Speaker Wire Help..

[Greddy87]

Im debating whether to buy speaker wire for a set of brand new speakers.. The speaker wire i have now is about 6 yrs old, non-oxidized flat and braided copper wiring.. Radio Shack brand lol.. The speakers im getting are a pair of cerwin vegas, 300watts peak, speaker length to reciever no longer then 6 ft for left and right speakers.. I dont even know what gauge size i should get..I was thinking of the speaker wiring sold in the Audioholics online store.. Any ideas?.. Thanks in advance..

 

[Adam]

Odds are very good that you don't need to get new wire. Check out the site linked here for recommendations on the gauge of wire to use as a function of wire length and speaker impedance.

 

[Greddy87]

Thanks Adam.. To be honest, reading that has me more confuesed lol.. Correct me if im wrong.. Lower gauge wire for the shorter distance..?

 

[Adam]

Thanks Adam.. To be honest, reading that has me more confuesed lol.. Correct me if im wrong.. Lower gauge wire for the shorter distance..?

Well, higher number gauge (thinner wires) for shorter distances. The resistance of the speaker wire is a function of Length/(Cross-Sectional Area). The longer the wire - the higher the resistance. The thicker the wire - the lower the resistance. So, as you make the wires longer, you want to have them be thicker to keep the total resistance down.

Does that make more sense?

 

[Ares]

Lower gauge wire for longer distances. I would run nothing higher than 14awg JMO.

 

[jamie2112]

Just buy some 12awg cable from www.monoprice.com and some banana plugs and bam you are all set.

 

[Adam]

Just buy some 12awg cable from www.monoprice.com and some banana plugs and bam you are all set.

Yeah, but if the OP already has good wire, why buy more?

 

[Greddy87]

thanks guys.. When i think higher gauge for 300watt peak loud speaker.. I think of the speaker itself warming up and a fuse burning up..lol It may not be audiophile approved, but i have decided to go with a pair of cerwin vega speakers.. Perferably the VE 12 Series...By the way, Its going to be powered by a Harman Kardon AVR 1600..

 

[Shock]

Fun little fact:

Are you wondering why a lower gauge wire is thicker than a higher gauge? Shouldn't the larger number be higher? Well AWG (American Wire Gauge) is how many times the wire has to fold over itself to equal one inch. Another way to look at it is, how many times you have to multiply the diameter to equal one inch.

So that is why lower numbers are thicker than higher numbers.

Eg:
If it take 10 X the diameter to equal one inch it's 10 AWG
14 X would be 14 AWG.

Now you know why the lower number is thicker! And knowing is half the battle.......the other half is explosives!

 

[zhimbo]

thanks guys.. When i think higher gauge for 300watt peak loud speaker.. I think of the speaker itself warming up and a fuse burning up..lol It may not be audiophile approved, but i have decided to go with a pair of cerwin vega speakers.. Perferably the VE 12 Series...By the way, Its going to be powered by a Harman Kardon AVR 1600..

The 300 Watt rating of the speaker is irrelevant for several reasons, among them being you won't be getting 300 Watts from your reciever.

If you only have 6ft runs, then you can get by with some pretty thin wire, so you're probably fine, unless it's REALLY REALLY thin or in bad shape. If you really want new stuff, just get a roll of 14 Gauge or He-Man 12 Gauge like Jamie2112 recommends. It'll be overkill but then you just won't think about it anymore.

 

[njedpx3]

Odds are very good that you don't need to get new wire. Check out the site linked here for recommendations on the gauge of wire to use as a function of wire length and speaker impedance.

I agree with Adam, however you might want to check the wire ends and if they are not shiney copper scrape them with a knife.

Worst case buy new cables from teo great but inexpensive places, either monprice.com or bluejeanscables.com By the waythe owner of blue Jeanscables is an Audioholic memeber.

Peace and Serenity,

Forest Man

 

[njedpx3]

Yeah, but if the OP already has good wire, why buy more?

Adam,

Jamie is a Sound Engineer and bigger is better. If it isn't at least 12 gauge (or bigger) then it isn't any GOOD! Jamie knows his stuff!

Peace and Serenity,

Forest Man

 

[KEW]

Use what you have. I believe you posted elsewhere it was 14 ga RS wire. That is plenty sufficient for 6' runs and RS makes some pretty nice wire. Other than the gauge, how pliable the wire is is about the only significant factor.
Age is pretty much of no consequence, but I would cut any currently exposed ends and re-strip just to avoid any corrosion (especially if the wire was in a humid environment).
Also it is assumed that the wire has not seen a sustained pattern of mechanical stress over the past years. By that I mean flexed or under tension.

Edit: Forest Man types faster than I do.
I agree that if you are buying it is not a bad idea to get 12ga and forget about it. But 22AWG is recommended for 4ohms at 6', so 14AWG is way overkill.

The most important concern is you don't need to waste your money on mega-buck wire!

 

[son-yah-tive]

I've had the same speaker wire running through my attic for 12 years now. And, I just bought some 'Definitive Mythos 2s' and they work great. It is 16g wire. You should have no issues.

 

[sealkojac]

I'm running the 10ft Velocity 12AWG Speaker Interconnect sold from AudioH and the cable is great. The fact I can just plug in the posts to the speakers and receiver without messing with the binding posts is nice.

 

[mtrycrafts]

.... The speaker wire i have now is about 6 yrs old,..

Welcome
Check the jacket to see if there is an expiration date on that wire


Just kidding. Wire is not like many products on the market with such dates so it should work just fine if it is long enough to reach your speakers

Read the home page here for some great info at the AH college pull down tab, I think.

 

[Greddy87]

Thanks alot guys..The ends are not as bright as they were before.. Colour seems faded..The insulation istelf is hard to cut as it was when i got it but its colour hasnt really changed at all.. Heres a pic. tried to catch the writing..

Decided to cut the old parts and make new connections.. 2 weeks and I'll have my cerwin vega VE 12'S

 

[Adam]

Decided to cut the old parts and make new connections.. 2 weeks and I'll have my cerwin vega VE 12'S

That's the right choice, IMO.

Try to remember to put up some pics of the new speakers once you get them! Thanks.

 

[Greddy87]

I'll be sure to post them.. Receiver too