Home Depot Speaker Cables Good/Bad?

[kruizin21]

Was considering getting a spool of these cables. Does anybody have any experiences or an opinion on them.

BICC
500 ft. 14-2 In-Wall Speaker Cable

For use in power-limited control circuits. For wiring of the following systems: intercom, security, and audio. Suggested voltage rating: 300 Volts.

Internet/Catalog # 162793
UPC: 079407710522
Brand: BICC
Conductors: 2
Store SKU# 382777
Price: $79.00/ea

Thanks.

[Edit: Tried to fix link for you - then just added item info. - Clint]

 

[kruizin21]

oops, Home Depot link doesn't work.
Here's the product though.

BICC
500 ft. 14-2 In-Wall Speaker Cable

Thanks.

 

[TMASD2002]

oops, Home Depot link doesn't work.
Here's the product though.

BICC
500 ft. 14-2 In-Wall Speaker Cable

Thanks.

Speaker wire is normally speaker wire as you will see in here a lot of people feel the cheap is just as good as the expensive. For an inwall application you may want to double check the strand count on the Home Depot, the more strands the more supple the cable and the easier to run in the wall.

I have used this wire with good results:
http://www.avcablesource.com/In-WallSpeakerWire.html

Hope this helps

 

[kruizin21]

TMASD2002, thanks for the quick response. i'll definitely check out the strand count for the home depot as well as the link you sent me. i just decided on home depot because i wanted instant gratification and didn't want to wait for an online order, but we'll see.....thanks again.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I personally only use Monster CIPro for my inwall work. The stuff is in one of the best jackets, strips easily, and pulls very clean. Other stuff seems like it is wrapped in plastic, kinks when you try to pull it out of the box, or just comes on a reel that is tough to pull from.

Realistic pricing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ssPageName=WD1V

 

[mtrycrafts]

TMASD2002, thanks for the quick response. i'll definitely check out the strand count for the home depot as well as the link you sent me. i just decided on home depot because i wanted instant gratification and didn't want to wait for an online order, but we'll see.....thanks again.

If you are wiring a new construction, pulling and thread count is not or should not be an issue. At $80 for 500ft that is very reasonable.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Get the 12/2 cable from Home Depot. It's the best speaker wire for your dollar, especially if you're running it in a wall and out of site. 10/2 is ideal for long runs, but HD doesn't sell it and you probably don't need it unless you are running a few McIntosh monoblocks 100 feet away. 10/2 will handle 30 amps while 12/2 will handle 20 amps. Strand count helps with flexibility - that's it.

 

[RLA]

Hello
A couple of things that were not mentioned
If the wire is to go in the wall it should be CL-3 rated This may be code regulated for the state you live in
I would look for OFC wire The General and Carol Standard and In-wall cable from Home Depot is not OFC

Pulling and prewireing is different than a retro but I have run into trouble with a cheaper wire when trying to pull long runs through knockouts and drilled plates the cheap cable's jacket did not hold up very well and for the small additional cost of better wire it will save you in the long run

 

[xrayeyes]

I was in Home Depot today. They have 12/2 speaker wire with the clear insulation. In-wall (Carol, grey jacket) 12/2 is special order only. You can get 14/2 in-wall maximum in store. Also, if you are pulling wires through the walls, you can get wire lubricant which does help.