Another wire gauge question

[bmccord]

OK, so I am minorly concerned with the loudness/output of my main speakers. I just have some oldschool 14GA Monster XP white wire on then for now but I was going to replace them with some new, better quality wire. My question is this, my setup is listed in my sig, receiver is 140x7 and the fronts are I believe 250watts. Should I run 12ga or 14ga. I am not sure what is overkill at this level. Thanks a bunch. Also, I am just going to be buying a spool of it and using it on my other speakers as well, unless i should use only bigger on the front channel.

Brett

 

[t3031999]

The gauge you should use mainly depends on the distance the speakers are from the receiver.
Any thing longer than 30 ft runs should be 12 ga. or higher.

Since you already have the 14ga, just use that unless there are very long runs.

How do you like those yamaha speakers? I've never heard them but I hear they are very good for the money.

 

[Sheep]

The gauge you should use mainly depends on the distance the speakers are from the receiver.
Any thing longer than 30 ft runs should be 12 ga. or higher.

Since you already have the 14ga, just use that unless there are very long runs.

I agree. The size of the speaker doesn't determine the cable size. Its the length it has to run. I use the same stuff you have (cept its a THX versionand its clear jacket) and its fine for any power you will throw at it.

My longest run is 30feet, so no 10awg for me.

Are you running your speakers large or small? They should be small, and if they are, theres much less power going through the cables as the bass is sent to the subwoofer. This also might help with your subwoofer issue, as your mains might be drowning out your yamaha. I had the same problem. Set speakers small, and got better balance and subwoofer output.

By the by, t3031999,

Instead of saying "12.ga or higher" try "larger", as they could get confused with a higher .ga

Sheepstar

 

[jcPanny]

Your moster cable speaker wire is overpriced, but there is nothing wrong with the wire. Copper is copper within the limited frequency range used by speakers.

 

[j_garcia]

5990 specs:

120 watts x 7 @ 8 ohms, 20Hz - 20kHz, 0.04% THD

Though it's sort of irrelevant the power output, because that's not what you would use to determine wire ga to use either.

Any thing longer than 30 ft runs should be 12 ga. or higher.

14 ga can be used for 80ft for an 8 Ohm speaker.

 

[bmccord]

Excellent, well, I am just going to pick up a 500' spool of wire cause I can get it cheap. My longest span is only about 30' but in the new theater I am building it may be closer to 40'. So you think 12ga sense it will be eventually longer and so I do not have to buy twice? Also, I have heard that you should keep the wires the same length for fronts/sides/rears/ etc or is the difference so minute its not even noticed. Another Q, I have not upgraded to banan plugs on the back of the receiver yet, is there anything to gain from them other than tidying things up?

Brett

 

[t3031999]

No need to keep the runs of speaker wire the same length.
Banana plugs clean things up and make connecting things faster, but no other improvements.

 

[bmccord]

So in my case 12ga would be fine or overkill and should just stick with 14

 

[t3031999]

The 14 ga. that you have should be fine.
If you do upgrade, for other reasons, go with 12 ga.

but 14 is fine