Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
What guage of speaker wire are you using?
#256215 04/09/09 05:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 65
Zak Offline OP
old hand
OP Offline
old hand
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 65
I'm currently using 12 guage speaker wire for the M60's and the VP150 and 18 guage for the QS8's.

I'm considering upgrading the QS8's to a thicker wire but I'm not sure how thick I should go.
The distance from QS8's to receiver is roughly 30 feet.

What is everyone else using for speaker wire?
Can you go too thick when using speaker wire?

Thanks,
Zak


Panasonic TC-P65V10 65" Plasma
Sony KDL-55XBR8 55" LED LCD
Yamaha RX-V3800
Axiom Epic 60 - 500 (7.1)
Re: What guage of speaker wire are you using?
Zak #256217 04/09/09 05:45 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
You can't go too thick, except for the fact that it gets hard to work with. You should be fine with 14 or 16 gauge to the surrounds.


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: What guage of speaker wire are you using?
Zak #256218 04/09/09 05:47 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 868
aficionado
Offline
aficionado
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 868
I used 12 gauge wire for the runs to my QS8s which are about the same distance as yours.


Dave
Re: What guage of speaker wire are you using?
DaveG #256224 04/09/09 06:18 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,349
connoisseur
Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,349
14ga Canare 4S11 for bi-amped M80 mains (15' each). 12ga Belden 5000UE for center (10') and surrounds (40' each).

All from Blue Jeans Cable.

With fancy-pants DIY techflex on the Canare from wirecare.com ;\)



M80v2 | VP150v2 | QS8v2
SVS Pci+ 20-39
Emotiva UMC-1 & LPA-1
M22ti + T-Amp, in the Office
Re: What guage of speaker wire are you using?
PeterChenoweth #256227 04/09/09 06:23 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,471
axiomite
Offline
axiomite
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,471
I have Tara Labs Prism Omni 2 running in-wall to my Epic 80/500 system. It's 14 gauge and I'm very happy.

I'm a relative n00b on tech things but have never really considered anything higher than 12 gauge. I suspect you're fine.


Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.
Re: What guage of speaker wire are you using?
medic8r #256232 04/09/09 06:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
J
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
J
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
14-12 gauge will do just about any household runs, if it is on the longer side then 12 gauge should be used. I would change out the 18 gauge on the surrounds for at least 14 if not 12. 12 gauge wiring from Monoprice is quite good and very inexpensive, there really isn't much reason to not use 12 gauge at their pricing.


Jason
M80 v2
VP160 v3
QS8 v2
PB13 Ultra
Denon 3808
Samsung 85" Q70
Re: What guage of speaker wire are you using?
jakewash #256233 04/09/09 06:44 PM
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,379
Likes: 7
axiomite
Offline
axiomite
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,379
Likes: 7
Home depot also has a nice jacketed 12ga wire (two insulated stranded wires in a green jacket). I have a big roll of that sitting beside my receiver. One day I'll actually use it to replace the crappy wires I have now ;\)


M60ti, VP180, QS8, M2ti, EP500, PC-Plus 20-39
M5HP, M40ti, Sierra-1
LFR1100 active, ADA1500-4 and -8
Re: What guage of speaker wire are you using?
bridgman #256241 04/09/09 08:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840
Likes: 13
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840
Likes: 13
I use 12 AWG for all my speakers, it is not hard to work with at all. My Qs8 runs are about 30ft as well.


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


Re: What guage of speaker wire are you using?
SirQuack #256272 04/10/09 02:17 AM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,422
axiomite
Offline
axiomite
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,422
12 AWG for mine as well (M60 fronts, VP150, and QS8s)... A bit overkill actually according to the charts online and the fact that my longest run is about 30 ft with most of mine around 20 feet, but the stuff is pretty cheap so who cares. It isn't like I am using that goofy $4,999 per foot stuff.


Farewell - June 4, 2020
Re: What guage of speaker wire are you using?
Zak #256285 04/10/09 03:28 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
Zak, I use 16gauge lampcord for all my runs(none longer than about 30'). You sort of did it backwards; if you were going to use both 18ga and 12 ga, the 18ga should have gone on the closer M60s. An excellent explanation of speaker wire in general by a veteran audio professional, with a table of suggested gauges, is found here and is well-worth studying.


-----------------------------------

Enjoy the music, not the equipment.



Moderated by  alan, Amie, Andrew, axiomadmin, Brent, Debbie, Ian, Jc 

Link Copied to Clipboard

Need Help Graphic

Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics24,940
Posts442,457
Members15,616
Most Online2,082
Jan 22nd, 2020
Top Posters
Ken.C 18,044
pmbuko 16,441
SirQuack 13,840
CV 12,077
MarkSJohnson 11,458
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 386 guests, and 4 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newsletter Signup
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4