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Best way to join speaker wire?
#249464 02/28/09 01:12 PM
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Hey guys, I need to extend the length of my speaker wire so therefore joining two is the only way to do it and I need some advice. The only advice that I have received is from someone in the business that said to intertwine them and then use blue merrets (can't remember why he specified blue ones).

Something that I thought of is that I have a banana plug wall plate, and I was wondering if I could somehow take the connectors off of the plastic plate (or break the plastic plate surrounding the connectors)and use those inside the wall??

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.


The only reasonable argument for owning a gun is to protect yourself from the police.
Re: Best way to join speaker wire?
Ya_basta #249469 02/28/09 01:37 PM
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Hey Cam:
Personally, I would Just fan out the strands a bit on both ends, intertwine them, and twist them. Then a cap or electrical tape or shrink tube.

Then, bend the splices "flat" to the wire and wrap the whole think with tape or shrink tube.

It's not like you're wiring AC or anything...you just want to prevent loose strands from touching or it pulling apart easily.


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: Best way to join speaker wire?
MarkSJohnson #249471 02/28/09 02:38 PM
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Thanks for the advice Mark, I'll give that a try, or at least get someone who's not digit inept.

My main worry was that I would possibly be losing sound quality.


The only reasonable argument for owning a gun is to protect yourself from the police.
Re: Best way to join speaker wire?
Ya_basta #249473 02/28/09 02:45 PM
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Another vote for shrink wrap/tube. They tend to look better than a wad of electrical tape or marr connectors. I wonder if you could find a small plug-in connector male/female to do the job?


Half of communication is listening. You can't listen with your mouth.
Re: Best way to join speaker wire?
Adrian #249474 02/28/09 02:46 PM
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Don't forget an outer layer of duct tape for that Red/Green look.


Fred

-------
Blujays1: Spending Fred's money one bottle at a time, no two... Oh crap!
Re: Best way to join speaker wire?
fredk #249486 02/28/09 04:22 PM
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But connectors and shrink rap is what I'd use.

Re: Best way to join speaker wire?
michael_d #249502 02/28/09 05:43 PM
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From the peanut gallery: hold the two ends at 90 degrees with the insulation of each almost touching at the X point. Twist the wires tightly trying to maintain the 90 degree split on the unwound portion. Once you (or a digit friendly assistant) have the entire length (no more than an inch needed) add a yellow or red wire nut. Cheap stuff, but the color corresponds to the size wire it will hold. Make sure you twist in a clockwise manner or the wire cap will untwist your pretty wind and risk a wire sliding our. The point of the 90 degree twist is that it will hold the wire very firmly even without a wire nut. If you hold the wires parallel and just twist the resulting weave is easily pulled apart. (give it a try!) The 90 degree twist is very secure and with the wire nut (or without) you wont have to worry about it getting pulled apart if abused by feet, furniture, or the drunk squirrel that is always lurking around here. \:o

The shrink wrap is a great idea (and still cheap) and looks much better than any other option I know of. If you go that route, and twist lock as described, I would skip the wire nut to keep the look very clean. Unless the wire is completely hidden, then I'd save the time and just put the wire nut and wrap of tape. You can also get some silver solder if you really want to do it "right" but from what I have learned here, you will gain nothing.


Panny 3000 PJ, 118" Carada, Denon 3300, PS3, Axiom QS8, PSB 5T, B&W sub, levitating speaker wire
Re: Best way to join speaker wire?
Zimm #249518 02/28/09 06:37 PM
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....unless you have them levitating wyres...


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: Best way to join speaker wire?
MarkSJohnson #249525 02/28/09 06:54 PM
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Right, then your F'd. You can't ever get them to levitate at the same level to put them in the shrink wrap. That's why the Deaf Monk has to do it in the volcano where gravity and magnetism inverticate.

Keep up kids, this aint rocket science.



Panny 3000 PJ, 118" Carada, Denon 3300, PS3, Axiom QS8, PSB 5T, B&W sub, levitating speaker wire
Re: Best way to join speaker wire?
Zimm #249526 02/28/09 07:01 PM
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You could just skip the work and get these...they will make your system sound like angles are signing in your room.




Panny 3000 PJ, 118" Carada, Denon 3300, PS3, Axiom QS8, PSB 5T, B&W sub, levitating speaker wire
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