Speaker Wire...help sorting thru the junk

[Polk12]

I am looking for 12 AWG speaker wire and not sure what to buy...I looked at some of the other speaker wire posts and I checked out monoprice.com based on others comments. My speakers are the entry level RM10 and PSW10 sub. No receiver yet..but is this link to speaker wire on monoprice.com junk or not?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023901&p_id=2747&seq=1&format=2

Thanks for your input...also any recommendations on banana plugs, where to buy and how much to spend?

[dragon1952]

I really like these bananas, and they are fairly inexpensive. They use a gold plate over a copper base metal.
eKs BFA Banana Plugs
http://www.knukonceptz.com/productMaster.cfm?category=Connectors#

This Belden 5000 series is pretty good speaker cable for .64 - .68 cents a foot (depending on outer jacket color). It's got nice beefy copper strands instead of the 250-500 ct you get in most of that clear PVC wrapped stuff, and it looks a little classier.
Belden 5000 series
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

If I was going to use Monoprice cable, I'd use this one. The 'in-wall' label just means it'll pass code for in-wall installation.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023901&p_id=2816&seq=1&format=2

[mantis]

You do not need 12g wire for those speakers. Use Beldon, Liberty or any custom high quality speaker cable and call it a day.

I suggest 16-2 or at best 14-2. It's all you need,

Dan

[Polk12]

You do not need 12g wire for those speakers. Use Beldon, Liberty or any custom high quality speaker cable and call it a day.

I suggest 16-2 or at best 14-2. It's all you need,

Dan

Good to know. Am I right that it wouldn't hurt to use 12g wire? To have it in place just incase I upgrade my speakers in the future?

[mhardy6647]

it won't hurt.

[MHAMBONE]

Say I have a 7.1 receiver. I have some old 12 ga monster cable for the main speakers. Does it matter if I was to use 14 or 16 ga for the satelites and center? Or, should I have the same gauge on all speakers?

[dragon1952]

If the distances are reasonably short, like in most home theater environments, it won't matter. I've got a 5.1 setup with all in-wall RT85's and I'm running 16 to the front and center, and 14 to the rear.

[dragon1952]

duplicate post...........

[Lasareath]

Say I have a 7.1 receiver. I have some old 12 ga monster cable for the main speakers. Does it matter if I was to use 14 or 16 ga for the satelites and center? Or, should I have the same gauge on all speakers?


Welcome to Club Polk!!!

Here's my next speakers cables, maybe you should try them.

http://www.mitcables.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&Itemid=29&category_id=419&product_id=541

[mantis]

Good to know. Am I right that it wouldn't hurt to use 12g wire? To have it in place just incase I upgrade my speakers in the future?

It wouldn't hurt but it's totally unnecessary. 14g wire can run any speaker no matter how high end they are as long as the runs are shorter then 50 feet. Once the runs get over 50 feet then I would suggest a heavier gauge.
This is exactly what you need for today and into the future.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Jfum1Ouwoam/p_70314260/AudioQuest-FLX-14-2-14-Gauge-In-Wall-Speaker-Cable-60-feet.html

Dan

[Polk12]

Mantis, Thanks for the info...I will be purchasing your recommendation this weekend!! got a good site to buy banana plugs?

[dragon1952]

That's basically no different than the Monoprice 14AWG CL2 rated cable which is just $12 for 50ft. In fact, it's probably the same wire in a different jacket, but it's your money.

[fbm211]

canare 4S11 is a good wire.Its 14ga quad so double the runs and that makes it 11 ga.It can be found for 1.19/ft.Great value for a good speaker cable.You may be able to find it a little cheaper but here is a link>>>http://www.performanceaudio.com/cgi/product_view.cgi?products_id=535

[potee]

Welcome to Club Polk!!!

Here's my next speakers cables, maybe you should try them.

http://www.mitcables.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&Itemid=29&category_id=419&product_id=541

I just viewed your web site. Awesome job on those speakers I envy you as I can just imagine the time and patients it took. KUDOS.

[Klipsch_Fan]

Sure buy it, or something equivalent in price. You don't need fancy expensive speaker wire. Maybe if Your hooked up to some electronic gear that measures whatever it measures, lol. I'm not an electronics guy, but You ears won't know the difference. Many a test has been done in the past, and well......no comment. :rolleyes:

Fred

[mantis]

That's basically no different than the Monoprice 14AWG CL2 rated cable which is just $12 for 50ft. In fact, it's probably the same wire in a different jacket, but it's your money.

Careful posing comments like this , there is some truth to this and a lot of which is not true. I'm not going to get into it but not all 14g in wall rated wire performs the same. I have ran miles of it to just about every kind of speaker made, there is a difference.

Dan

[mantis]

Mantis, Thanks for the info...I will be purchasing your recommendation this weekend!! got a good site to buy banana plugs?

I really like Audioquest banana plugs. They are like a sleeve style or gator style. They hold in but don't make you work to get them out like Monster cables type design.

You can buy them anywhere. But here is a link to a site I would buy from.http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AQCFBFA. You don't need to buy these but I switch out my wires so much it makes sense for me to own them. They are re useable. They make a crimp on version thats a bit cheaper but it's one and done.

Dan

[vmaxer]

Careful posing comments like this , there is some truth to this and a lot of which is not true. I'm not going to get into it but not all 14g in wall rated wire performs the same. I have ran miles of it to just about every kind of speaker made, there is a difference.

Dan


Dan,

I used this in my system -
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023901&p_id=4037&seq=1&format=2

I have the fronts bi-amped with it ( 2 conductors for the highs and 2 for the lows - running to the Sunfire 405 X 5) . What is your opinion on this?? Good or bad??

Anyone else use it??