Speaker cable: Who's right? - 02/04/10 04:57 PM
Hey guys, I'm planning out my speaker cable runs now but I'm a tad confused as to why different sources have different max. lengths:
16awg, 4ohm load:
max 60ft: http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_216.html
max 24ft: http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable
max 10ft: http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/speaker-cable-gauge
14awg, 4ohm load:
max 90ft: http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_216.html
max 40ft: http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable
max 18ft: http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/speaker-cable-gauge
12awg, 4 ohm load:
max 140ft: http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_216.html
max 60ft: http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable
max 30ft: http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/speaker-cable-gauge
My max. single run is about 24ft. so I thought I could get away with 16awg but Audioholics' table is giving me doubts. I think Axiom uses Roger-Russell ratings, but should I just assume worst case scenario and go with Audioholics' ratings and use 12awg or would that really be overkill? Or maybe compromise and go 14awg?
16awg, 4ohm load:
max 60ft: http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_216.html
max 24ft: http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable
max 10ft: http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/speaker-cable-gauge
14awg, 4ohm load:
max 90ft: http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_216.html
max 40ft: http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable
max 18ft: http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/speaker-cable-gauge
12awg, 4 ohm load:
max 140ft: http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_216.html
max 60ft: http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable
max 30ft: http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/speaker-cable-gauge
My max. single run is about 24ft. so I thought I could get away with 16awg but Audioholics' table is giving me doubts. I think Axiom uses Roger-Russell ratings, but should I just assume worst case scenario and go with Audioholics' ratings and use 12awg or would that really be overkill? Or maybe compromise and go 14awg?