CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[jeffslife]

Ok so I am adding a sub to my set up up and I am going to put one on each side of the screen next to the front channels. The left channel needs about 40 foot of wire so I will use 40 ft on the right side also even though it only needs 28. The question I have is how much of a benefit would it be to use 12 gauge wire over 14 gauge wire ? I have heard that the amp will clip less on the front channels of lengths over 35 feet if you use 12 gauge wire. I dont know for sure if that is even true but even if it is would it make much of a difference on subs ? I need to buy a rollof wire so I am trying to decide whether to rewire my fronts with 12 instead of 14. Does it even matter enough to be noticable ? Does it really allow you to turn the amp up before it clips ? Thanks in advance, Jeff

[Nashou66]

Do the subs have Line level Inputs? Id so run one Line level to the wall the subs are on and then use a Y splitter and go to each sub Line level in. if they are passive then use 12 gauge, just for the less resistance.

Athanasios

[jeffslife]

I am running both subs off a NHT SA2 amp. So what do you think about rewiring the fronts ? will 12 gauge make much of a difference ?

[dturco]

Jeff, Try this calculator.

http://www.pelco.com/sites/global/en/sales-and-support/downloads-and-tools/tools/wire.page

Wire gauge does make a difference, only if you are pushing a lot of load to your speakers, I use 10 gauge to my front speakers and 14 gauge Bi wire to my surrounds, which I think is 11 gauge when done that way, something about 3 gauge drop when bi-wiring.

Anyway use the calculator ...then just use 10 gauge, because, I said so

[kal]

[kal]

[stridsvognen]

[jeffslife]

DAMN ! 10 gauge speaker wire is 80 bucks for 50 feet. So tell me why its worth all this extra cost again ? Will it really help my amp ?

[stridsvognen]

[nettwerkjohn]

i'd run a line level cable, move the amp closer to the subs, then use short lengths of the biggest cable you can afford.

[kal]

[kal]

[dturco]

[dturco]

Jeff how many watts are you using over the 40 ft run? Are these subs passive only? No on board amps? can you put the amp closer to the speaker? Do the amps have XLR's and your pre-pro too?

See lots of questions. Just use 10 gauge and none of them will matter.

[Nashou66]

[jeffslife]

OK so moving the amp wouldnt work out well, and line level isnt an option they are not on board amps. The price of 10 gauge wire is crazy. I called a friend of mine who is an electrician ( he has every kind of wire known to man) and told him of my situation, He had some 10 awg and could give me a decent price on it But he offered this up as a no cost solution since I already have a big spool of 14 awg. He said to just run two lengths and braid them together in parallel and use that. I know I would use a lot of wire, but wire I got that is only collecting dust and isnt eating anything. So basically its free. I know electricians do that all the time with AC runs,its common. Is there any reason it wouldnt work ? If it will then this is an easy no cost fix.

[Nashou66]

[CIR Engineering]

Jeff,

You run line level from your preamp output to the sub amp already right? You can put the amp near the speakers and just make the line level longer. Than use shorter speaker cable.

craigr

[jeffslife]

I could, but then I need to run a 25 ft extension cord and a 25 foot rca cable to the amp.

[jeffslife]

Thanks for the tip on the wire Nash, Thats a great price !

[macgyver655]

Has anyone ever noticed the size of the voice coil wire?

[jeffslife]

OK But I still havent got an anwser, would it work ?