kenjidm Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 I am confused. Ok, so I have the Reference 35 series (RF-35, RC-36, RB-35, RS-35, 12" sub dont know the model). I am drawn to the fact that there are so many types of speaker wire out there. Bi-wire to regular, to even "center channel speaker wire".. Special speaker wire for your center channel??... On top of that, they have your regular, to medium to high end in each category. The ultimate question is, does expensive speaker wire really make a difference? What would you recommend me? Please help before i get white hairs!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay481985 Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 I brought some cable from bluejeancables.com I think but I got the 10 gauge wire and I think its overkill. There are alot out there and to be honest some are overly priced and some have sketchy science behind their benefits. We can start off with material. It is true that silver is the best conductor of electricity and heat. But silver also tarnishes hence you have to coat the silver with another material that is less conductive (think restrictor plate in race cars) but a very close second is copper which oxidizes slower than silver (unless if you live near the beach I guess? third I believe is gold which you may ask huh? since its used in important nasa wiring and such. It is used do to the fact it does not tarnish or oxidize. but again $$$ with silver too. then I believe is aluminum. Then we can talk about shielding. Most use a plastic coating that may have problems as the clear jackets of even monster may turn green over time. Then we can talk about gauge. Normal fine gauges range from 12-16. The thicker the gauge the more distance it you can run without impedience issues. I believe 12 gauge can handle 100 feet runs and 16 can handle 25 feet runs. Then we can talk about bananas or spades. Mostly is just for convience if you hook and unhook speakers from different amps alot. Its alot easier to push a banana into the speaker than unscrew and screw again. Spades make it somewhat easier but imho I think it acts as a restrictor plate again as its probably made of a different material or was not the exact type of metal used for the speaker wire. hope you don't get white hairs. Relax its only speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 If you need to buy some wire, check into this at radio shack 2782751 1-pair 10' spkr wire 8.97 regualr price 29.97 2782752 1-pair 20' spkr wire 9.97 regualr price 39.99 2782762 50' roll flat spkr wire 8.97 regualr price 39.99 The first 2 is the clear monster XP HP stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Robinson Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 This has resulted in thousands of posts here. Bottom line: just go to Home Depot or Lowes and get a decent gauge copper zip cord or conductor. 16 guage is good. Buy by the spool and you'll be cool [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arky Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 This has resulted in thousands of posts here. Bottom line: just go to Home Depot or Lowes and get a decent gauge copper zip cord or conductor. 16 guage is good. Buy by the spool and you'll be cool [] Agreed. I have wire from Lowes & bluejeanscable. The bluejeanscable came with both leads in a white protective jacket which blended with my base board & fireplace nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_L Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 I really like having a clean and safe (from shorts) installation behind the AVR where there are lots of cables and connectors are close together. The Blue Jeans cable end connectors also came with heat sink in red and black and made for a really nice installation. Speaker wire is speaker wire, make sure it's thick enough, and and it's nice if one wire insulator is ribbed or marked while the other is not, so you can keep polarity straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shade Posted July 26, 2006 Share Posted July 26, 2006 Personally, I'm not a believer in high end speaker wire. Just go to home depot and pick up a spool of speaker wire. Last one I got was 250 ft of 14 gauge. Wired up the HT in the living room, the 2 channel setup in the bedroom, and I still have a ton left. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilMays Posted July 26, 2006 Share Posted July 26, 2006 I have perhaps invested (right) $1,500 in speaker wire that I would love to have back right now.... I do believe good jacketing is important at least to me as I am always plugging and unplugging looking for the perfect "fit". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcarlton Posted July 26, 2006 Share Posted July 26, 2006 Check this site by Roger Russell on speaker wire. Should be must reading for everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSport Posted July 26, 2006 Share Posted July 26, 2006 ...and SHOULD be an eye opener for some... Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenjidm Posted July 26, 2006 Author Share Posted July 26, 2006 Thanks everyone for their input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 14 guage is a good size for a variety of reasons. One being that most connectors can take it on speakers and components, if you use a bare wire connection approach, which to me causes fewer links in the chain to go wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckeye_Nut Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 12AWG wire from Lowes. They sell it by the foot for about 38-40 cents/foot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Check Amazon, I got 100' of 16gauge Monstercable for $21.05 delivered to my door, free shipping, no sales tax, never left the house, should have bought 2 rolls, only needed 1......................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lascaladan Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Not wanting to start a "snake oil" debate, I am a tweaker if there ever was one. I recently switched from a very thick monster speaker wire( top of their line from 10 years ago)to a thinner silver wire I bought on auction from Audiogon(I doubled up the run). After a week of break in, it is so far superior to my previous cable. I also changed out my power cords on my power amp, cd transport and d/a processor. Again, quite an improvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Not wanting to start a "snake oil" debate, I am a tweaker if there ever was one. I recently switched from a very thick monster speaker wire( top of their line from 10 years ago)to a thinner silver wire I bought on auction from Audiogon(I doubled up the run). After a week of break in, it is so far superior to my previous cable. I also changed out my power cords on my power amp, cd transport and d/a processor. Again, quite an improvement. If anyone can prove that wire improves with 'break in', I'll EAT a Cornwall! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_L Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Not wanting to start a "snake oil" debate, I am a tweaker if there ever was one. I recently switched from a very thick monster speaker wire( top of their line from 10 years ago)to a thinner silver wire I bought on auction from Audiogon(I doubled up the run). After a week of break in, it is so far superior to my previous cable. I also changed out my power cords on my power amp, cd transport and d/a processor. Again, quite an improvement. If anyone can prove that wire improves with 'break in', I'll EAT a Cornwall! ...furiously cleaning coffee off my keyboard and trying not to literally fall out of my chair laughing!! Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Not wanting to start a "snake oil" debate, I am a tweaker if there ever was one. I recently switched from a very thick monster speaker wire( top of their line from 10 years ago)to a thinner silver wire I bought on auction from Audiogon(I doubled up the run). After a week of break in, it is so far superior to my previous cable. I also changed out my power cords on my power amp, cd transport and d/a processor. Again, quite an improvement. If anyone can prove that wire improves with 'break in', I'll EAT a Cornwall! ...furiously cleaning coffee off my keyboard and trying not to literally fall out of my chair laughing!! Thanks!! STEVE be Nice......................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 When people describe me to their friends they say '...well he's got a great personality'. I try to do what I can! LOL (hats off to the Monty Python sketch wherein a member attempts to eat Chestershire Cathedral) M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Blacksmith Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Michael, your Cornwalls are safe. There is NO difference in wire if it is properly sized for the run. Lets not even get into the VODO of POWER cords[] There is no way that 6 feet of "premium" wire is going to do anything to correct 50 miles of Edison distribution wires and all the interference that everything that is connected to those wires adds. JEESH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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