I may run some audio cables between wall plates so that my amps can be in a different room than my preamp. I have cables, but they are not rated for in wall.

If you want your work to be up to local codes and not subject to write ups on any kind of home inspection, yes, rated for in wall. If you don't care about that or risk, your choice.

I prefer to do it right. Where can I buy the cables? I checked Monoprice, and the ones I found there do not appear to be what I'm after. I found rated wire at Parts Express, so I could make my own, but the shielding was rather minimal. What are people using for subwoofer cable? Would it be acceptable for full range LRC speakers.

Interesting. I would assume the codes can vary quite a bit on this?

As I undersand it, the codes in my area? Really have no codes for A/V wire in residential homes. All the codes in place seem to be for commercial property and structures only?

If you're up to making your own, a good quality quad-shield RG6 wire like Belden, terminated with some Canare or equivalent compression RCA plugs, would make fine in-wall preamp cables.

They're a good bit stiffer than the usual stranded interconnects that aren't rated, but for a permanent installation, it's probably not the biggest deal. I've used this in the past for line-level audio and my subs are currently hooked up this way.

Unless you come from the school of esoteric cable (and I do admit that I own several from Cardas and Transparent) they sound absolutely fine.

The National Electric Code does require audio/video/speaker/telecom cables to be rated for in-wall use if they are run in a wall, through the floor, etc. Local code may not specifically call it out, but it is covered in the NEC. I don't have the specific cite available, but I have seen it posted in this forum in the past.

RG59 is also a good option for sub cables. Some experts I have spoken with have even told me that it does a better job of carrying the low-frequency signal than RG6. I had both available to me, so I used RG59 for the sub cables and put compression RCA ends on it myself. RG59 is also easier to work with (smaller, more flexible) than RG6, so if you are going to buy the raw cable anyway, you may as well go for the RG59. If you are going to buy a spool, and you think you'll ever use it for any other purpose, then go with the RG6 (which is preferable for any video applications).

jj

The National Electric Code does require audio/video/speaker/telecom cables to be rated for in-wall use if they are run in a wall, through the floor, etc. Local code may not specifically call it out, but it is covered in the NEC. I don't have the specific cite available, but I have seen it posted in this forum in the past.

jj

However local codes supercede the NEC. If the local code is less strict or more strict than the NEC, it still holds.

Los Angeles county for example has no artical 725 requirements for low voltage wiring in residential as of 2003. Commercial is different.

Check with you local code office. Of course you can always use highewr grade wire than the code calls for.

Thanks everyone. I found rated cables at Blue Jeans Cables.