Is my 7.1 setup ok for 16ga speaker cable?

[Bluesmoke]

I get staff discount at Best Buy and we only carry 16ga stuff here. I looked at Rona, Walmart, Home Depot, and Walmart sells 14ga for $50can, Rona has 12ga for $50 as well. Using my discount, either Monster or Acoustic Research 16ga wires from BB is far cheaper.

I need about 6 feet for my mains, and 18 feet for my surrounds. I think generally, 16ga is fine for this application, but I do like the idea of a thicker wire.
The surround wires will run underneath a rug (that will be stepped on) so I'm worried about 16ga being too weak for that. Should I pop the extra $30 or so for the 12ga or stick to 16ga?

 

[A/VUSMCSGT]

The thicker the better....you wanna do it right the first time. And $30 isn't that much more.

 

[j_garcia]

Split the difference, go with 14, which should be plenty for now and the future.

 

[Sheep]

I have the Rona stuff.

Its nice and beefy but not very flexible. IF you DON't plan on increaseing hte length of your speakers from your receiver, then the 16ga stuff should be fine. That said, it never hurts to be safe.

SheepStar

 

[speakerman39]

I get staff discount at Best Buy and we only carry 16ga stuff here. I looked at Rona, Walmart, Home Depot, and Walmart sells 14ga for $50can, Rona has 12ga for $50 as well. Using my discount, either Monster or Acoustic Research 16ga wires from BB is far cheaper.

I need about 6 feet for my mains, and 18 feet for my surrounds. I think generally, 16ga is fine for this application, but I do like the idea of a thicker wire.
The surround wires will run underneath a rug (that will be stepped on) so I'm worried about 16ga being too weak for that. Should I pop the extra $30 or so for the 12ga or stick to 16ga?

Blue for runs under 30 feet 16awg speaker wire should be fine. If you want 14 awg check out Lowes. Just bought 100 feet for $26 and am using it for my surrounds. I also used it for my Paradigm Studio 20 v.3's but used the 16awg on the rest and it sounds great. Good luck in your decision.

 

[Zuke]

Bluesmoke, AR makes a 12ga 50' spool us BBY employees get for about 15$. Your store just may not carry it. In that case just do a customer fullfilment.
Don't give money to the Monster!!!!!!!!! Even if its 60% off!

 

[markm]

I got 100 feet of 12ga speaker wire at home depot for $35. It's green so it's really made for in walls or to be hidden somehow. 100" of the 12ga clear wire would have been about $70 so for $35 you could get 50ft of 12ga clear. That's Canadian $'s too. Just head to the electrical section...they measure and cut if for you there. Many people just use 12ga 2-conductor electrical cable which runs cheaper. Home depot didn't have that in stock for some reason when I went.

 

[korgoth]

id look for better wire. 12-14 is fine, but 16 is pretty small

 

[Bluesmoke]

The Home Depots in Canada doesn't carry 12ga wires in spools. They do have 14ga in 250feet - which it too much. So I ended up getting 14ga cut to specs.