CapZark Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 I've heard that solid copper wire is the best conductor for speakers (along with a million other options). So why can't I save a few bucks and just buy some 12/2 Romex house wire from Home Depot and roll with that? I've never seen it done so there must be a simple reason not too. I'm just too dumb to figure it out. What's the scoop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted September 20, 2010 Moderators Share Posted September 20, 2010 Romex would be a little hard to work with, it does not bend well without correcting every inch to the shape you want. Also it is very stiff and would make terminal ends much harder. They have cheap prices and good wire, but not the fancy name brand or pretty looking wire. http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?keyword=speaker+wire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 No need for solid, just get any decent 14/12 gauge wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 I'd step it up to 8 ga. stranded copper, running it in 3/4" copper pipe (as a shield). Spiff it up with a gate valve if you wanna turn it down a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 Or run it in some BX: The advantage over solid copper is that it's more flexible. And you don't have to solder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BE36 Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 I tried the solid Romex Logic, not bad about as good as Monster Cable. Audioquest commercial wire for less than $10 was 6 Db beeter in signal to noise ratio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennie Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 No need for solid, just get any decent 14/12 gauge wire. ....and Home Depot/Lowes sells that by the foot also! [Y] Dennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennie Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 I'd step it up to 8 ga. stranded copper, running it in 3/4" copper pipe (as a shield). Spiff it up with a gate valve if you wanna turn it down a little. I run gate valves on each wire, that way I can adjust the Bass and Treble separately! [8-)] Dennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuzzzer Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 Every speaker in my setup (except my subwoofer) has monoprice 12 gauge copper wire. I also used it to connect the new crossovers to the input terminals in my front Fortes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Fini has the right idea, save some money and skip the gates. However most of us do just fine with twisted strand 14 or 12 ga. sold by the foot at the hardware store. I have some vampire wire I bought in the 80's, but I have to keep it in the dark or it will dissolve. The good thing is that it will live forever otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 doesn't matter what you use...as long as it is silver, gold, or platimun plated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenM Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Romex would be a little hard to work with, it does not bend well without correcting every inch to the shape you want. Also it is very stiff and would make terminal ends much harder. Ditto. I had some Romex laying around and tried to wire up my RF-5s. Didn't go so well. Solid wire is harder to cut, isn't flexible so it doesn't just lay on the floor without you forcing it there, is a pain to fit into closely packed binding posts on the back of your receiver, and at least in my experience, has a tendency to snap. Suffice it to say, I've still got a hundred feet or so of Romex, and my speakers are wired with 14 gauge stranded wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapZark Posted September 21, 2010 Author Share Posted September 21, 2010 Pardon my ignorance, but what is a gate valve and where do you get them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groomlakearea51 Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Good thing Capn' Zark brought that up! I was gonna' ask the same question!!! [H] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 The answer depends on exactly how long you would like your leg pulled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twistedcrankcammer Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Pardon my ignorance, but what is a gate valve and where do you get them? You can pick them up at any fine audio botique like Jegs or Summit, between the Hemi muffler bearings and Caniffering pins, don't forget the propper torque specs on your Caniffering pins, and pick up some grease zerks for your boil-over resistor while you are there. Roger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Electrons flow like water right? [] http://www.pro-handyman.com/home-repair-articles/ball-valves-vs-gate-valves/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennie Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 The Highly Desirable Gate Valve.......... Dennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason str Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 The Highly Desirable Gate Valve.......... Dennie Why did i not think of this ? A perfect fix for those harsh horns. [^o)] One of these for each driver is just a fix it all valve. A quick sonic fix with some fancy speaker wire to top it off and you're set for life. ( Be sure to break in that wire before making your final decision ). [:^)] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennie Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 The Highly Desirable Gate Valve.......... Dennie Why did i not think of this ? A perfect fix for those harsh horns. One of these for each driver is just a fix it all valve. A quick sonic fix with some fancy speaker wire to top it off and you're set for life. ( Be sure to break in that wire before making your final decision ). ....and don't fall for those "Monster" or "Turbo" Valves......they are waaaaay over priced! A ordinary Gate Valve will work just fine.... Dennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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