Speaker Wire Confusion

[mstrong17]

I am wiring a home theater and confused if i should use 14ga 4 conductor or just stay with the 2 conductor? help please

 

[j_garcia]

2 conductor.

 

[BMXTRIX]

If your intent is to allow full upgradability to possibly biamp, some day, then go ahead and run 4 wire. It isn't a lot more, and you really only get this one shot with the walls open to run all the wiring inside the walls.

Going much further, you will have to consider ALL your wiring runs now, as well as all your conduit feeds, as well as dedicated electrical outlets on their own circuit for your gear, projection location (?) proper equipment location (not at the front of the room!) Ethernet drops, etc.

I have 20 pieces of coax run to my family room from my basement, and I've found it isn't enough.

 

[mstrong17]

thanks for the reply bmxtrix. Does bi-amping make that big of a difference in sound? also you said that equipment placement not at the front of the room,. what exactly do you mean? my equipment will be in the front of the room next to the screen but in a modified closest. is this going to be an ok placement position for the equipment?

 

[MDS]

Many people will suggest not placing the equipment at the front of the room simply to avoid seeing all the lights and displays on the equipment when you are watching a movie.

That's all well and good but isn't always practical if your HT room is also your living room.

 

[Sheep]

thanks for the reply bmxtrix. Does bi-amping make that big of a difference in sound? also you said that equipment placement not at the front of the room,. what exactly do you mean? my equipment will be in the front of the room next to the screen but in a modified closest. is this going to be an ok placement position for the equipment?

Generally you don't want to see the Equipment. IMO it takes away from the experience. As MDS said the lights will distract viewers too, but most equipment is capable of dimming the lights.

Bi-amping will make a difference on some speakers, but not all. It will depend on the amplifier and speakers used. Can't say yes or no until we know that.

SheepStar

 

[j_garcia]

In terms of speaker wire, I can't see there being a time where there will be a need for 14+ speakers, so 4 conductor is likely little or no benefit to be honest, but yes it doesn't cost much more to run it. Yes, it is forward looking running more, but realistically, it isn't likely to be necessary in the near future. Bi-amping all channels would require a LOT of amplifiers...and one generally does not biamp surround speakers. Running signal cable is a different story...as one can never be too careful with how many of those are run. BMX is also a bit of an overachiever...running far more things than the average person

 

[Soundman]

In terms of speaker wire, I can't see there being a time where there will be a need for 14+ speakers, so 4 conductor is likely little or no benefit to be honest, but yes it doesn't cost much more to run it. Yes, it is forward looking running more, but realistically, it isn't likely to be necessary in the near future. Bi-amping all channels would require a LOT of amplifiers...and one generally does not biamp surround speakers. Running signal cable is a different story...as one can never be too careful with how many of those are run. BMX is also a bit of an overachiever...running far more things than the average person

I agree. I seriously doubt you will need to run all that wire. And bi-amping is usually pointless. If you have proper amplification, there should be no need in most setups.

 

[Soundman]

Generally you don't want to see the Equipment. IMO it takes away from the experience. As MDS said the lights will distract viewers too, but most equipment is capable of dimming the lights.

Bi-amping will make a difference on some speakers, but not all. It will depend on the amplifier and speakers used. Can't say yes or no until we know that.

SheepStar

Not necessarily. I love watching my lights on my Emotiva stuff! It's so mesmurizing!

 

[Sheep]

Not necessarily. I love watching my lights on my Emotiva stuff! It's so mesmurizing!

Hence the "Generally".

SheepStar