To get speaker wire back to rear surround speakers I would need to run wire to the outside of my house, up into the attic, around the cathedral ceiling, into the garage, and then through the wall. The cable run would be somewhere between 50 and 70 feet. Should I even try this or would it sound like heck. If I do this, what type of cable should I use. I am afraid that it will either sound bad or the cable I would have to use would be so thick it would cost an arm and an leg. I don't suppose I could use something like Cat6 ethernet cable could I?
12 gauge would be perfectly acceptable for this application.
i was thinking the same thing, but i wasnt sure about it. i have never done a run over 35 feet. i was thinking to myself, "man, a run of 70 feet? must be putting surround speakers out in his mailbox??"
bigjohn
Cat6 ain't gonna do it for you. The other alternative is to use 4-strand in-wall cable (14 gauge) and wrap the ends together. Wow, that doesn't make any sense. Too early, can't think. Here's the
article.
Canare also makes a cable for this if you can't find the ultralink at decent prices.
how much of the cable will be outside? will it be in direct weather conditions or up under an eve or something?
Jake
Further to this point, Ultralink also makes a 12 gauge 4-strand cable that is inwall certified. It does however, cost an arm and a leg (over a buck a foot)
For most of the run it will either be tucked under the bottom of the siding or under the molding piece at the corner of the house. The cable will be exposed to direct afternoon sunlight for about 1 1/2 feet where it first comes through the wall to the outside. The rest of the way it will be out of sunlight but will be exposed to heat, cold, and indirect moisture.
As an alternate to running the cable outside, why not try the Decorp.com flatwire solution? A little pricey, but then you can run the cables in the house (ceiling and/or walls) and just paint over it.
Blue Jeans Cable has 10ga. available for only .57/foot.
Blue Jeans 10ga
This is what I used for my surrounds. Granted I only need a run of about 35', but this is very solid, heavy duty stuff. Nice tough jacket, but at the same time quite flexible.
Seems like a no-brainer for what you need.