Pre installing speaker wire question

[abynum1]

Hey guys, I'm about to get some speaker wire pre ran behind some floated sheet rock.
I will be going with either the Polk RM6750 or the RM6880. My receiver will most likely be the Onyko 605/606 or maybe the 705.

The longest run between the receiver and the back two speakers will be about 15ft at the most.

So, I have a few questions:
1) what gauge and brand should I go with? I don't need,and probably can't afford, audiophile quality but I do want dependable.

2) Do you run a cable from the receiver to the 1st speaker, and another cable from the receiver to the 2nd ,or do you run a cable to the 1st and then a cable from the 1st to the 2nd?

3) Should I run 2 seperate sets of cables in case something happens to the
1st (although I cant imagine what would) I would have have the 2nd already installed for backup?
Thanks for any help!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by abynum1

Hey guys, I'm about to get some speaker wire pre ran behind some floated sheet rock.
I will be going with either the Polk RM6750 or the RM6880. My receiver will most likely be the Onyko 605/606 or maybe the 705.

The longest run between the receiver and the back two speakers will be about 15ft at the most.

So, I have a few questions:
1) what gauge and brand should I go with? I don't need,and probably can't afford, audiophile quality but I do want dependable.

2) Do you run a cable from the receiver to the 1st speaker, and another cable from the receiver to the 2nd ,or do you run a cable to the 1st and then a cable from the 1st to the 2nd?

3) Should I run 2 seperate sets of cables in case something happens to the
1st (although I cant imagine what would) I would have have the 2nd already installed for backup?
Thanks for any help!

1. GAUGE/BRAND: Get some decent quality 12-gauge wire from a local hi-fi store. Don't be talked into the Monster Wire from your local BB or CC (or FS and BB in Canada). Something around $5 a Ft. should suffice quite well.

2. You have to run separate (2) wires to accomodate the speakers and the Left/Right speaker inputs on your receiver. Plan on purchasing more speakers? Add more wires per speaker.

3. No need for that. Speakers wire issues happen at the terminal ends, not in the middle of a run. Unless of course you have a hungry mouse in the wall! LOL! Besides, you can fish the wire through should that be necessary.

[Big Daddy]

Go to the thread A Guide to Optical, Coaxial, and Speaker Cables and use the table there as a guide.

Buy in-wall speaker wires from Monoprice.

Run independent wires to each speaker.

[abynum1]

SO according to the chart, (and if I'm understanding it,) for these speakers (8 ohms) at 20 ft., a 20 gauge should suffice, but shouldn't I go bigger?

[JJ]

Originally Posted by abynum1

SO according to the chart, (and if I'm understanding it,) for these speakers (8 ohms) at 20 ft., a 20 gauge should suffice, but shouldn't I go bigger?

Ack! No, get 12 or 14 anyway from monoprice.com. Less signal degradation.

[abynum1]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Ack! No, get 12 or 14 anyway from monoprice.com. Less signal degradation.

Ok, thats what I thought.

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by abynum1

Ok, thats what I thought.

16 gauge will be just fine....you do not need anything over 16 guage unless you are having a run of over 100ft or more.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by brett_day

16 gauge will be just fine....you do not need anything over 16 guage unless you are having a run of over 100ft or more.

As a rule of thumb, 16 gauge should be a minimum wire gauge. By the way, don't you mean under 16 gauge?

[coolmilo]

If you want excellent speaker wire go to www.silversonic.com. DH Labs makes excellent products. I noticed a huge improvement in sound clarity after swapping out my old speaker wire with DH Lab's products.

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

By the way, don't you mean under 16 gauge?

lol! yes

[abynum1]

Thanks for the help guys.
After doing more reading, I'm starting to second guess myself on wall mounting vs stands.
Seems like a lot of people feel that wall mounts distort the sound somewhat.