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Previous Next Sort by votes. Nada Honorable. Oct 14, 44 0 10, 1. How many strands are there supposed to be for 14 gauge speaker wire? I'm trying to decide between strands and 71 strands of wire. RealBeast Distinguished Moderator.
This is one of the most important attributes relating to cable performance. The thickness of the cable is a key factor in mitigating signal attenuation, particularly over long distances. Selecting a cable with an appropriate conductor size will ensure optimum performance and clarity. Please refer to the chart below for approximate maximum distances available without any perceivable loss in audio quality. Please note that depending on the system environment and the listeners hearing ability, some minor loss in the high frequency spectrum may occur for single cable runs over 20m.
For installations of smaller speakers for background music or where wire resistance is low, differences may be negligible. In instances where quality is critical, it is recommended to select a thicker gauge cable for optimum performance. This is also one of the primary factors in determining speaker cable quality. Although pure copper is renowned as being the optimum choice for electrical wire, there are a variety of alternate materials used in the production of speaker cable.
There is speaker cable available which may seem like great value to those not familiar with the terms that describe the conductor material used. Thanks in advance. Cheers, Amith. Where did you get your method of defining speaker wire? FWIW 12 gauge is sufficient for your needs. Never even looked at the strand count on the 12g I use until now The lights went out on my magnifying glass so I couldn't count, or my hands were shaking too much..
Last edited: Jul 5, If you need cable flexibility for some reason, then the higher count should be more flexible.
Otherwise, don't bother, whichever is cheaper. By flexibility I mean not a variety of applications particularly, but rather the ability to more easily bend around corners While you can find some esoteric discussion about skin effect with cables, the reality is that strand count doesn't matter for sound quality. You could use 12AWG romex cable and have great results, but as mentioned, the strand count is what allows the cable to bend more easily. This is not a topic that is brought up very often during DiY installations, but I've pulled tens of thousands of feet over the years, and certainly it has been something that I've considered over the years.
For speaker wire runs less than 60 feet, use 16 gauge speaker wires. For speaker wire runs between 60 to feet, use 14 gauge speaker wires. For speaker wire runs more than feet, use 12 gauge speaker wire options. There are other factors that could affect these recommendations like sub-woofers and powered speakers, but in general these recommendations cannot hurt you. The last aspect of choosing speaker wire is to pay attention to the ratings or certifications of the cables.
It is important to use in-wall rated speaker wire for any in-ceiling or in-wall speaker installations. It is always recommended to follow your local building codes and use the speaker wire that best supports them. The last thing you want to do is install a cable type that may create a hazard at your home. Most quality cables with have their certifications clearly documented on the box and on the cables jacket.
At the end of the day it is not the brand or the price of the speaker wire that will make your surround sound system perform. Look for some of these basic characteristics and choose the speaker wire type that best supports your application.
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