Need to extend speaker wire, can i mix and match gauges?

[Phokus]

So i bought a house with 4 speakers in the ceilings (it's a very large ceiling in my living room, almost 20 feet high... the speakers are maybe 12-15 feet high).

Anyway, the stupid thing about the speaker wires is it comes out of the wall on the right side of the living room while my AV receiver would obviously be at the front of the living room. So i was thinking of buying some additional speaker wire, and using heat shrink tubing to extend the wires so they go underneath in my basement and back up to my AV receiver at the front of the room.

One problem: I have no idea what gauge the wire is. Could i just buy the best gauge (which i guess is 12 gauge?) wire and attach it to my current wires and not think about it? Or do i have to get the exact same gauge?

 

[NutBucket]

Yes, it will be fine. Don't let the "cable gurus" tell you otherwise.

 

[Phokus]

Yes, it will be fine. Don't let the "cable gurus" tell you otherwise.

Awesome, thanks!

 

[Anubis]

wont be an issue, and you can use any manner of ways of connecting the wire, as long as its not exposed should have no issues. i like butt splices and heat shrink