Speaker Gauge Recommendation

Miggy · 10-06-2007, 06:45 PM

I need to run 50' of speaker wire from my computer to the receiver. Its function is to extend the phono-plug to RCA Y-Splitter.

What gauge will be required so that there will not be any interference (audible hum)? I already know that 24 gauge isn't enough

Miggy, the Thief

***chlngr1970*** · 10-06-2007, 07:10 PM

When I was setting up new stores, we ran 18g wire for everything. The rear runs were typicaly over 150'. Personaly, I would go at least 16g if not better.

j

Miggy · 10-06-2007, 07:36 PM

I think the next size up I saw was 16. I'll try that, thanks!

Miggy, the Thief

Vonner · 10-06-2007, 07:56 PM

I use 14g in my HT setup.

Sehnzeleid · 10-06-2007, 08:13 PM

I use 12.

**Pirate** · 10-06-2007, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

I use 12.

Ditto.

Vonner · 10-06-2007, 10:25 PM

Your gauge is bigger than mine.

I feel so inadequate.

esc · 10-07-2007, 11:19 PM

use 10 or 12 gauge from these guys. I use the 12g in my room and I heard an immediate difference.

Klear Blu Kable From Knu Konceptz

I just can't say enough good stuff about it

If you are looking for the lest amount of noise, maybe go with the 100ft roll of 10g

Miggy · 10-08-2007, 02:43 PM

Ehhhh.. this is only to extend my computer to the receiver, so I don't want to spend too much. The 16 gauge they sell would only be $25 for 100 feet, so I would consider that. But it's out of stock.

Thanks for the suggestion, though.

I'm going to give the 16 gauge wire I saw for $20 per 100 foot and see how that works.

Miggy, the Thief

PunkMunkey · 10-08-2007, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miggy

I'm going to give the 16 gauge wire I saw for $20 per 100 foot and see how that works.

Try THIS...14ga speaker wire for $24 for a 100' spool...I've purchased from MonoPrice before and can vouch for their quality...beefier wire for less $...sound like what you're looking for right?

firestorm · 10-08-2007, 04:35 PM

From what I recall, 14awg is sufficient for speakers level current at 50', so I imagine that's sufficient for line level. I picked up 12awg from www.bluejeanscables.com for my speakers. Very nice cable and only 38 cents/foot. I've also heard very good things about wire and cable from Monoprice, especially given their prices.

You may have a bigger problem with ground-loops though, which is probably the source of the hum you're hearing. I never had much luck with using a PC as a source, and the difference in ground potential will be even greater if they're plugged into different electrical circuits. I would look for options that use a digital connection. Either a digital output from the PC, and using toslink or coax to make the connection, or an Ethernet solution (wired or wireless), etc.... I just wanted music, so I went with a Squeezebox to replace our CD player. There are similar devices that cost much less, as well as devices that transmit the output from your soundcard over ethernet.

esc · 10-09-2007, 12:00 AM

sorry, I totally mis-read your original question and I thought that you just wanted to run 50' of cable to your speakers.

There has to be a higher quality option for a long run of wire from a Y splitter from your sound card to a receiver or speakers than going with a generic length of wire from Radio Shack or where ever.

14g should be good.

Miggy · 10-09-2007, 12:05 AM

Okay, that idea of the digital connection intrigues me.

I have a SB X-Fi Extreme Gamer, so it has the digital output. Would I have a better chance of hum-free sound from the receiver if I used that instead? I'll have to doublecheck, but I think my receiver has co-axial digital in (I use the optical for my DVD player). It should be a simple matter of changing over to the digital out and then plugging in the red connector. For that matter, I would only need 25' of cable since I would only be extending one half of the connection.

This is all coming off the top of my head. I could be completely wrong.

I'm going to experiement when I get home with the wire I'm currently using.

Miggy, the Thief

Miggy · 10-09-2007, 01:41 AM

I hit a snag with that setup. The X-Fi is outputing a digital signal, but Windows Media Player apparently isn't set up to output SPDIF. I looked through the settings and don't see anything.

I remember running into this problem when trying to get 5.1 out of DVDs. I had to use Power DVD to get it to work.

