Tom, nice catch on the banana plugs. I was anti-banana for a number of years, but once I bought some, I decided that I would never NOT have banana plugs unless there was some odd limitation (like the plugs I have not working with the "V2" QS8s... The current QS8s have the built in wall bracket/wire connector thingy, so banana plugs for all speaker (not sub) wires coming to the receiver, plus banana plugs for the front 3 speakers (again, QS8s won't need them).

Depending on how much wire you need (you always need more than you think once you snake it around the room), 12ga is only $10 more than 14ga if you buy 300 feet of it.

I bought 450 feet for my 7.2 setup so that I have plenty. My longest run is right at 40 feet from wall plate to wall plate. Add a couple of feet for "patch" wires between the wall plates and the speakers, and the wall plate and the receiver and it adds up. (I also needed some wire for bass shakers and other things too.)

Farewell - June 4, 2020