Jump to content

Speaker Cable Gauge, Length and Bananna Plugs???


RonW.

Recommended Posts

Do to my room configeration one cable length would be 30'(+-) and the other would be 12'(+-).

Here are my questions:

What gauge?

Should I make them both the same length?

Will the coiled excess length cause any problems?

I'm waiting of my Carver M500t MK II repairs (re-cap and re-fresh), what are the best bananna plugs for the 5 way binding post and at the Cornwall II's connnection cup?

The Carver M500t MK II pwer will be upgraded from 251 watts per channel @ 0.15% THD (8 ohms) to 395 watts per channel @ 0.15% THD (8 ohms)

[8-|] [:D] [8-|]

Thanks in advance....

RonW.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a similar situation. My cables are abotu 12' and 40'. Cut them to size, don't make them the same length.

I use this stuff:

http://www.performanceaudio.com/item/Mogami-W3103/5639/

11 awg which is much more than you need, but it does not coil up and it lays on the floor very nicely and follows your baseboards.

I buy bananna plugs off of ebay, Here is what I have used for years (and they still look new):

http://www.nakamichiplug.com/product-0534E12.html

I bought from ebay so don't know about the seller. Throw away the "nakamichi" outer part and use hear shrink to make a pretty wire.

post-10861-13819832538612_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

With 16AWG, the 30' run will have .12 ohms of resistance. With 11AWG, it drops to .038 ohms. Is it audible, or a difference worth worrying about? Time for a Double Blind Test!!

Blind test will not work for the cable that I recommended because I recommend it for its looks. I like it because it rolls out nicely and does not coil up. Follows the baseboard very nicely and the thickness looks good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes just cut your wire to the length you need for each speaker, don't worry about matching lengths.

I agree Mogami wire is the very best however I prefer to use Mogami W2921 which is quad cable (4 wires at about 13 gauge each) and I bi-wire them. I love both how they look and sound.

Here is the Mogami W2921 cable

Posted Image

Then I cover them with tech flex and use cable pants and heat shrink tubing to make them look nice and my favorite banana's are GLS locking banana's

from Orange County Speaker http://www.speakerrepair.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=locking

Speaker end

Posted Image


Amp end

Posted Image

Cable and banana's to be installed

Posted Image

Installed cable at amp

Posted Image

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not going to get into the wire quality debate but what I will say is you should cut to the lenght you need and bit extra for placement/cleaning. As for the bananas I used sets from Lowes they are the double set screw type and when tightened down w/ the right screw driver they will never pull out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

never mind, here's from modern owner's manual:

Use 16-gauge (AWG), two conductor, copper wire at a

minimum and larger gauge wire for longer runs. The

connection terminals on your loudspeaker will accommo

date bare wire, spade terminals or banana type plugs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I have a similar situation. My cables are abotu 12' and 40'. Cut them to size, don't make them the same length.

I use this stuff:

http://www.performanceaudio.com/item/Mogami-W3103/5639/

11 awg which is much more than you need, but it does not coil up and it lays on the floor very nicely and follows your baseboards.

I buy bananna plugs off of ebay, Here is what I have used for years (and they still look new):

http://www.nakamichiplug.com/product-0534E12.html

I bought from ebay so don't know about the seller. Throw away the "nakamichi" outer part and use hear shrink to make a pretty wire.

do you order from that Nakamichi link? if so, how long does it take to receive your order?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll be the odd man out. Cut your cables to the same length to preserve the same phase length. Do not coil the extra length just let it pile up in a random fashion. Someone will show up and tell me phase length is a non-issue but I'm too old to change at this point.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm usually the guy who says the length differences will not affect quality.

But in this case it seems greater than usual.

I say make the cable lenghts equal. That way you can use them if your situation changes. And in the present case you'll sleep better, and Russ will sleep better.

WMcD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Speaker cables would need to have hundreds of feet difference in length to make an audible difference because of length differences. Make the cables the length you need, not only does it look much nicer but having excess cable lying around is one way to pick up hiss, humm and other unwanted noise into your system.

Good cable management by not having excess cable and keeping cables separated by speaker cables, interconnects and power cables will help quiet and blacken the systems noise floor which helps to improve the overall sound quality of the system.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I have a similar situation. My cables are abotu 12' and 40'. Cut them to size, don't make them the same length.

I use this stuff:

http://www.performanceaudio.com/item/Mogami-W3103/5639/

11 awg which is much more than you need, but it does not coil up and it lays on the floor very nicely and follows your baseboards.

I buy bananna plugs off of ebay, Here is what I have used for years (and they still look new):

http://www.nakamichiplug.com/product-0534E12.html

I bought from ebay so don't know about the seller. Throw away the "nakamichi" outer part and use hear shrink to make a pretty wire.

instead of throwing away the part that says "Nakamichi", which I like, goes with my tape deck, you can simply use Acetone to remove the wording and keep those parts without using "hear shrink" to Jerry rig a pretty wire...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...