Speaker wire for old setup

[Xtempo]

I need some new speaker wire that would work with an old Pioneer VSX-454.

I've tried using left over wire from my main setup that I got from Monoprice but they are to big and slip out easily in the terminals back of the receiver.

Speakers in the setup with Pioneer VSX-454

CS-R580 (x2)
SH452FK (x2)

any ideas?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Does your receiver have those spring-clip terminals? The openings for those was made before the audiophile community went nuts with cable design and decided thicker was better.

Not to worry, you have options.

1. You can get banana plugs (the pin-type) from Monoprice.
2. Go to a local audio dealer and get a few short pieces of wire to see if they fit. It's really not expensive at all. $1-$5 a foot.

[Xtempo]

here's a pic of the back I found in google

so would those plugs work with this?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Xtempo

here's a pic of the back I found in google

so would those plugs work with this?

Yes. They are the spring-clip terminals I was thinking you might have. I have them on some vintage Pioneer gear from the early seventies that I still own.

In the old days I simply used bare wire and you can still do that. It makes no difference.

[Xtempo]

I might get the plugs from Monoprice then. Thanks for the help Johnny V

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Xtempo

I might get the plugs from Monoprice then. Thanks for the help Johnny V

You're welcome!

One thing though. The spring-clips don't have a lot of tension, so if the wire you are attaching is heavier than normal you might encounter some issues with keeping them in place. When I say heavier than normal I actually mean quite a bit heavier than normal. The 12-14-gauge wire you can buy anywhere shouldn't present an issue. Just want you to know.

[Xtempo]

so I got everything working but when I use CS-R580 (x2) Speakers with the VSX-454 I get overload on the display or can barely hear the speakers by itself and with the other SH452FK (x2) pair which is fine and no overload.

Does it have to do with Ohms or something as to why I get an overload when using one pair of speakers or even when I use a dual speaker setup with those CS-R580 speakers?

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by Xtempo

so I got everything working but when I use CS-R580 (x2) Speakers with the VSX-454 I get overload on the display or can barely hear the speakers by itself and with the other SH452FK (x2) pair which is fine and no overload.

Does it have to do with Ohms or something as to why I get an overload when using one pair of speakers or even when I use a dual speaker setup with those CS-R580 speakers?

based on this and your first post, how old is the receiver, are you the only owner of it and when was the last time it worked properly?

has this ever happened before with any other speakers or did it start with the new wire/speakers/connectors?

are the speakers you have connected beyond the rating of the receiver and how loud do you play it?

also, how long does it take to get the receiver to the "overloaded" condition and does it get hot to the touch when it gets there?

[Xtempo]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

based on this and your first post, how old is the receiver, are you the only owner of it and when was the last time it worked properly?

I got it used and its old since it has the old Pioneer logo and LaserDisc input. I'm not sure the year.

has this ever happened before with any other speakers or did it start with the new wire/speakers/connectors?

It started when I got both pairs hooked up and used at the same time with the connectors mention better using Monoprice speaker wire for one set of speakers and some wire from Radio Shack for the other.

are the speakers you have connected beyond the rating of the receiver and how loud do you play it?

that's what I'm wondering if one pair is incompatible with it since it almost immediately shuts down after I select that pair.

also, how long does it take to get the receiver to the "overloaded" condition and does it get hot to the touch when it gets there?

when the CS-R580 pair is selected by itself it shuts down immediately but when its paired with the other speakers SH452FK (x2) it only lasts a little longer and also if the volume is raised it shuts down.

Also SH452FK (x2) came with it when I bought it from Goodwill but those speakers are newer since they have the newer logo.

The SH452FK speaker pair has the old logo and has 8ohms and a maximum power of 150watts.

[solarrdadd]

on the pair that you think your having the problems with, make sure there are no stray wires touching each other somehow before proceeding.

if it (the receiver) works with one pair and doesn't shut down, if that pair is on A then switch that pair to B (or vice versa) and see if it shuts down. if it doesn't then there is most likely something wrong with the other pair of speakers.

take the second pair of speakers and put them into speakers A input and power it up, if they trip the unit off then switch them to speakers B input and see if they do it again. if they do there is likely to be a problem with at least one of the speakers.

if the paragraph above this one is true, get an ohm meter and put it to the problem speakers terminals and see what resistance value you get.

one of my questions you didn't answer completely. i asked you if this has ever happened before and i mean before you got the second pair of speakers, did the original speakers work properly in the system with no problems at an volume level; this is important to determine the potential condition of the receiver.

keep us posted.

[pentatonic]

Yep, it has all the signs of a short, going into protection mode right away. If it seems to be the speakers, change wires temporarily for some short ones, at least you'll know, but I would try the meter first, easy and fast and you'll know right away where the short comes from, speaker or wire.

[Xtempo]

I'll try it with the monoprice speaker wire since that might be the problem with those connectors that I got.

For the part I somehow missed: It has not gone into overload before. I have never had a dual pair setup before until I got the connectors from Monoprice.

I might get some cheap speaker wire from Walmart to see if it happens using a different wire.

[Xtempo]

it works now I figured out the problem.

the connectors (banana pin type) were touching so if I put one set in A and the other in B so they don't touch it doesn't overload. So basically the speaker terminals are to close together to use the banana plugs on the same pair of speakers.

the bass is almost overwhelming but that's what I get with 2 pairs of big floor speakers

[skriefal]

That's the problem with those metal-barreled connectors when used with vintage or commodity audio equipment. The barrels of the connectors will touch and short out. With the type of connectors on that amp I'd suggest sticking with bare 16- or 14-gauge wire. If you really want to use the connectors then consider wrapping some electrical tape around the barrels to prevent shorts.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by skriefal

That's the problem with those metal-barreled connectors when used with vintage or commodity audio equipment. The barrels of the connectors will touch and short out. With the type of connectors on that amp I'd suggest sticking with bare 16- or 14-gauge wire. If you really want to use the connectors then consider wrapping some electrical tape around the barrels to prevent shorts.

This.

I'm personally not a fan of using bare wire on spring-clip terminals since the opening is very small. The wire has to be smaller in diameter for it be be properly inserted otherwise it'll fray.

[Xtempo]

Originally Posted by skriefal

That's the problem with those metal-barreled connectors when used with vintage or commodity audio equipment. The barrels of the connectors will touch and short out. With the type of connectors on that amp I'd suggest sticking with bare 16- or 14-gauge wire. If you really want to use the connectors then consider wrapping some electrical tape around the barrels to prevent shorts.

I'll do that if I decide to have then in together in the same speaker row

[Xtempo]

thank you all the tape worked and now I don't have to buy new speaker wire