Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater In-wall speaker wire guidelines

This was posted in another thread and thought it deserved its own . I am interested in your inquiry too.

I don't mean to derail this thread...but I just received my Q4's yesterday. After a thorough exam I'll admit I'm extremely happy with their appearance and overall build quality. I'm planning on doing a side wall mount this weekend and I'll be running my speaker cable in-wall. So my question is this...Can I use basic speaker wire or not? I've got lots of regular 14g wire available but its not in-wall rated.
Thanks for any help on this matter and I didn't want to hi jack someone else's thread.

Regards, Bill...

There is a coated wire available at the box stores for inwall applications. I'm sure alot of guys are using reg speaker wires inwall but I believe there is a code for such applications, finding the code on the gov't website is similar to reading the Denon Owners Manual(frustrating).

Blue Jeans' "Ten White" and "Twelve White" are NEC rated for in wall use.

If in-wall rated wire meets code, than what exactly is code and by using standard wire would it compromise my installation down the road?

Just wanting to do it right, the first time....

BTW...thanks for moving my original post. I should've known better.

Regards, Bill

Bill, there's no question of sound quality involved. It's a fire safety related matter which is covered by national and/or local building codes and may be interpreted in various ways by local inspectors when new construction requiring an inspection is involved. Using regular lamp cord/speaker wire for behind wall runs doesn't create a fire hazard, but if a fire starts otherwise and reaches the wire the ordinary polyvinyl chloride jacket gives off toxic fumes at high temperatures. The wire which meets specifications for behind wall use has an added outer jacket which eliminates/delays the release of fumes during a fire. Have no idea what local requirements, if any, are applicable in your area, but again, there's no audio problem with using regular wire.

I believe if you are not "up to code", and there is a fire the insurance company may not have to honor the policy. Also if the building is sold with wire in the walls which is not rated for in-wall use it may fail the inspection.

There are both UL and NEC codes for in-wall use, with the NEC being more strict.

The code has nothing to do with sound quality, it is all about safety.

John owes me a Coke.

Wow Thanks ...that certainly helps clear things up for me... . I guess I'll use in-wall rated wire just to be sure.
Now, outside of the usual online retailers, where can I get some cheap in-wall rated wire in a pinch?

Thanks, Bill...

Billy, you should be able to find coated wire at one of the box stores(HD, Rona, Lowes). Check out this link , there's some info of interest here.

Thanks for the link. Heh...I didn't even know about it and its Canadian .

Thanks for all the help guy's!
PS: 5 posts and now I'm a regular...