Miggy, the Thief

sub780lime · 10-09-2007, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miggy

I hit a snag with that setup. The X-Fi is outputing a digital signal, but Windows Media Player apparently isn't set up to output SPDIF. I looked through the settings and don't see anything.

I remember running into this problem when trying to get 5.1 out of DVDs. I had to use Power DVD to get it to work.

Miggy, the Thief

Playing back DVD in 5.1 was related to a codecs from what I remember (which had to be purchases), or was it a decoder. Either way...I will not be much help with the X-Fi setup since i have no idea, but according to this (scroll down to the chart with Audio 9 mentioned) it says that Windows Media Player 11 can do it.

Miggy · 10-10-2007, 11:20 PM

Well, now that I really think about it, this is a different issue. WMP would always output sound, it just wouldn't pass along a 5.1 or dts signal. The current problem is that no sound is being put out at all, and it's not just WMP. The red optic's being emitted from the sound card, so it looks like it should be working.

Anyway, I'm not going to waste any more time with that. I'm going to get 100' of the 16 gauge and see how that works.

Miggy, the Thief

sub780lime · 10-11-2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miggy

Well, now that I really think about it, this is a different issue. WMP would always output sound, it just wouldn't pass along a 5.1 or dts signal. The current problem is that no sound is being put out at all, and it's not just WMP. The red optic's being emitted from the sound card, so it looks like it should be working.

Anyway, I'm not going to waste any more time with that. I'm going to get 100' of the 16 gauge and see how that works.

Miggy, the Thief

Is it possible that the card needs to be set to actually output from the optical port (even if showing red light).

Miggy · 10-12-2007, 02:10 PM

I went into the setup and selected SPDIF out instead of the regular speaker out. Still nothing. I can't find anything else that relates.

Miggy, the Thief

Miggy · 10-14-2007, 03:19 PM

I replaced the 24 gauge with 16 gauge yesterday. The hum is still there, but I can only hear it if I turn the volume up to 3/4. At normal volume, there is silence, so I'm happy.

It might be possible to completely eliminate it with really heavy duty wire, but this is about as thick a wire as I want to have running across the living room.

Miggy, the Thief

reaper · 10-15-2007, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miggy

I replaced the 24 gauge with 16 gauge yesterday. The hum is still there, but I can only hear it if I turn the volume up to 3/4. At normal volume, there is silence, so I'm happy.

It might be possible to completely eliminate it with really heavy duty wire, but this is about as thick a wire as I want to have running across the living room.

Miggy, the Thief

Just a quick question: Are the speaker wires running parallel to or coiled near any power wiring? The power wires could induce 60Hz AC hum onto the speaker wires.

I found these write-ups about troubleshooting hum problems:
http://www.decware.com/newsite/mainm...er41.htm&intro
http://www.psaudio.com/articles/hum.asp
http://www.oreilly.com/pub/h/4241

Just a possibility. I hope these help.

Miggy · 10-23-2007, 01:19 PM

Reaper,

If you mean have I stretched a power wire across the room along with the audio cable, then no. If you mean is it running along side a power wire in the wall, then I'm not sure. But even it it were, I couldn't really do anything about that. The way I have the audio cable running now is the least intrusive to walking paths and don't really want to change that.

However, I'm really happy with the results the 16 gauge has given me. At normal volume levels, I can't hear anything in between the songs. As long as this doesn't change over time, I'm set!

Thanks.

Miggy, the Thief

Miggy · 06-05-2008, 11:54 PM

I revisited this thread to see some of the recommendations for speaker wires given. I want to replace all my wires when I move later this month.

But to give an update from a couple of months ago, the hum completely went away when I replaced my Bose with those JBL speakers I mentioned in another thread. I guess those old speakers were the source, or cause, of the hum.

Miggy, the Thief

Ruined · 06-06-2008, 12:48 PM

12 gauge speaker cable will work for 50' and under, over 50' use 10 gauge.

Bluejeanscable.com is reasonable and does nice terminations.

