Hello all AVS forum members,

I recently got everything ready for my HT install. I have a Panasonic plasma as my screen which is already up and running for some time. I am new to home theater and have picked up the Energy Take Classic 5.1 speakers. I have a Onkyo TX-SR706 to hook it up to but have come upon a stumbling block. What speaker size to use. I have read through the reviews on the take classic's and reviewers have stated that they can only fit smaller wires and recommend 14 gauge wires to place in them. This means chinese to me really since this has been a learning curve overall for me. I want to know exactly what it is that I need when setting this all up and what do I need speaker wire wise. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks for the help.

AJ

Go to Home Depot, and ask for a roll of 14-guage speaker wire. You should have some idea of how much you will need so you know whether to buy the 100' roll or the 250' roll. (Usually your center is pretty close so you will need maybe 6' there, and the front left and right might need 2x10', but your surrounds can be quite far away so you will need to measure that and remember to multiply by two so you get cables for both L & R).

Mike

That is what someone suggested as well and I think I will go with that. Now does home depot also sell the connectors to the receiver, or would I have to go to a specialty store for that?

Now does home depot also sell the connectors to the receiver, or would I have to go to a specialty store for that?
What do you mean by "connectors to the receiver"? Are you talking about putting connectors on the speaker wire at the receiver end? You may not have to do that. Check your receiver manual to see if it'll accept bare wire, just like the speakers. If not, you can order connectors (spade lugs, banana plugs) from Blue Jeans or Monoprice (links at the top of this page).

Or are you talking about interconnects from other components to the receiver? HD carries some, but the selection is limited. You might do better at Best Buy or the like. Just don't waste money on Monster. Again, you can order from Monoprice or Parts Express if you can't find anything locally.

here is a link to the back http://news.cnet.com/i/bto/20080722/txsr706_rear_300_540x207.jpg

I guess I need some sort of plug for the wires to go into the receiver, I may be wrong since I am new to HT. And I am talking about putting connectors to the speaker wire on the receiver's end.

Those look like normal 5-way binding posts, which would take bare wires. RTFM.

Awesome, thanks. I just downloaded the manual and it seems as if it takes the bare wires themselves I should be all set :) Thanks for the help and suggestions.

Event though it will accept bare wire, you may find that you prefer banana plugs for their convenience. I personally dislike using bare wire (too much chance for a stray strand to short out), so if not using banana plugs I would at least tin the ends of the wire with solder to make a single "solid" strand.

Mike

P.S. I have banana plugs on all of my speaker cables (7.1 plus 2 for Zone 2 + 1 for bass shaker).

ok, thanks.

Now I have hit a snag when installing tonight . . .

Alright I need some help. I was hooking up the Take Classic tonight and opened the box up. I bought a Belkins PUREAV subwoofer cable but now that I have the subwoofer out of the box that will not fly. The instructions say I need a RCA cable for the subwoofer. Would that still work with my receiver which is a Onkyo TX-SR706? And what cable do I need to get? Just any audio Y RCA cable . . . would that work?

Ideas?

ok, thanks.

Now I have hit a snag when installing tonight . . .

Alright I need some help. I was hooking up the Take Classic tonight and opened the box up. I bought a Belkins PUREAV subwoofer cable but now that I have the subwoofer out of the box that will not fly. The instructions say I need a RCA cable for the subwoofer. Would that still work with my receiver which is a Onkyo TX-SR706? And what cable do I need to get? Just any audio Y RCA cable . . . would that work?

Ideas?Your "Belkins PUREAV subwoofer cable" is an RCA cable. And no need for a Y.

Ah, just got confused since the sub has a red and a white connector while the cable I have only has 1. So I assume I put it in the white connector in the back of the sub?

as pictured here: http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/satellite/energy-take-classic-review/DSC_0124.jpg/image_view_fullscreen

and for reference this is what I got: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001XGR1C

So I assume I put it in the white connector in the back of the sub?

as pictured here: http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/satellite/energy-take-classic-review/DSC_0124.jpg/image_view_fullscreenYep. That will work just fine.

Awesome, no need to buy anything. I will have it all setup tomorrow and will post pics. Thanks for the help!