Now we're on the same page. The 16 gauge, in wall, wire will be fine for the 35 ft. run to the rear surrounds. And the 14 or 12 gauge will be fine for the longer run to your surrounds.

I honestly don't know if it is required that all speaker wires be the same length. Mine aren't. Mine are just the right length from the receiver to each speaker, with a little slack for positioning. Again, someone with more knowledge than I will hopefully address this question for you.

Jack

"People generally quarrel because they cannot argue." - G. K. Chesterton