attaching speaker wire - Blu-ray Forum

saprano · 02-03-2008, 02:03 PM

I dont have enough 12 gauge wire left for one of my surround speakers, but i have some extra wire left over from my last order from monoprice. is it ok if i connect speaker wire's together? will i lose sound quality if twist them together?

Blu-Raider · 02-03-2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saprano

I dont have enough 12 gauge wire left for one of my surround speakers, but i have some extra wire left over from my last order from monoprice. is it ok if i connect speaker wire's together? will i lose sound quality if twist them together?

Assuming this is just 2/c no.12 wire (no shielding) you can connect them without issue if you use a correct splice. Solder and heat shrink is preferred but if you're not the "soldering type" go to a good electronics store (crap, even Home Depot) and buy some wire nuts that are filled with conductive/anti corrosion goo. They're cheap and do an effective job of assuring a moisture-proof, solid connection.

saprano · 02-03-2008, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blu-Raider

Assuming this is just 2/c no.12 wire (no shielding) you can connect them without issue if you use a correct splice. Solder and heat shrink is preferred but if you're not the "soldering type" go to a good electronics store (crap, even Home Depot) and buy some wire nuts that are filled with conductive/anti corrosion goo. They're cheap and do an effective job of assuring a moisture-proof, solid connection.

ita a 12g from monoprice, and seeing how i have no idea what you just said.. i think im gonna have to order some more then.

Blu-Raider · 02-03-2008, 02:20 PM

You can buy a bag of conductive grease filled wirenuts from Lowes or Home Depot for about $1. They will do a good job. Just strip the wire back to fresh, bright copper and twist them together. Screw on the wirenuts (to protect the splice) and you're done.

moviefan · 02-03-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saprano

I dont have enough 12 gauge wire left for one of my surround speakers, but i have some extra wire left over from my last order from monoprice. is it ok if i connect speaker wire's together? will i lose sound quality if twist them together?

12ga for surrounds? ... overkill!

You didn'r say what ga the "extra wire" is, but a quality 16ga is plenty good enough for surrounds at any length under 30' or so.

saprano · 02-03-2008, 06:54 PM

another question....do the wire's have to be the same lenth? im running it around my room in the same direction, im doing it this way so it will be no wire's in the way of the door(im not running it along the wall they look ugly) the differince will be about 8 feet for one of the surrounds.

saprano · 02-03-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moviefan

12ga for surrounds? ... overkill!

You didn'r say what ga the "extra wire" is, but a quality 16ga is plenty good enough for surrounds at any length under 30' or so.

how is it overkill? they just produce surround effects, its better to have more that enough imo.

Blu-Raider · 02-03-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saprano

another question....do the wire's have to be the same lenth? im running it around my room in the same direction, im doing it this way so it will be no wire's in the way of the door(im not running it along the wall they look ugly) the differince will be about 8 feet.

No. Particularly with 12awg wire there is very little resistance. 8ft. won't make any difference whatsoever.

saprano · 02-03-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blu-Raider

No. Particularly with 12awg wire there is very little resistance. 8ft. won't make any difference whatsoever.

good, thanks.

gearyt · 02-03-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saprano

another question....do the wire's have to be the same lenth? im running it around my room in the same direction, im doing it this way so it will be no wire's in the way of the door(im not running it along the wall they look ugly) the differince will be about 8 feet.

Nope, wire distance is not an issue, as long as you have sufficent gauge

saprano · 02-03-2008, 10:31 PM

to be more clear with my question, what i ment was that is it ok to have the surrround wire's a differint lenth? one of the surrounds lenth's is longer that the other at about an 8 feet differince. so one of my surrounds lenth is gonna be about say 30 feet( this is a guess. i got a 50 feet spool so i going of top with this) and the other about 38feet.
and dont have banana plugs yet for my surrounds so im pluging the bare wire into the receiver and speaker, is that ok? iv heard that its not a good idea,especially on the receiver end?

Clark Kent · 02-03-2008, 10:37 PM

The only problem with bare wire is that it oxidizes over time and will have to be replaced at some point(unless you know how to solder). The bare wire is fine in the short term but in my opinion should not be a long term solution. The small difference in wire length should have no effect on sound quality.

02-03-2008, 02:03 PM	#1
saprano Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Bronx, New York Blu-ray collection:495 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:9	attaching speaker wire I dont have enough 12 gauge wire left for one of my surround speakers, but i have some extra wire left over from my last order from monoprice. is it ok if i connect speaker wire's together? will i lose sound quality if twist them together?

02-03-2008, 06:54 PM	#6
saprano Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Bronx, New York Blu-ray collection:495 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:9	another question....do the wire's have to be the same lenth? im running it around my room in the same direction, im doing it this way so it will be no wire's in the way of the door(im not running it along the wall they look ugly) the differince will be about 8 feet for one of the surrounds. Last edited by saprano; 02-03-2008 at 10:07 PM.

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02-03-2008, 02:20 PM	#4
Blu-Raider Expert Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Dark Side of the Moon Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:64 Blu-ray reviews:2	You can buy a bag of conductive grease filled wirenuts from Lowes or Home Depot for about $1. They will do a good job. Just strip the wire back to fresh, bright copper and twist them together. Screw on the wirenuts (to protect the splice) and you're done.

02-03-2008, 10:31 PM	#11
saprano Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Bronx, New York Blu-ray collection:495 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:9	to be more clear with my question, what i ment was that is it ok to have the surrround wire's a differint lenth? one of the surrounds lenth's is longer that the other at about an 8 feet differince. so one of my surrounds lenth is gonna be about say 30 feet( this is a guess. i got a 50 feet spool so i going of top with this) and the other about 38feet. and dont have banana plugs yet for my surrounds so im pluging the bare wire into the receiver and speaker, is that ok? iv heard that its not a good idea,especially on the receiver end?

02-03-2008, 10:37 PM	#12
Clark Kent Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Metropolis Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:184	The only problem with bare wire is that it oxidizes over time and will have to be replaced at some point(unless you know how to solder). The bare wire is fine in the short term but in my opinion should not be a long term solution. The small difference in wire length should have no effect on sound quality.

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