speaker wire alternative?

Default · 03-08-02, 05:51 PM

can solid house wireing be suplemented for good quality speaker wire? Would it almost be as good a coaxial?

Default · 03-08-02, 07:34 PM

anyone?

DeRose306 · 03-08-02, 07:43 PM

I've never tried solid core wiring for speaker wire, don't know if you would have a prob with interference, if I had a choice I'd rather go with a stranded core coaxial.

My 2cents

Wicked Klown · 03-08-02, 08:04 PM

Don't use solid wire. The current runs on the outsides of the wires the more wires the more flow. Found that out while doing DB drag racing.

Default · 03-08-02, 10:01 PM

in that case i think i'll get some thick multi-strand, but before i do would having more current be better for quality or volume? would there be an advantage to one big thick wire? if so what?

shill82 · 03-08-02, 11:22 PM

More current is better for quality as well as volume. The more current getting to a speaker makes it so you can play it louder obviously, but it also makes a more reliable power source so when you are playing it loud it won't destort. The best example I can think of is with a subwoofer in a car. If you have an amp that doesn't supply all the power the bus demands at a certain volume then the sub will start to distort because it isn't getting reliable enough power sent to it.

Shawn

Overload · 03-09-02, 12:18 AM

I've heard of people using that thick (usually orange) extension cord stuff found at hardware stores for long speaker wire runs. i dont know if thats what you had in mind but its something to look into.

Monaco · 03-09-02, 12:36 AM

you can use whatever kind of wire you want for speaker wire pretty much.

For a while I was using 2awg power cable from my amp to my subs, it was all I had. Didn't sound too good but worked fine.

Big thick wire for speakers is only good up to a certain point, past there the internal resistance of the wire itself starts to mess with you. Electrically, its fine, but acoustically it ain't too good.

If you need to do a long run (100 foot +) go to a good stereo place, they will have tons of advice to give you. They have special types of cable for really long runs. If you are over 250 foot you get to use those cool +17v convertors

CrystalMethod · 03-09-02, 01:19 AM

The only problem I can think of offhand not to use the stuff is RF interference. Regular house wire is really suseptible(<-sp?) to RF noise.

Arctic · 03-09-02, 03:37 AM

you can use house hold wires.. you just have to make sure that the wires inside are stranded and not 1 whole piece...I use them as extensions to put my Creative LAbs DTT3500 around the top corners of my room.

Ugmore Baggage · 03-09-02, 12:37 PM

Get the radio shack version of monster cable. Not exactly cheap, but it won't put you in the poorhouse and it should last forever.

Cal me crazy but I'd swear I noticed a difference.

Default · 03-09-02, 04:34 PM

thanx all here is what i finaly got. Went down to the local HW store and got some 50Feet of 99.9% pure copper speaker wire that is 99.9% oxygen free.

sounds great with gold solder on all the connects

Default · 03-09-02, 04:36 PM

even the radio sounds good in 5.1 now

Wicked Klown · 03-09-02, 05:14 PM

Also if your running with two of your speakers behind you. You'll want to use a bigger awg wire then the ones to the front speakers.

03-08-02, 05:51 PM	Thread Starter #1
Default Disabled Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: CANADA!!	speaker wire alternative? can solid house wireing be suplemented for good quality speaker wire? Would it almost be as good a coaxial?
	QUOTE Thanks

03-08-02, 07:34 PM	Thread Starter #2
Default Disabled Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: CANADA!!	anyone?
	QUOTE Thanks

03-08-02, 07:43 PM	#3
DeRose306 Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Clinton, AR	I've never tried solid core wiring for speaker wire, don't know if you would have a prob with interference, if I had a choice I'd rather go with a stranded core coaxial. My 2cents
	QUOTE Thanks

03-08-02, 08:04 PM	#4
Wicked Klown Hard Ass Southern Boy Senior Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin	Don't use solid wire. The current runs on the outsides of the wires the more wires the more flow. Found that out while doing DB drag racing. __________________ Media Server \| Norco RPC-470 \| GIGABYTE GA-890XA-UD3 \| Phenom II X4 925 Deneb \| 8gigs G.SKILL Ripjaws PC3 10666 \| 64gig Crucial M4 \| x2 2TB Samsung F3 \| x2 1TB Samsung F1 \| x1 2TB Samsung F4 \| 500gigs Seagate 7200.10 \| Sapphire HD4830 HDMI \| Corsair 650hx HEAT "Never surrender. You're too much of a hardass to die on everyone." - Voodoo Rufus
	QUOTE Thanks

03-08-02, 10:01 PM	Thread Starter #5
Default Disabled Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: CANADA!!	in that case i think i'll get some thick multi-strand, but before i do would having more current be better for quality or volume? would there be an advantage to one big thick wire? if so what?
	QUOTE Thanks

speaker wire alternative?

