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Speaker wire gauge for rear speakers
#422556 01/17/17 11:17 PM
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Wanting to run wires to my qs8'rears. Max length will be around 35 feet once I manage to run around a frame here and there. Would 14 gauge be good ? Or could 16 be sufficeable? 12 is overkill I think for rear surrounds.... but I could be wrong.

Re: Speaker wire gauge for rear speakers
72mustang #422558 01/17/17 11:30 PM
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I'd err on the side of caution and future proofing and go 12 gauge. What if you replace the QS8's one day with some high power surrounds?
Hmmmmmm, now where have I heard of a speaker like that...? confused laugh


Dan
On-Wall M5HP LCR, QS8 & EP500 in 7.1
Re: Speaker wire gauge for rear speakers
72mustang #422562 01/18/17 01:10 AM
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You could easily use 14-16 AWG at that distance for the Qs8.

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


Re: Speaker wire gauge for rear speakers
72mustang #422591 01/18/17 03:26 PM
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I would second Sir Quack's judgment on the wire gauge for the QS8s. If you really don't want to have any doubts, you could go 14-gauge, but 16-gauge is entirely sufficient for a 35-ft run to an 8-ohm or 6-ohm loudspeaker.

Alan


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Re: Speaker wire gauge for rear speakers
alan #422594 01/18/17 04:58 PM
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Not that there's anything wrong with 12 gauge, but I was joking.
I ran 14 gauge everywhere for my system though I'd bet 16 gauge would have also been just as valid for my setup. For fun I looked up my order from years ago and I ordered a 500 foot spool of 14 gauge CL2 rated from monoprice for $80 plus shipping. I've done 3 HT's off that spool and I'm still using it today everytime I need speaker wire for any little jobs at friends houses, garage etc... That was a good investment! :-)


Dan
On-Wall M5HP LCR, QS8 & EP500 in 7.1
Re: Speaker wire gauge for rear speakers
72mustang #422602 01/18/17 10:12 PM
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I ran 12gague wire throughout my basement install. overkill yes. but i bought the large spool when it was on sale and cost $18 more than a spool of 14 that was not on sale.

cb919.. for comparison sake, I bought my 500' spool of 12 gague CL2 wire and ran out and needed to buy another 100' box to get my HT room done. but to give you an idea what a crazy SOB I am..



I ran 22 pairs of wires figuring if I needed extra speaker drops, or decided to bi-amp, or tri-amp speakers, I didn't want to be without a pair of wires to do so.


Anthem: AVM60, Fosi DAC-Q5
Axiom: ADA1500, LFR1100 Actiive, QS8, EP500, M3, M3comp, M5
Re: Speaker wire gauge for rear speakers
72mustang #422605 01/18/17 11:35 PM
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Oh man, I am impressed with that.

Although there may be just the teensy-est conflict between your post and your signature line smile


M60ti, VP180, QS8, M2ti, EP500, PC-Plus 20-39
M5HP, M40ti, Sierra-1
LFR1100 active, ADA1500-4 and -8
Re: Speaker wire gauge for rear speakers
72mustang #422613 01/19/17 10:12 AM
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Hey Matt, you might wanna snag a P-Touch labeller from your work and get some names on that plate. smile Or guard the schematic pic or road map with your life. Thats a lotta pre wire goodness!

Re: Speaker wire gauge for rear speakers
bridgman #422614 01/19/17 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted By bridgman
Oh man, I am impressed with that.

Although there may be just the teensy-est conflict between your post and your signature line smile


The bigger feat was that the 5 gang wall insert was larger than the standard decora face plate. I ended up having to take a spiral upcut carbide router bit and slowy enlarge the openings to get them to fit. Also, I could not find any of the 5 opening face plates that were made of nylon so they are the hard plastic that shatters. A very slow process for anyone trying to pull it off.





But I am sure that it paid off with keeping those loose wires from going everywhere. Some day I will get the actual room finished. Story of my life. Death by HonneyDO!

Last edited by MatManBobbleHead; 01/19/17 01:41 PM.

Anthem: AVM60, Fosi DAC-Q5
Axiom: ADA1500, LFR1100 Actiive, QS8, EP500, M3, M3comp, M5
Re: Speaker wire gauge for rear speakers
72mustang #422664 01/20/17 08:09 PM
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And finally...... do both speaker sets have to be exact length to,achieve same signal ? ie..... if one side is 20 and the other speaker is 35 or 40... will both receive signal same from receiver at same time ? ( I'm assuming if there is a difference... it would be like 1/1,000,000 of a second delay in the longer cable ?

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