Speaker Cable

[Like_it_loud]

You'd think choosing speaker cable would be easy, but for such a simple thing it seems to be about the most confusing aspect of an audio set-up.

I have just bought a combination of new and 2nd hand AV gear, consisting of a Denon DVD2200, Marantz SR5300 receiver, Acoustic Energy 100 Series speakers (floorstanding fronts, bookshelf rears, + centre), and a KEF PSW2500 powered sub (250W). I was just gonna get some speaker cable from **** Smith (only Aussies and Kiwis will have heard of this retail outlet - it's a cheap electronics shop, their 'good' speaker cable is about US$2 per metre). Would this be sacrilege to my set-up? Should I be looking to get something more expensive?

 

[markw]

Did you check here yet?

One of the great features of this site is that many questions are already answered before they are asked if one is open to exploration rather than just simply opening with a question.

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/buyingguides/cablebudgetguidelines.php

 

[Leprkon]

any 12 gage, oxygen-free, multi-strand wire will work just fine.

this thread will even show you how to use extension cords and cat 5 phone wire to make decent quality cables

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/setup/interconnects/DIYSpeakerCablesp1.html

 

[Like_it_loud]

Thank you for your help. This site seems so big I never found those links before, only lots of contradicting confusing mambo jambo geek talk on the discussion boards.

 

[mtrycrafts]

This site seems so big I never found those links before, only lots of contradicting confusing mambo jambo geek talk on the discussion boards.

Yes, I know what you mean I feel for you
Enjoy the info. Now you know where to look and ask further questions. Pass it on way down there in NZ

 

[warnerwh]

Just ignore most of what you read concerning wire. They want your money. Don't let anybody tell you different unless they are willing to put their money where their mouth is. A 100,000 dollar pair of speakers need nothing more than 12 gauge cable unless the run is very long. Nelson Pass wrote this 24 years ago. Nothing has changed: http://www.passlabs.com/downloads/articles/spkrcabl.pdf. Here's something more current by an ex Mcintosh Labs employee:
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm. John Dunlavy has also written on the subject.

 

[Like_it_loud]

Thank You

Thank you all for your advice. I have decided to go with some semi-DIY Ultralink cable (found some very cheap in a local shop ~US$3 / metre) as detailed in this link... http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_10_2/ultralink-CL414-cable-5-2003.html