10-06-2007, 06:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Miggy The Thief Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Matthews, NC, USA	Speaker Gauge Recommendation I need to run 50' of speaker wire from my computer to the receiver. Its function is to extend the phono-plug to RCA Y-Splitter. What gauge will be required so that there will not be any interference (audible hum)? I already know that 24 gauge isn't enough Miggy, the Thief __________________ "Ah, nothing like a large black man wearing a suit jumping in your van to maintain your cover." - Vic Mackey --------------------------------------------- Miggy's Land O' Wonder

10-06-2007, 07:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
*chlngr1970* Producer/Admin Tenacious "OB" Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Spanaway Washington	When I was setting up new stores, we ran 18g wire for everything. The rear runs were typicaly over 150'. Personaly, I would go at least 16g if not better. j __________________ "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return" Christian, Moulin Rouge

10-06-2007, 07:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
Miggy The Thief Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Matthews, NC, USA	I think the next size up I saw was 16. I'll try that, thanks! Miggy, the Thief __________________ "Ah, nothing like a large black man wearing a suit jumping in your van to maintain your cover." - Vic Mackey --------------------------------------------- Miggy's Land O' Wonder

10-06-2007, 07:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Vonner Previously, on '24'... Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Minnesota	I use 14g in my HT setup. __________________ I was inappropriately blunt, wasn't I? I do that a lot. - Chloe O'Brian

10-06-2007, 10:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Vonner Previously, on '24'... Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Minnesota	Your gauge is bigger than mine. I feel so inadequate. __________________ I was inappropriately blunt, wasn't I? I do that a lot. - Chloe O'Brian

10-06-2007, 08:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sehnzeleid Actor Join Date: Jul 2006	I use 12.

10-07-2007, 11:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
esc Stay behind my aura! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: camrose, alberta, canada	use 10 or 12 gauge from these guys. I use the 12g in my room and I heard an immediate difference. Klear Blu Kable From Knu Konceptz I just can't say enough good stuff about it If you are looking for the lest amount of noise, maybe go with the 100ft roll of 10g __________________ -I Early Adopted... Then It All Went Wrong -my collection (hasn't been updated in a long time)

10-08-2007, 02:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
Miggy The Thief Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Matthews, NC, USA	Ehhhh.. this is only to extend my computer to the receiver, so I don't want to spend too much. The 16 gauge they sell would only be $25 for 100 feet, so I would consider that. But it's out of stock. Thanks for the suggestion, though. I'm going to give the 16 gauge wire I saw for $20 per 100 foot and see how that works. Miggy, the Thief __________________ "Ah, nothing like a large black man wearing a suit jumping in your van to maintain your cover." - Vic Mackey --------------------------------------------- Miggy's Land O' Wonder

10-08-2007, 04:35 PM	#11 (permalink)
firestorm Actor Join Date: Sep 2005	From what I recall, 14awg is sufficient for speakers level current at 50', so I imagine that's sufficient for line level. I picked up 12awg from www.bluejeanscables.com for my speakers. Very nice cable and only 38 cents/foot. I've also heard very good things about wire and cable from Monoprice, especially given their prices. You may have a bigger problem with ground-loops though, which is probably the source of the hum you're hearing. I never had much luck with using a PC as a source, and the difference in ground potential will be even greater if they're plugged into different electrical circuits. I would look for options that use a digital connection. Either a digital output from the PC, and using toslink or coax to make the connection, or an Ethernet solution (wired or wireless), etc.... I just wanted music, so I went with a Squeezebox to replace our CD player. There are similar devices that cost much less, as well as devices that transmit the output from your soundcard over ethernet. __________________ My Movies: http://movies.tjapkes.com

10-09-2007, 12:00 AM	#12 (permalink)
esc Stay behind my aura! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: camrose, alberta, canada	sorry, I totally mis-read your original question and I thought that you just wanted to run 50' of cable to your speakers. There has to be a higher quality option for a long run of wire from a Y splitter from your sound card to a receiver or speakers than going with a generic length of wire from Radio Shack or where ever. 14g should be good.

