Speaker wire, does it actually make a difference?

[michaels]

I'm using some el'cheapo Wal-Mart thin wire, is it worth the upgrade?

 

[Garet Jax]

Yup. Without it you won't hear anything.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

yes, MONSTER roxxors

 

[spidey07]

12 gauge is fine.

With some high end speaker designs there can be a mesurable and very small difference. Won't matter to almost all speakers however.

 

[glen]

Accordign to ABX studies, it doesn't.

 

[FoBoT]

copper=copper=copper=copper

 

[spacejamz]

it probably won't on your Emerson HTIB system...

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: spidey07
12 gauge is fine.

With some high end speaker designs there can be a mesurable and very small difference. Won't matter to almost all speakers however.

He's not asking about 12 gauge, he's asking about cheap thin wire. Probably more like 24 gauge.

FWIW I can't tell the difference between good speaker wire and cheap speaker wire, but maybe I just don't listen closely enough. I just use 16 gauge lamp wire from Home Depot.

 

[michaels]

Originally posted by: spacejamz
it probably won't on your Emerson HTIB system...

:laugh:

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: spidey07
12 gauge is fine.

With some high end speaker designs there can be a mesurable and very small difference. Won't matter to almost all speakers however.

He's not asking about 12 gauge, he's asking about cheap thin wire. Probably more like 24 gauge.

FWIW I can't tell the difference between good speaker wire and cheap speaker wire, but maybe I just don't listen closely enough. I just use 16 gauge lamp wire from Home Depot.

Well if that's the case then OP may get some benefit by using 12 or 16 gauge wire.

 

[Rubycon]

I met someone that wired their house using conventional utility power mains sockets, plugs and wires! Imagine plugging your bass speaker into the wrong socket - 120VAC at 60Hz going into a woofer. Speaking of woofs, if you have a (dog) he would probably be leaving a trail of yellow through the living room with something that loud. :laugh:

 

[woowoo]

Romex rocks....

 

[BurnItDwn]

Originally posted by: spidey07
12 gauge is fine.

With some high end speaker designs there can be a mesurable and very small difference. Won't matter to almost all speakers however.

Generally for most purposes ... 16 gauge is fully adequate.

Of course if you want to do like a multiroom setup, and you're going to be running more than 75 or so feet, you'd be better off with 14 or 12 gauge ...

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: woowoo
Romex rocks....

Yes and SJO stands up quite well to stage use.

 

[jtvang125]

Also depends on how much power you're running through the wire and how long you're running it. 16g should be sufficient for most applications but if you have higher end components 12g could benefit.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: jtvang125
Also depends on how much power you're running through the wire and how long you're running it. 16g should be sufficient for most applications but if you have higher end components 12g could benefit.

If you have 2 ohm bins and they're 90 meters from the amp racks the wire gauge is going to have to be significantly greater.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

There's a point where the wire is so crappy and or small that it will matter. But if you put half a brain cell into buying it (ie: don't buy 28 gauge for a subwoofer) you won't be able to tell the difference.

 

[Extelleron]

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

If that doesn't answer your question, nothing will.

 

[Baked]

Of course noob. The more expensive the cable is, the better it sounds. That's rule one of selling cables.

 

[Tiamat]

It matters; if you require long speaker wire runs, then get 12ga-16ga speaker wire.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: jtvang125
Also depends on how much power you're running through the wire and how long you're running it. 16g should be sufficient for most applications but if you have higher end components 12g could benefit.

If you have 2 ohm bins and they're 90 meters from the amp racks the wire gauge is going to have to be significantly greater.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the OP does not live in a football stadium.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: mugs

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the OP does not live in a football stadium.

Only if a hurricane threatens?

 

[ElFenix]

obviously, you need this

 

[marincounty]

I use sound king 12 gauge wire. Cheap and works well. Available from parts express and others. I use 16 gauge for smaller surround speakers.
Don't pay a small fortune for Monster, Kimber, Audioquest, etc.. unless you just like spending extra money for snob appeal.

 

[jimbob200521]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
obviously, you need this

He should probably play it safe and get this.

:laugh: