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Speaker cable: Who's right?
#290380 02/04/10 04:57 PM
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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?

Re: Speaker cable: Who's right?
#290382 02/04/10 05:20 PM
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What is the price difference between all options?
I doubt erring on the side of caution will bankrupt you.
I personnally always use 12awg, but I have run where I could have settled for 14awg if not for the added inventory of keeping spare cables for too many lengths/gauge.


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Re: Speaker cable: Who's right?
#290383 02/04/10 05:21 PM
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I use 12AWG for all my runs, no matter what the distance. I've always used Russells table as a guidline, but it is not set in stone. The more copper the better in my book. \:\) If you order from placed like monoprice, or even locally at a home improvement store off the spool, there is not that much difference in cost. Do it right the first time, lol.


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
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Re: Speaker cable: Who's right?
SirQuack #290384 02/04/10 05:26 PM
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Yeah, I would just buy a 100' or 300' spool of 12 gauge from Monoprice and be "good for life"!

100'

300'


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: Speaker cable: Who's right?
#290386 02/04/10 05:30 PM
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You can ignore AV Outlet since they say things like:
 Quote:
All cables are directional. One way sounds better than the other. If the cable has arrows, make sure that you the arrows point towards signal flow. If they do not have arrows, you are best able to tell one channel at a time by listening to vocal music with brightness to the voice. The direction that sounds less edgier is correct.


Which way does alternating current flow again?


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-Chris
Re: Speaker cable: Who's right?
ClubNeon #290387 02/04/10 05:37 PM
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 Originally Posted By: ClubNeon
Which way does alternating current flow again?

It depends if the music is in 3/4 or 4/4! \:\)


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Re: Speaker cable: Who's right?
MarkSJohnson #290389 02/04/10 05:49 PM
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 Originally Posted By: MarkSJohnson
Yeah, I would just buy a 100' or 300' spool of 12 gauge from Monoprice and be "good for life"!

100'

300'

Dat dare is an excellent price.


Half of communication is listening. You can't listen with your mouth.
Re: Speaker cable: Who's right?
#290392 02/04/10 05:57 PM
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Agreed with above comments, but don't forget if your run will be in ceiling or in wall you should get the cable that's coated for that type of installation (CL2 rated).


Dan
On-Wall M5HP LCR, QS8 & EP500 in 7.1
Re: Speaker cable: Who's right?
Adrian #290394 02/04/10 05:59 PM
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Yeah those are great prices. I have to say I wish I had started reading this forum long before I started building my HT. I saved a bunch of money with Axiom speakers vs. what I was considering, but could have saved sooo much more had I just been in the know on all the other items. Oh well, there's always next time!

Last edited by cb919; 02/04/10 06:00 PM.

Dan
On-Wall M5HP LCR, QS8 & EP500 in 7.1
Re: Speaker cable: Who's right?
cb919 #290398 02/04/10 06:06 PM
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 Originally Posted By: cb919
Agreed with above comments, but don't forget if your run will be in ceiling or in wall you should get the cable that's coated for that type of installation (CL2 rated).

Yeah.

Plenum Cable! Take that, Chris!


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
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