10-09-2007, 12:05 AM	#13 (permalink)
Miggy The Thief Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Matthews, NC, USA	Okay, that idea of the digital connection intrigues me. I have a SB X-Fi Extreme Gamer, so it has the digital output. Would I have a better chance of hum-free sound from the receiver if I used that instead? I'll have to doublecheck, but I think my receiver has co-axial digital in (I use the optical for my DVD player). It should be a simple matter of changing over to the digital out and then plugging in the red connector. For that matter, I would only need 25' of cable since I would only be extending one half of the connection. This is all coming off the top of my head. I could be completely wrong. I'm going to experiement when I get home with the wire I'm currently using. Miggy, the Thief __________________ "Ah, nothing like a large black man wearing a suit jumping in your van to maintain your cover." - Vic Mackey --------------------------------------------- Miggy's Land O' Wonder

10-09-2007, 01:41 AM	#14 (permalink)
Miggy The Thief Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Matthews, NC, USA	I hit a snag with that setup. The X-Fi is outputing a digital signal, but Windows Media Player apparently isn't set up to output SPDIF. I looked through the settings and don't see anything. I remember running into this problem when trying to get 5.1 out of DVDs. I had to use Power DVD to get it to work. Miggy, the Thief __________________ "Ah, nothing like a large black man wearing a suit jumping in your van to maintain your cover." - Vic Mackey --------------------------------------------- Miggy's Land O' Wonder

10-10-2007, 11:20 PM	#16 (permalink)
Miggy The Thief Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Matthews, NC, USA	Well, now that I really think about it, this is a different issue. WMP would always output sound, it just wouldn't pass along a 5.1 or dts signal. The current problem is that no sound is being put out at all, and it's not just WMP. The red optic's being emitted from the sound card, so it looks like it should be working. Anyway, I'm not going to waste any more time with that. I'm going to get 100' of the 16 gauge and see how that works. Miggy, the Thief __________________ "Ah, nothing like a large black man wearing a suit jumping in your van to maintain your cover." - Vic Mackey --------------------------------------------- Miggy's Land O' Wonder

10-12-2007, 02:10 PM	#18 (permalink)
Miggy The Thief Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Matthews, NC, USA	I went into the setup and selected SPDIF out instead of the regular speaker out. Still nothing. I can't find anything else that relates. Miggy, the Thief __________________ "Ah, nothing like a large black man wearing a suit jumping in your van to maintain your cover." - Vic Mackey --------------------------------------------- Miggy's Land O' Wonder

10-14-2007, 03:19 PM	#19 (permalink)
Miggy The Thief Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Matthews, NC, USA	I replaced the 24 gauge with 16 gauge yesterday. The hum is still there, but I can only hear it if I turn the volume up to 3/4. At normal volume, there is silence, so I'm happy. It might be possible to completely eliminate it with really heavy duty wire, but this is about as thick a wire as I want to have running across the living room. Miggy, the Thief __________________ "Ah, nothing like a large black man wearing a suit jumping in your van to maintain your cover." - Vic Mackey --------------------------------------------- Miggy's Land O' Wonder

10-23-2007, 01:19 PM	#21 (permalink)
Miggy The Thief Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Matthews, NC, USA	Reaper, If you mean have I stretched a power wire across the room along with the audio cable, then no. If you mean is it running along side a power wire in the wall, then I'm not sure. But even it it were, I couldn't really do anything about that. The way I have the audio cable running now is the least intrusive to walking paths and don't really want to change that. However, I'm really happy with the results the 16 gauge has given me. At normal volume levels, I can't hear anything in between the songs. As long as this doesn't change over time, I'm set! Thanks. Miggy, the Thief __________________ "Ah, nothing like a large black man wearing a suit jumping in your van to maintain your cover." - Vic Mackey --------------------------------------------- Miggy's Land O' Wonder

06-05-2008, 11:54 PM	#22 (permalink)
Miggy The Thief Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Matthews, NC, USA	I revisited this thread to see some of the recommendations for speaker wires given. I want to replace all my wires when I move later this month. But to give an update from a couple of months ago, the hum completely went away when I replaced my Bose with those JBL speakers I mentioned in another thread. I guess those old speakers were the source, or cause, of the hum. Miggy, the Thief __________________ "Ah, nothing like a large black man wearing a suit jumping in your van to maintain your cover." - Vic Mackey --------------------------------------------- Miggy's Land O' Wonder

06-06-2008, 12:48 PM	#23 (permalink)
Ruined It's Good to Play Together Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: NJ, USA	12 gauge speaker cable will work for 50' and under, over 50' use 10 gauge. Bluejeanscable.com is reasonable and does nice terminations. __________________ For every shadow, no matter how deep, is threatened by morning light.

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