EMP E55Ti

[Fowl]

In preparation for my new speakers E55ti, I will be purchasing some new speaker wires and banana plugs. Since I am going to do that for the mains I decided to also do that for the surrounds.

My question is, what gauge wires do you guys suggest for the mains and surround. If I consider the distance the wire will have to travel from amp to the surround speakers it would be about 35 feet. They have to travel through the roof. The L&R mains on the other hand it about 6 feet away from the amp, and the center channel in 3 feet away from its amp.

Let me know what size wires I should get?

 

[KEW]

In preparation for my new speakers E55ti, I will be purchasing some new speaker wires and banana plugs. Since I am going to do that for the mains I decided to also do that for the surrounds.

My question is, what gauge wires do you guys suggest for the mains and surround. If I consider the distance the wire will have to travel from amp to the surround speakers it would be about 35 feet. They have to travel through the roof. The L&R mains on the other hand it about 6 feet away from the amp, and the center channel in 3 feet away from its amp.

Let me know what size wires I should get?

There is a chart which shows what gauge is sufficient for different lengths.
But wire is cheap (unless you want to pay $10 per foot).

Just get a big spool of 12 AWG and banana plugs. I don't think you'll save that much by buying different gauges for different lengths of runs and 12AWG gives a comfortable level of overkill without breaking the bank.

 

[Fowl]

There is a chart which shows what gauge is sufficient for different lengths.
But wire is cheap (unless you want to pay $10 per foot).

Just get a big spool of 12 AWG and banana plugs. I don't think you'll save that much by buying different gauges for different lengths of runs and 12AWG gives a comfortable level of overkill without breaking the bank.

Ok, I was thinking of 14AWG for the surrounds and 12 AWG for the mains. How does that sound?

 

[highfigh]

Ok, I was thinking of 14AWG for the surrounds and 12 AWG for the mains. How does that sound?

For 35', you could use 16 ga and never hear the difference. For 6', whatever you use will be fine- for a run that short, it won't matter at all. If you plan to use a really high power amp and crank it all day, every day, get some 16-4 and be done with it. You can double it to the mains if you want and it will be plenty for the surrounds. If you run a piece to each speaker, it will keep you from needing to run more if you decide to go with dipole or bipople speakers at some point.

 

[Fowl]

For 35', you could use 16 ga and never hear the difference. For 6', whatever you use will be fine- for a run that short, it won't matter at all. If you plan to use a really high power amp and crank it all day, every day, get some 16-4 and be done with it. You can double it to the mains if you want and it will be plenty for the surrounds. If you run a piece to each speaker, it will keep you from needing to run more if you decide to go with dipole or bipople speakers at some point.

Kool Iam going to the sore on my lunch time. Now I have a decent weekend project in preparation for my speakers next week. The only thing I dread in the roof is the R19 insulation.

 

[dalumberjack]

best place I have ever bought wire is from monoprice.com

Cheap and good stuff. I used the 12awg CL2 rated through the whole house. the two and the four wire (bi--amped my mains)

Linky: http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239

 

[highfigh]

Kool Iam going to the sore on my lunch time. Now I have a decent weekend project in preparation for my speakers next week. The only thing I dread in the roof is the R19 insulation.

No basement?

It's not that bad working around fiberglass but if you want to be more comfortable, don't go up there when it's really hot. Not only will you feel like you're melting, the fibers will drive you nuts. Wear a mask. If you have easy access to the top of the walls and you want to make it easier to grab the wires, get some thin chain that's made of metal that will stick to a magnet. If you can, have another person in the room so they can tap on the ceiling above the speaker location- you'll be able to feel where they're tapping on the ceiling and it will tell you where to drill.I would avoid trying to run wires in outside walls- they're insulated and it's harder to get the wires to go where you want them. You would need a fish tape or a set of push rods for that. The good thing is that push rods are available at Harbor Freight and they're not expensive, unlike a few years ago.