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Post by Priapulus on Oct 21, 2019 12:10:51 GMT -5
With my pending upgrade to XMC-2 and more speakers, I've decided to cleanup and replace all my speaker wiring. You can see my setup below. Advice? 1) What guage wire: 16, 14, 12? 2) Whose wire? I'm thinking of something I can order easily, like from Amazon. I'm not interested in Audiophoolery wire; it should be pennies/foot. It should show polarity, be flexible, tinned copper. Perhaps? www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B003L1AFL43) My preferred connectors (soldered spades) won't fit; so I'm going with Banana plugs. Any suggestions? Sincerely /b |
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Post by jackfish on Oct 21, 2019 12:54:15 GMT -5
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KeithL
Administrator 
Posts: 10,273
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Post by KeithL on Oct 21, 2019 12:55:21 GMT -5
The wire looks good. Unless your runs are quite long, 14 gauge would be fine, but the price is right, so you might as well go with 12 gauge. (Note that this is not tinned... and, for pressure-fit banana plugs, you're usually better off NOT tinning it.)
Banana plugs are always a bit of a gamble - in terms of being able to attach firmly to 12 gauge wire. So read the reviews and see who's had good or bad experience there. With my pending upgrade to XMC-2 and more speakers, I've decided to cleanup and replace all my speaker wiring. You can see my setup below. Advice? 1) What guage wire: 16, 14, 12? 2) Whose wire? I'm thinking of something I can order easily, like from Amazon. I'm not interested in Audiophoolery wire; it should be pennies/foot. It should show polarity, be flexible, tinned copper. Perhaps? www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B003L1AFL43) My preferred connectors (soldered spades) won't fit; so I'm going with Banana plugs. Any suggestions? Sincerely /b |
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Post by creimes on Oct 21, 2019 13:59:44 GMT -5
James, You could check out this guy here, he has been posting on the lounger here and seems to have great prices on cable. www.affordhifi.com/Chad |
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Post by SteveH on Oct 21, 2019 15:29:18 GMT -5
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Post by davidl81 on Oct 21, 2019 15:31:54 GMT -5
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Post by Ex_Vintage on Oct 21, 2019 22:10:18 GMT -5
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Post by Boomzilla on Oct 22, 2019 13:26:09 GMT -5
Recommendations:
1. Get wires with the most strands.
2. Unless you're going for more than 12-foot lengths, either 16, 14, or 12 ga. is sufficient.
3. Avoid soldering. The best connection is bare wire or (welded) BlueJeans cables.
4. If you will have more than 12-foot lengths, consider bi-wiring.
5. Don't obsess over the wiring. What works, works.
6. Don't spend too much. "Good enough" is truly good enough!
Cheers & Happy Shopping - Boomzilla
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Post by hsamwel on Oct 22, 2019 16:56:47 GMT -5
Recommendations: 1. Get wires with the most strands. 2. Unless you're going for more than 12-foot lengths, either 16, 14, or 12 ga. is sufficient. 3. Avoid soldering. The best connection is bare wire or (welded) BlueJeans cables. 4. If you will have more than 12-foot lengths, consider bi-wiring. 5. Don't obsess over the wiring. What works, works. 6. Don't spend too much. "Good enough" is truly good enough! Cheers & Happy Shopping - Boomzilla Do you actually mean I don’t need Nordost Odin2 for my speakers to sound their best?  |
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Post by 405x5 on Oct 23, 2019 8:33:14 GMT -5
With my pending upgrade to XMC-2 and more speakers, I've decided to cleanup and replace all my speaker wiring. You can see my setup below. Advice? 1) What guage wire: 16, 14, 12? 2) Whose wire? I'm thinking of something I can order easily, like from Amazon. I'm not interested in Audiophoolery wire; it should be pennies/foot. It should show polarity, be flexible, tinned copper. Perhaps? www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B003L1AFL43) My preferred connectors (soldered spades) won't fit; so I'm going with Banana plugs. Any suggestions? Sincerely /b My preference is bare wire, (of the proper gauge for power and distance) twisted and secured directly to the terminal. Simple and secure with less chance of something coming loose. Never, have I had a problem in that department. I do have a series wired pair of speakers for center channel, that have one wire with banana plugs. I’m gonna get rid of those also. Bill |
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Post by leonski on Oct 28, 2019 22:14:04 GMT -5
With your amps, I would in NO case go smaller than 14, and than only for the shortest runs. I would also avoid the cheapest wire. I had cheap ZipCord for years until I was going thru everything and found several problems. Wire was rotting from within. You could see dark / Green wire in the jacket. AND, you could feel the jacket becoming 'sticky' with decompositon. I stripped out every INCH of that junk and sent off for what I have now....10ga Belden which at one point was in 'longer' runs.....and 500watts per speaker @4ohms. Go with a good PRIME manufacturer of WIRE. I'd say BELDEN would be on any short list. And for belden wire? BlueJeans Cable. Order WTIH terminations and they'll be Ultrasonically Welded which means NO oxygen / corrosion.......EVER. Just decide on the connector and length at time of order. I tell people that spending it ONCE is long-term less expensive than having to do it again....later and at additional expense. They also sell Canares 4s cable which is good for biwire situations, it that's your 'thing'. www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htmThis is NOT the time to experiment and fool around. I have had great success with the Canare Locking Banana Plugs......also a BJC item. I reterminated the OTHER end when I modified the cables, but I did so at my local stereo store who loaned me giant crimpers. I sat on the FLOOR in the main office and reterminated ALL 8 ends of the 'new' cables. Clean up your mess! Get out the tape measure, figure out what you need THAN just burn your credit card. You won't regret it. |
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