left speaker 14 AWG wire and right 12 AWG wire is okay?

[john20182050]

left speaker 14 AWG and right 12 AWG is okay? Both are in 5 ft from the receiver.

 

[lovinthehd]

Should be fine at that length.

 

[Alex2507]

Only if you use the 14 ga for the left speaker because that's where the violins are.

 

[Kvn_Walker]

With that short of length you will never be able to tell the difference. Now if your OCD is half as bad as mine you'll eventually change it regardless.

 

[john20182050]

With that short of length you will never be able to tell the difference. Now if your OCD is half as bad as mine you'll eventually change it regardless.

Both are OFC wire connected KEF R500

 

[WineOfTheVeins]

Get that left one to 12 gauge stat! Just kidding, you probably won't notice much of a difference if at all, but telling me the two wires have equal resitance and inductance properties would be hogwash. On a minuscule level, the end result coming from either speaker will be different.

 

[lovinthehd]

Not probably won't, but simply won't. Not saying they're equal but the difference isn't audible.

Get that left one to 12 gauge stat! Just kidding, you probably won't notice much of a difference if at all, but telling me the two wires have equal resitance and inductance properties would be hogwash. On a minuscule level, the end result coming from either speaker will be different.

 

[TechHDS]

Get that left one to 12 gauge stat! Just kidding, you probably won't notice much of a difference if at all, but telling me the two wires have equal resitance and inductance properties would be hogwash. On a minuscule level, the end result coming from either speaker will be different.

Or you could use Karma SS10 AWG like I have.
$1.09 a foot. I had 90 ft of this, 40 ft is what’s left. The remainder will be used for my upgrade’s. 462 strands of the finest copper each strand has been “tinned” lowers current jump between strands. No expert here but that’s what the site says about the wIre. Anyways, Gene our fearless leader uses 10 gauge so if it’s good enough for him is good enough for me. Not saying he uses this exact same wire.


Mike

 

[TechHDS]

left speaker 14 AWG and right 12 AWG is okay? Both are in 5 ft from the receiver.

Yeah you’re ok with those speaker runs.
I myself like to keep my L/R main speaker runs the same length and gauge. Some like to keep their speakers wire as short as possible. I have seen monoblocks for each L/R mains, where their gear is in the middle so they can keep speakers runs short.

Mike

 

[Johnny2Bad]

There is just the issue of power ... if your receiver puts out less than 100 wpc / 8 ohms should not be a problem with 14Ga wire, and with your speaker length being 5 feet you are probably fine at 200w. Longer length or higher power than that, I'd personally like to see 12Ga both sides. Length has a huge impact on the current carrying capacity of wire.

14Ga @ 3% voltage drop is good for 15A up to 25 feet. 120V / 8 ohms is 15A or 1800 watts x 97% = 1746W

We really don't want to see 3% voltage drop but at 10% (175 watts/ 8 ohms) that is probably the point where you should have 12Ga both sides.

 

[snakeeyes]

Yeah you’re ok with those speaker runs.
I myself like to keep my L/R main speaker runs the same length and gauge. Some like to keep their speakers wire as short as possible. I have seen monoblocks for each L/R mains, where their gear is in the middle so they can keep speakers runs short.

Mike

I got so used to moving that I always leave a wrapped up service loop. . 14 gauge has always worked ok for me. Does it matter vs 12? Or 10?

 

[snakeeyes]

There is just the issue of power ... if your receiver puts out less than 100 wpc / 8 ohms should not be a problem with 14Ga wire, and with your speaker length being 5 feet you are probably fine at 200w. Longer length or higher power than that, I'd personally like to see 12Ga both sides. Length has a huge impact on the current carrying capacity of wire.

14Ga @ 3% voltage drop is good for 15A up to 25 feet. 120V / 8 ohms is 15A or 1800 watts x 97% = 1746W

We really don't want to see 3% voltage drop but at 10% (175 watts/ 8 ohms) that is probably the point where you should have 12Ga both sides.

I may go to 12 gauge after I add an amp. For now 14 gauge works for me.

 

[Johnny2Bad]

I may go to 12 gauge after I add an amp. For now 14 gauge works for me.

