Vintage HiFi Audio Forum

Audio Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Bathory on May 05, 2015, 12:21:37 PM

Title: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Bathory on May 05, 2015, 12:21:37 PM
Buying speaker wire for my sunfire.

Any 8 gauge ok. 
Or is there a diff between car and home wire. Or as long as its ofc its all the same?

Want to buy a 25 foot spool of it but not sure. Its stranded 8 ga. Ofc copper.  Good price.

Thoughts please.......
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: SunnyDaze on May 05, 2015, 12:56:07 PM
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable (http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable)

Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: gdv on May 05, 2015, 01:08:29 PM
E, your still alive???  :)

Hope you are doing well...
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Bathory on May 05, 2015, 01:43:21 PM
Now im more confused than when i asked the question
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Bathory on May 05, 2015, 01:44:14 PM
Ill just buy the 10 gauge roll of car speaker wire and be done with it.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: F1nut on May 05, 2015, 02:23:00 PM
There's more to speaker cable than just the gauge and that link to the hypocrite is best ignored.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: SunnyDaze on May 05, 2015, 02:27:06 PM
The laws of physics exhibit exponential decay under the influence of psychoacoustics.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: AdamG on May 05, 2015, 03:41:51 PM
Monoprice sells some nice 12 guage speaker wire. There is a mark so you can keep your polarity consistent. It strips well. Alternatively, I use the 12 and 14 guage version of this wire which is Parts Express's house brand. 10 guage is linked here: http://www.parts-express.com/wired-home-skrl-10-50-10-awg-ofc-speaker-wire-50-ft--100-028 (http://www.parts-express.com/wired-home-skrl-10-50-10-awg-ofc-speaker-wire-50-ft--100-028)
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on May 05, 2015, 04:36:48 PM
I get called a troll on non-controversial subjects.   I'm not touching this one.   (The haters can do a happy dance now.)
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: MasterBlaster on May 05, 2015, 06:38:13 PM
This topic is a sore subject around here. Keep your cool everyone.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Kingman on May 05, 2015, 07:21:37 PM
I run 2 brands...MIT and Douglas cable. Both sound great.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: F1nut on May 05, 2015, 07:23:52 PM
The laws of physics exhibit exponential decay under the influence of psychoacoustics.

I can see why you think that.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: F1nut on May 05, 2015, 07:35:42 PM
To think that all wire sounds the same or that the only thing that matters is the gauge is naive at best. Like all things audio there have been advancements in cabling since the dark ages not unlike the advancements in turntables. Who in the right mind thinks playing a record on a Victrola is as good as it gets?
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Dicky on May 05, 2015, 08:35:18 PM
There have been great advancements in marketing as well.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: scorpio333 on May 05, 2015, 08:56:59 PM
To think that all wire sounds the same or that the only thing that matters is the gauge is naive at best. Like all things audio there have been advancements in cabling since the dark ages not unlike the advancements in turntables. Who in the right mind thinks playing a record on a Victrola is as good as it gets?

When you wire the Victrola with coat hangers it can't be beat.

unfortunately budgets kill trying different wire for me. I'm happy with cheap stuff and can live with the sound it makes. When money is no object, go for it.  However I imagine the point of diminishing returns comes on quick.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: bmwr75 on May 05, 2015, 09:23:36 PM
I have no idea how much difference speaker wire makes in how good or bad a system can sound.

What I do know is there are lots of other things to try first to improve the fidelity of your system......like speaker placement in your room, sitting in the sweet spot, getting rid of clutter that interferes with imaging, buying well recorded music, setting up your turntable right, using a DAC that is a good bang for the buck........and the list goes on.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: ataudio on May 05, 2015, 10:15:15 PM
I think Scott (bmwr75) makes a great point.  There are other factors that I would start with before focusing
on just the speaker cables. But...if you need speaker cable due to system changes, rearrangements, longer runs, etc I would start with good quality, well engineered cable. Nothing too exotic until you address other (and often free) limiting factors.  If you feel you've addressed all the other issues and you feel the speaker cables are your last  hurdle then look for the higher end cables.  My system right now is in a less than desirable setup. My diy speaker cable is good enough....for now.  I've had more improvements with interconnect cables (again, diy) over speaker cables. But a well engineered, good quality cable is the place to start.  Check with Ryan.  I think he runs River Current cables.  Maybe he can help you out.  You'll see the River Current logo at the bottom of the werb page.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Bathory on May 06, 2015, 07:16:36 AM
Hahahaha. Wow, this went in directions i did not think possible :))

Just wanted  to know if i can use car speaker wire / if it was basically the same as home audio speaker wire.  I think as long as its ofc copper and is stranded i am ok.
Im not going to go out and spend 2000 on 6 feet when its available for 80 cents a foot.
  Its for a short run from sunfire signature to a pair of BIC DV-64 speakers. Maybe a 4-5 foot run to each speaker.  I will just buy some regular 8 -10 gauge speaker wire.
Thank you for all your. .....cough....help :) :)
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: bmwr75 on May 06, 2015, 08:22:20 AM
Yee ask and yee shall receive.   :laugh:
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: treos33 on May 06, 2015, 08:45:35 AM
  Its for a short run from sunfire signature to a pair of BIC DV-64 speakers.

