Speaker wire gage effect

[Ric27]

While pulling my old receiver to bring my Sansui 5000x online I noticed that I had different gage wire on the A & B Speaker Systems. Looking for some thought on what effect wire gage has on performance. Just like to say though that I am talking about speaker wire not audiophile speaker cables. The length of my speaker wires is less than 8'.

Thanks
Ric

 

[Lazarus Short]

Just like power cable wire gauge, it is probably not as important as some believe, a lesson brought home to me on seeing the 16-gauge power cord of the loaner WOPL. As to speaker wire, I've never heard much difference, and I think solid termination is more important, unless your wire runs are obscenely long. Take a look inside your amp, and see some of the routes the signal takes...

 

[eminence1963]

Buy the biggest gauge you can afford without emptying your wallet. We don't worry about the audiophile word here. Were just into playing music.
I use 10 gauge on all my runs in the man cave. Everywhere else I just use what's available laying around. Works for me.....

 

[Ric27]

OK

Thanks guys. I'm no audiophile Just a Vintage Hi Fi Hobbyist.

 

[Elite-ist]

There is an improvement in sound when an investment is made on better interconnect cables for all your source components. I have short runs of less than six feet for both of my main system speakers and I use multi-strand 10 gauge wire.

Nando.

 

[orange]

Oh look, the emoji/smilie selection on the right changed to even more useless ones now.

 

[Northwinds]

Bwahahahhahahahaaaaa! I use 12' lamp cord sections. I do have Monster wires but at 8ft, they are too short to reach one of my speakers. Sounds pretty kickass to me

 

[Web Police]

If you can afford it and think it will give you a warm fuzzy feeling then buy a quality thick gauge wire. If not then just use the best available wire you have as your results will be very comparable.

 

[Fishoz]

This thread in another Community would already have about 4-5 pages of replies.

Lamp cord or $2500 cables? I know what I would try first - then upgrade when able.

Is there a difference? Yes - but at what point does it become a point of diminishing return.

Stick with heavy gauge multi strand wire - with a good solid connection (don't be stupid - a friend was tightening his expanding banana plugs and broke the binding posts). The longer the run the heavier the gauge should be. Play with the cheap stuff before you move on - may not need to if you're pleasing your ears.

I'm just running some Monster cable biwred at this time - there was an improvement from the 14 gauge standard wire I had used. Also changed the jumpers (mid/high) from the manufacture's standard bar to a 10gauge 238 strand O/F w/banana plugs - a definite improvement in soundstage and clearer high ends.

 

[orange]

You'd all mess your Fruit of the Loom if you ever saw what I've stuck with for 33 years.

So I won't show you, nanner nanner.

 

[Fishoz]

You'd all mess your Fruit of the Loom if you ever saw what I've stuck with for 33 years.

So I won't show you, nanner nanner.

Unless you've been splicing gum wraqppers together for 33 years it can't be that bad.....


Save the Fruit! We don't need to know.

 

[Ric27]

All Hooked up

I stayed with the wires that I have been using two systems on 16 ga and 0ne on 14. This Sansui 5000X is impressive! I replaced an Mitsubishi I bought in the 80s for my studio. Have been using it off and on for the last 30 years. Never had the first problem. Well today I found out what I have been missing all this time. The DB roll of under 100hz must be about 3 on the Mitsubishi with nearly as much on the High End. This Sansui kicks it's frickin' ass. The best $70 I ever spent!

 

[Fishoz]

I stayed with the wires that I have been using two systems on 16 ga and 0ne on 14. This Sansui 5000X is impressive! I replaced an Mitsubishi I bought in the 80s for my studio. Have been using it off and on for the last 30 years. Never had the first problem. Well today I found out what I have been missing all this time. The DB roll of under 100hz must be about 3 on the Mitsubishi with nearly as much on the High End. This Sansui kicks it's frickin' ass. The best $70 I ever spent!

Welcome to the dark side...hehehehe...

 

[laatsch55]

I'm running 14 Ga THHN......I have some 10/4 SJOW I'm gonna try....

 

[laatsch55]

Welcome to the dark side...hehehehe...

I agree Fish....he's F*&^%$ now!!

 

[laatsch55]

Unless you've been splicing gum wraqppers together for 33 years it can't be that bad.....


Save the Fruit! We don't need to know.

Now that's funny, don't care who you are!!

 

[Master Tasuke]

i use 10ft. runs of generic, no-name 10ga. in my main system, and 15/20ft. runs of MONSTER CABLE in something like a 16ga. or so for my computer system.

both systems seem to kick equal ass, so i dunno it's all good? i suppose?

 

[stuwee]

You'd all mess your Fruit of the Loom if you ever saw what I've stuck with for 33 years.

So I won't show you, nanner nanner.

Aw, Steven cum on....

 

[orange]

I have more problems with speakers (mostly crossovers) than wires.

 

[Lazarus Short]

I have more problems with speakers (mostly crossovers) than wires.

​How about a nice full range, open baffle speaker?