Just make sure what you buy is copper; there are some China-sourced "Audio" wire being sold that is Copper Clad Aluminum (CCA). Al cannot equal copper, rule of thumb is to subtract 3 AWG so 12 GA CCA is equivalent to 15 Ga copper.

 

[TechHDS]

I got so used to moving that I always leave a wrapped up service loop. . 14 gauge has always worked ok for me. Does it matter vs 12? Or 10?

Snakeeyes, same here, moved a lot since 2012. So I did just like you, kept the loop of 15ft for L/R mains and for center 10ft. Now I’m no expert or engineer I did read a post by “Gene” that he uses 10 gauge AWG wire for his high end speakers. So just for the hell of it I went a got 90ft of 10 gauge AWG speaker wire, with locking Banana plugs and Y boots to go over the ends of the wire, came out real nice plus the cool looking factor of the wires. I do have a XPA- 5 200 X 5 @ 8Ohms. Inside your speakers be it bookshelf or towers from the crossover to each speaker the wires look like about 14 gauge. Does it matter? on long runs 50ft or more is what the experts say. With this hobby for me anyways I have always been a tweeker of trying to get the most out of what I have. Sometimes it’s better sometimes a waste of money.

Mike

 

[snakeeyes]

Snakeeyes, same here, moved a lot since 2012. So I did just like you, kept the loop of 15ft for L/R mains and for center 10ft. Now I’m no expert or engineer I did read a post by “Gene” that he uses 10 gauge AWG wire for his high end speakers. So just for the hell of it I went a got 90ft of 10 gauge AWG speaker wire, with locking Banana plugs and Y boots to go over the ends of the wire, came out real nice plus the cool looking factor of the wires. I do have a XPA- 5 200 X 5 @ 8Ohms. Inside your speakers be it bookshelf or towers from the crossover to each speaker the wires look like about 14 gauge. Does it matter? on long runs 50ft or more is what the experts say. With this hobby for me anyways I have always been a tweeker of trying to get the most out of what I have. Sometimes it’s better sometimes a waste of money.

Mike

So your upgrading quite a few things all at once? Or over a few months one at a time?

 

[TechHDS]

So your upgrading quite a few things all at once? Or over a few months one at a time?

So your upgrading quite a few things all at once? Or over a few months one at a time?

Yep, in 4 weeks , L/R mains and center and going with Yamaha’s A3080. Speakers will be RBH R55E’s and the Sub, still debating on that one, want one that’s good with music, thinking of going with a Speedwoofer my room isn’t that big like 14ft by 20ft. I sit about 9 to 10ft from mains.

Wow don’t know about the double post thing I don’t think I did that. Sorry about that though.

Mike

 

[snakeeyes]

Yep, in 4 weeks , L/R mains and center and going with Yamaha’s A3080. Speakers will be RBH R55E’s and the Sub, still debating on that one, want one that’s good with music, thinking of going with a Speedwoofer my room isn’t that big like 14ft by 20ft. I sit about 9 to 10ft from mains.

Wow don’t know about the double post thing I don’t think I did that. Sorry about that though.

Mike

That Rythmik E15HP that Peng and Kew both have looks pretty sweet for music. Think Speakerman Phil has the HSU ULS15. That one looks good too. Sealed 15 from either company would be sweet. If you don’t mind ported, I love my Rythmik LVX12 (ported 12). I swear to you ported is just as good as sealed (at least on Rythmik).

 

[TechHDS]

That Rythmik E15HP that Peng and Kew both have looks pretty sweet for music. Think Speakerman Phil has the HSU ULS15. That one looks good too. Sealed 15 from either company would be sweet. If you don’t mind ported, I love my Rythmik LVX12 (ported 12). I swear to you ported is just as good as sealed (at least on Rythmik).

Thanks brother for the heads up on those two going check them out now!

Mike

 

[pewternhrata]

'Cut' your losses, go 14 or 12 high strand count ofc, equal lengths. take the paranoia out of the equation and enjoy. (Mediabridge is solid) I just threw out a ton of old wire that I was holding onto for no reason, if I need more I'll grab it off a-zone.