You're running a $3000 amp with $300 worth of speakers?
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Jim Pittsburgh on May 06, 2015, 10:37:21 AM
not to stir the pot... but at a minimum I'd suggest that you make sure the wire is low oxygen copper and I'd run 10 gauge or less. I prefer to run two wires (bi-wire); each with different stranding counts. gauge doesn't seem to matter as long as they are both 14 or lower. Cost is so low, you can play with different combinations to see if you hear a difference. DO NOT use any type of silver colored wire... lots of zip wire has one side coated with tin or some other metal to differentiate the two sides. Don't use it anywhere EVER in your system.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: AdamG on May 06, 2015, 10:38:34 AM
  Its for a short run from sunfire signature to a pair of BIC DV-64 speakers.

You're running a $3000 amp with $300 worth of speakers?

Lol, $260 on amazon for a pair. Free 2-day shipping with prime too!
 
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Bathory on May 06, 2015, 01:32:37 PM
I have tried numerous brands. These sound better than my others. I have sold many pairs over the years. But these 300 dollar speakers sound freaking amazing.
I had the x overs modded by ed frias. They are without a doubt the best speakers ive heard in 20 years.  Price means nothing. Isnt it supposed to be " if it sounds good to me "
  I also still use my cerwin vega d-9's with rebuilt crossovers with silver wire. All mids sealed. New woofers with 139 oz. magnet structures. They are too loud , knocks stuff off windows, mantle, shakes things from table to floor. With those emotiva 1000w mono's. They are now hooked up to dv-84's. Sound great !!  The break in is long. Months. Woofers really need softening and tweeter needed pink noise disc for about 2 weeks.

  Poke fun, thats fine. They sound amazing !

Previous brand:
B&w
Altec lansing
Polk
Bic
And others.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on May 06, 2015, 03:00:55 PM
I'm still not getting into the wire topic, but I will say that I had a pair of small BIC Venturis that were the best small bookshelf speaker I've ever heard.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Jim Pittsburgh on May 06, 2015, 04:10:14 PM
Had pair of BIC, first real speakers Soph year in college along with Marantz receiver and Phillips 212, not sure if they were Ventura or not... but I kept blowing tweeters and having to pay for a second and third seat in a ride share car to get them home to the dealer. After the second time, and I made him pay for the extra seats. That summer  I bought a pair of JBL100... never a problem with those bad boys   :-)
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Dicky on May 06, 2015, 04:25:36 PM
Did you ever finish your L100's STaL?
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: bmwr75 on May 06, 2015, 05:00:00 PM
@Bathory - if the BICs sound good to you that is what counts.  Ignore the rest of these assholes.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Bathory on May 06, 2015, 05:14:02 PM
@Bathory - if the BICs sound good to you that is what counts.  Ignore the rest of these assholes.



  Thank you !!!!

 Your  name reminds me of a song by Saxon............ cheers

Thank you, all of you, for your help

Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on May 06, 2015, 05:56:37 PM
Did you ever finish your L100's STaL?

No.   I have to do all refinishing out doors, so that hasn't happened yet.   I also still need to order some inductors for the x-over mod.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on May 06, 2015, 05:57:57 PM
@Bathory - if the BICs sound good to you that is what counts.  Ignore the rest of these assholes.

My post was serious.   They really were the best sounding bookshelves I ever had.   They blew away JBLs, Advents, Polks and Infinitys of the same size.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: bmwr75 on May 06, 2015, 07:10:31 PM
I had some BIC Venturi V62 bookshelf speakers once also in my garage system.  Thought they sounded pretty damn good.
Title: Re: Speaker wire. All the same?
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on May 06, 2015, 09:29:43 PM
Those were the ones I had.   Very decent sounding for their size.   There wasn't anything that really sounded "wrong" on them.   From rock (other than a lack of deep bass, of course) to classical to speech (this was before I had a surround system, the TV went into the stereo) they just sounded "right".