Idontknow Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 Hi, I'm running and NAD integrated amplifier that puts out 50 watts a channel. Not sure if that has any relevance or not. Can I use 16 gauge speaker cable or is there some sort of advantage to using 14 gauge or 12 gauge? Im a rank beginner guys, sorry. Thank you for any advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Palmer Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 Depends how far you're running the speakers. But 16 gauge should be fine unless you're running 20 plus feet. Just get lamp cord works great. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter P. Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 Maximum current available from your amp assuming an 8 ohm Heresy, would be 2.5 amps. That's nothing. 16 gauge wire can handle that with ease and will not present any great resistance over typical speaker lengths. In fact, it's often used in runs up to 100 feet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 Considering the FR range of the Heresy, 16 g should be fine. As a no brainer, consider using 12 or 14 g and never guess again. Note, I did not say this larger gauge is better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvu80 Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 I use Monoprice speaker wire 12 awg. with banana plugs (not Monoprice plugs). Be sure to use Oxygen Free Copper (OFC) and NOT Copper Clad Aluminum (CCA). CCA is the cheap stuff. As @derrickdj1 said directly upstream, 16 awg will be just fine. FYI I consider the 12 awg I use overkill, but that's why we're here, isn't it? Quote This speaker wire features two conductors made of high purity (greater than 99.95% pure), oxygen-free bare copper. Pure Bare Copper is a superior conductor to the copper clad aluminum (CCA) conductors used in most other inexpensive speaker wire. CCA is only about 68% as conductive as pure bare copper. This additional resistance is added to the impedance of your speakers and can negatively effect the sound. For the wire to have no audible effect, the total wire resistance should be no more than 5% of the lowest impedance of your speakers. Even speakers rated for a nominal 8-ohms, may dip to as low as 4-ohms at some frequencies, which further reduces the total cable resistance allowed in the wire. Using Pure Bare Copper speaker wire ensures that the total load put on the amplifier remains as close as possible to the impedance curve of your speakers. For example, a 16AWG 2-conductor Pure Bare Copper speaker wire has a total resistance of 0.803 ohms per 100 feet (both directions must be considered). By comparison, a 16AWG 2-conductor CCA speaker wire has a total resistance of 1.181 ohms per 100 feet. Assuming 4 ohms is the lowest impedance of your speakers, a speaker wire run can be no more 0.2-ohms total. 20 feet of 16AWG Pure Bare Copper would be 0.1606 ohms, well under the 0.2-ohm limit. On the other hand, 20 feet of 16AWG CCA would be 0.2362 ohms, well OVER the 0.2-ohm limit. https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023902&p_id=2817&seq=1&format=2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teaman Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 I use the 12 awg Monoprice speaker wire as well. Seems to do a good job and is rather inexpensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minermark Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 Used everything in the years past, one time using these products and you are Done. Nice having some things in life a -No Brainer-, Home/Farm/Boat. Prices have gotten better over the years. http://www.knukonceptz.com/mobile-audio/speaker-wire/kord-speaker-wire/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDBRbuilder Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 What most everybody else said....be careful about opening the "speaker-wire/cables/connectors/etc. can-o-worms" on this forum...fair warning! LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted June 27, 2017 Moderators Share Posted June 27, 2017 8 hours ago, HDBRbuilder said: What most everybody else said....be careful about opening the "speaker-wire/cables/connectors/etc. can-o-worms" on this forum...fair warning! LOL! Well that would depend if it's SS or tubes..................I'm running away now.......... I just used #14 from monoprice, glorified lamp cord, good enough for my electrons, little punks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDBRbuilder Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 People will buy anything if it is marketed well....case in point: pet rocks...'nuff said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted June 27, 2017 Moderators Share Posted June 27, 2017 6 minutes ago, HDBRbuilder said: People will buy anything if it is marketed well....case in point: pet rocks...'nuff said. Wives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 Bwwaaaahahaha! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDBRbuilder Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 20 hours ago, dtel said: Wives That, too....but at least you can find a sucker to buy a pet rock from you...good luck with that on SOME of the other things you get suckered into "buying"...LOL! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idontknow Posted June 29, 2017 Author Share Posted June 29, 2017 (edited) I'm only running the speakers about 10 ft apart so 5 ft of cable each side. 16 guage it is and I love the comments about lamp cord. Old school! Edited June 29, 2017 by Idontknow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 28-32AWG magnet wire. you'll thank me later... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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