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03-08-02, 11:22 PM	#6
shill82 Member Join Date: May 2001	More current is better for quality as well as volume. The more current getting to a speaker makes it so you can play it louder obviously, but it also makes a more reliable power source so when you are playing it loud it won't destort. The best example I can think of is with a subwoofer in a car. If you have an amp that doesn't supply all the power the bus demands at a certain volume then the sub will start to distort because it isn't getting reliable enough power sent to it. Shawn __________________ E5300 @ 3450 266X13 4GB PC1066 Geforce 9400GT Nec 3520 DVD Burner Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB Windows 7 Home Premium Heatware
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03-09-02, 12:18 AM	#7
Overload Member Join Date: Dec 2000	I've heard of people using that thick (usually orange) extension cord stuff found at hardware stores for long speaker wire runs. i dont know if thats what you had in mind but its something to look into. __________________ Mobile Athlon XP 2600+ Thermalright SLK-900A w/vantec tornado @5v Abit NF7-S v2 PQI PC3200 2x256 Western Digital 120Gb 8Mb cache ATI 9800SE NEC 2500 Toshiba SDM_1212 DVD<- Finally died, she was a faithful beasts:p... Now back from the dead in another box thanks to an "organ donor"!!!
	QUOTE Thanks

03-09-02, 12:36 AM	#8
Monaco Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Denver, Colorado	you can use whatever kind of wire you want for speaker wire pretty much. For a while I was using 2awg power cable from my amp to my subs, it was all I had. Didn't sound too good but worked fine. Big thick wire for speakers is only good up to a certain point, past there the internal resistance of the wire itself starts to mess with you. Electrically, its fine, but acoustically it ain't too good. If you need to do a long run (100 foot +) go to a good stereo place, they will have tons of advice to give you. They have special types of cable for really long runs. If you are over 250 foot you get to use those cool +17v convertors
	QUOTE Thanks

03-09-02, 01:19 AM	#9
CrystalMethod Senior Band Wagon Jumper Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Montreal, Canada	The only problem I can think of offhand not to use the stuff is RF interference. Regular house wire is really suseptible(<-sp?) to RF noise. __________________ Tried the search button lately? http://bufferoverflow.net/blog
	QUOTE Thanks

03-09-02, 03:37 AM	#10
Arctic Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario, Canada	you can use house hold wires.. you just have to make sure that the wires inside are stranded and not 1 whole piece...I use them as extensions to put my Creative LAbs DTT3500 around the top corners of my room.
	QUOTE Thanks

03-09-02, 12:37 PM	#11
Ugmore Baggage Member Join Date: Feb 2002	Get the radio shack version of monster cable. Not exactly cheap, but it won't put you in the poorhouse and it should last forever. Cal me crazy but I'd swear I noticed a difference.
	QUOTE Thanks

03-09-02, 04:34 PM	Thread Starter #12
Default Disabled Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: CANADA!!	thanx all here is what i finaly got. Went down to the local HW store and got some 50Feet of 99.9% pure copper speaker wire that is 99.9% oxygen free. sounds great with gold solder on all the connects
	QUOTE Thanks

03-09-02, 04:36 PM	Thread Starter #13
Default Disabled Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: CANADA!!	even the radio sounds good in 5.1 now
	QUOTE Thanks

03-09-02, 05:14 PM	#14
Wicked Klown Hard Ass Southern Boy Senior Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin	Also if your running with two of your speakers behind you. You'll want to use a bigger awg wire then the ones to the front speakers. __________________ Media Server \| Norco RPC-470 \| GIGABYTE GA-890XA-UD3 \| Phenom II X4 925 Deneb \| 8gigs G.SKILL Ripjaws PC3 10666 \| 64gig Crucial M4 \| x2 2TB Samsung F3 \| x2 1TB Samsung F1 \| x1 2TB Samsung F4 \| 500gigs Seagate 7200.10 \| Sapphire HD4830 HDMI \| Corsair 650hx HEAT "Never surrender. You're too much of a hardass to die on everyone." - Voodoo Rufus
	QUOTE Thanks

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