Speaker Wire Question - Am I Getting Taken?

[kevbach]

I just purchased some 14 guage speaker wire off the internet, and when I got it, it looked very thin - especially compared to some 14 guage wire I got from home depot. If I didnt know any better, id say it was 18 guage but it does have 14AWG printed on the wire itself. I emailed the vendor to ask what was going on and here's what he said:

This cable is 14 AWG; however the construction of the wire is a bit different then some other vendors. We use clear copper without tint, like most of the other manufactures. We measure gauge by the amount of strands, not by the thickness of the cable. Also, this cable is tested on 100 watt range and handles the signal as 14 AWG wire.

So what do you think about his comments? Am I getting screwed?

 

[nibhaz]

Screwed?.......Totally!


Seriously...clear copper, is that like the clear aluminum in Star Trek IV.

 

[j_garcia]

I vote you got screwed too. Got pics?

 

[chas_w]

I recently ordered some "12 white" twelve gauge wire from Blue Jeans Cable. I also was intially a bit disappointed because it seemed much thinner than the 12 gauge AR wire I've had for awhile. The individual strands in the Blue Jeans wire are thicker...but the overall size is thinner. Looks like quality stuff, just different.

 

[kevbach]

chaz - so how does it sound? I've got a 100 foot spool of my stuff hooked up to a speaker and trying to compare to 8 feet of 16 guage. Cant tell much at low volume but cant crank it yet because the babys asleep

 

[stratman]

speaker wire off the internet, and when I got it, it looked very thin - especially compared to some 14 guage wire I got from home depot. If I didnt know any better, id say it was 18 guage but it does have 14AWG printed on the wire itself. I emailed the vendor to ask what was going on and here's what he said:

Who is the vendor who told you this???

 

[mtrycrafts]

is that like the clear aluminum in Star Trek IV.

I think that was transparent aluminum

 

[mtrycrafts]

I just purchased some 14 guage speaker wire off the internet, and when I got it, it looked very thin - especially compared to some 14 guage wire I got from home depot. If I didnt know any better, id say it was 18 guage but it does have 14AWG printed on the wire itself. I emailed the vendor to ask what was going on and here's what he said:
?

What did you really compare? The twisted bare copper wires or the whole wire with insulation on it? Some cable will have different thickness of insulation, so that is not the criteria to compare. 14 ga wire is about 1/16" in diameter.

 

[MDS]

Sounds fishy to me. The AWG table lists a specific diameter for each gauge - it has nothing to do with number of strands. Different speaker wires may have differing number of strands but as long as the diameter matches the chart then it is that gauge.

When the vendor said 'we use the number of strands to determine the gauge' it just sounds like an excuse.

Of course all of this is probably moot anyway as it is highly unlikely that you will hear a difference between 14 ga and 16 ga unless your runs are very long.

 

[Haoleb]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge

"Note that for gauges 5 through about 14, the wire gauge is effectively the number of bare solid wires that, when placed side by side, span 1 inch."

 

[Jack Hammer]

I recently ordered some "12 white" twelve gauge wire from Blue Jeans Cable. I also was intially a bit disappointed because it seemed much thinner than the 12 gauge AR wire I've had for awhile. The individual strands in the Blue Jeans wire are thicker...but the overall size is thinner. Looks like quality stuff, just different.

The Blue Jeans cable is 12 gauge, use any wire strippers and you'll see. I know I have both to which you are referring. The Acoustic Research cable has a filament core surrounded by the copper strands. It makes it look more like 8 gauge wire. IIRC it is actually only 16 gauge, but the Ar stuff does look pretty cool though.

kevbach, i'd check with some wire strippers. It is not a perfect way to tell, but it will get you in the ballpark. If it is actually 14g then using the 18g hole in your wire strippers will cut the strands too, or the 14g hole won't cut through the insulation.

 

[Mudcat]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge

"Note that for gauges 5 through about 14, the wire gauge is effectively the number of bare solid wires that, when placed side by side, span 1 inch."

Pure serendipity. There is no relationship intended between the gauge and the number of wire laid side-by-side to equal one inch.

Refer to on old post on AWG
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=26807#post26807

Depening on the manufacturer you'll probably get different values approximating the labeled gauge. For example Sound King 16 AWG speaker wire is made of 105 strands of 36 awg wire. 36 awg wire has a cross sectional area of 25 circular mils. Times 105, thats 2625 circular mils. Standard 16 awg has a cross sectional area of 2580 circular mils, so you getting more.

Sometimes you get a little bit less though, but usually close enough to call it a particular gauge. Sound Kings 10 awg is 413 strands of 36 awg, that 10,325 circular mils, but 10 awg is supposed to be 10,380 circular mils. Can't understand why Sound King just doesn't use 415 strands.

 

[kevbach]

Thanks for all the replies. To answer a couple questions, the vendor I got the wire from is "Lenexpo".

Here's there site:
http://lenexpo-electronics.com/

And here's the link to the actual wire:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=003&item=130027264928&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1

I did strip the insulation off both sets of wire I was comparing and the lenexpo copper was much thinner than the home depot wire's copper. Im planning on making a 70 foot run with it.

 

[chas_w]

The Acoustic Research cable has a filament core surrounded by the copper strands. It makes it look more like 8 gauge wire.

That answers that...and I do like the AR wire.

As I said, the Blue Jeans wire quality is good and I'm happy with it also (I use it for my surrounds). As far as sound quality I don't notice any difference between it and the 16 gauge AR wire I was using previously for the surrounds.

 

[audiofox]

The statement about "clear copper" is an immediate red flag, since there is no such thing. Does this vendor also sell muffler bearings and skyhooks?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Can't understand why Sound King just doesn't use 415 strands.

Maybe because that 2 less strand is withing the tolerance accepted by one of the government agencies that measures products. 2 such strands multiplied by the number of miles they get or make or whatever can add up to some $$.

 

[kevbach]

I hooked up a 100 foot roll to one speaker and 8 foot of 16 guage to another. I cranked it up and cant say that I heard a difference between the two. I guess it will do the job (I need 2 70 foot runs) but I still feel like I got it up the cornhole

 

[mtrycrafts]

I hooked up a 100 foot roll to one speaker and 8 foot of 16 guage to another. I cranked it up and cant say that I heard a difference between the two. I guess it will do the job (I need 2 70 foot runs) but I still feel like I got it up the cornhole

If the lettering on the insulation states 14ga, and in reality it is not, that would be the manufacturer's fault. Who knows who really made it before reselling it to the store.
But, in either case, you will be fine.

 

[hemiram]

I just purchased some 14 guage speaker wire off the internet, and when I got it, it looked very thin - especially compared to some 14 guage wire I got from home depot. If I didnt know any better, id say it was 18 guage but it does have 14AWG printed on the wire itself. I emailed the vendor to ask what was going on and here's what he said:

This cable is 14 AWG; however the construction of the wire is a bit different then some other vendors. We use clear copper without tint, like most of the other manufactures. We measure gauge by the amount of strands, not by the thickness of the cable. Also, this cable is tested on 100 watt range and handles the signal as 14 AWG wire.

So what do you think about his comments? Am I getting screwed?

All I can say is I hope there was a lubricant used! That "clear copper" is hilarious. If you paid by credit card, send it back, and if they don't want to co-operate, sick Visa or MC on them!

 

[jcrobso]

Stranderd wire.

Is harder to tell the gauge size of stranded wire by looking at it.
Sold wire is easy to tell the gauge.
For example, you can make 16ga wire buy twisting two sold 18ga wire together, or twisting 10 20ga solid wires together or 30 24ga solid wires together.
They all look different, but would still be 16ga. john