White - Monoprice.com

Get the most out of your home audio system with high quality, pure bare copper speaker wire from Monoprice™!Pure Bare Copper is a superior conductor to the copper clad aluminum (CCA) conductors

www.monoprice.com

Either of these products would be more than sufficient for your needs. I would argue that the 2-conductor option will give you the benefit of best cost for good wire. And as I said before, spring for the 100' roll. It comes in handy.

 

[vfz]

Cables are not sound quality.
Amps are not sound quality, most of the time.
Speakers are sound quality. That, and the interaction the speakers have with your room.

Cables are just a pathway for electrons. Electrons don't care if the copper crystals are aligned in a matrix formed by comet dust and unicorn farts. Lamp cord works just fine.

Everything you need to know about speaker cables, courtesy of the former director of acoustic research for McIntosh Labs:
Speaker Wire

Monoprice Speaker Wire, Oxygen-Free CL2 Rated, 2-Conductor, 12AWG, 50ft - Monoprice.com

Get the most out of your home audio system with high quality, oxygen-free, pure bare copper speaker wire from Monoprice!This speaker wire features two conductors made of high purity (greater than 99.9

www.monoprice.com

Monoprice Speaker Wire, CL2 Rated, 2-Conductor, 12AWG, 100ft, White - Monoprice.com

Get the most out of your home audio system with high quality, pure bare copper speaker wire from Monoprice™!Pure Bare Copper is a superior conductor to the copper clad aluminum (CCA) conductors

www.monoprice.com

Either of these products would be more than sufficient for your needs. I would argue that the 2-conductor option will give you the benefit of best cost for good wire. And as I said before, spring for the 100' roll. It comes in handy.

Got it, thanks for the reminder.. i read that before but got caught up in doing things right..

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

FWIW, I would try and do 5.1.4 instead of 7.1.2.

 

[vfz]

FWIW, I would try and do 5.1.4 instead of 7.1.2.

Interesting, thanks, are you suggesting to set up my surround back high speakers for DA?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Interesting, thanks, are you suggesting to set up my surround back high speakers for DA?

Well, maybe, lol. Do you have all the gear yet? If not I’d like to make a suggestion to not use Dolby AE(atmos enabled) towers. If you have no choice but to use AE speakers, imo using add on modules work better since you have freedom of placement. When they’re built in to the top of the tower, you can’t really place either one for optimum placement. Even then, the ceiling has to be pretty reflective(no popcorn lol and trayed ceilings can also be hard to deal with. Also, if you’re looking at Klipsch subwoofers, just know that there are better options out there.(how big is the room?)
And yes. IME, 5.x4 is better than 7.x.2. The overhead panning can go from front to back as well as side to side and all points in between. Also object placement on XYZ axes is better too.

 

[vfz]

These are all great points. i already have the Towers/subs but the ceiling is angled above where the towers are located. Its 14x22 room, totally enclosed with theater riser for 2nd row seats, and the ceiling angles for 3-4 ft then another flat ceiling at 12 ft. Thats on all sides of the rectangle. I am open to getting DE fronts and mount them on the angles towards the seating positions. Ironically the Klipsh DE fronts have the angle built in which won't work for me, hence the towers. But like you said, those angles will impact sound. The Odyssey setup was clean and the sound is fantastic, but since im new to this, maybe it can sound better.. I have a Klipsh 12" subwoofer and a Polk 12 sub at the front. The side surrounds are Klipsh RP's. Open to any and all suggestions to make this great..