Audiophiles can't tell the difference between Monster Cable and coat hangers - Engadget
It's about getting power to the speakers - get that done and you're golden. You don't get more power by using a more expensive cable, you get more power by making sure you've got enough metal to handle the expected load. 4-gauge stranded copper would probably be best - and it'll be a lot cheaper per foot than Monster cables.
(And the theory you need high-cost cables for DIGITAL signals? Heh. If you need an ethernet cable, you can get a 25' Cat6 cable at WalMart for under $10. But the salesman will tell you that you're going to need something that costs roughly $5 a foot... If the 1s and 0s make it through, that's all that counts.)
J.
Comments (4)
4 gauge stranded copper?
The jumper cables I use to start my truck are only 6 gauge!
How much power are you dumping into those speakers anyway, 100 Kw?
When you decide to really crank that sucker up please pick something I like because I only live 30 miles away.
otpu
Posted by otpu | March 13, 2008 4:47 PM
Posted on March 13, 2008 16:47
Actually, I think you're about 12-15, but that's as may be. The idea is to get as little resistance as possible for as little cost. I could spec 4-gauge silver or gold, but I think 4-gauge copper would suffice...
J.
Posted by JLawson | March 13, 2008 9:43 PM
Posted on March 13, 2008 21:43
I think these are for solid copper: For stranded wire the stated current and load capacities would be higher.
http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htmrt
http://www.rbeelectronics.com/wtable.htm
Note: the second graph shows that for a 12 volt Vcc sound system 4 gauge wire could carry 100 amps a distance of 25 feet. 100 amps into a 8 ohm load would deliver 80,000 watts RMS. That's a single speaker, stereo would be twice that. Because of the way the sound signal is spread across the center and rear channels 5.1 THX sound would be approximately 4 times the single channel power levels.
For jumper cables to carry 200 cold cranking amps 10 feet the second graph recommends 6 gauge wire.
otpu
Posted by otpu | March 14, 2008 12:52 AM
Posted on March 14, 2008 00:52
Ah, but you're thinking MINIMUMS, John. As it says in that second link -
"Note that you can always use thicker wire (lower gauge number) than is recommended."
More is better!
J.
Posted by JLawson | March 14, 2008 3:46 PM
Posted on March 14, 2008 15:46