:cool: Hey guys, this is my first post, but im not a noob to HT.... (geocities(dot)com/thedudedrummer/day)My System is always open to tweaks by some of the guru's on here *bows*.... right now im looking into new speaker cable... something DIY that sounds awsome would be great! Im gonna need over 200 ft of it and some of the lenghts are nearly 50 ft so idk how different approaches do at those lenghts... I've heard alot about the CAT 5 approach but not about how it behaves over ~10ft... so ~50 could show drastic changes... at this moment i just have some cheapo lowes 12 gauge speaker cable that is doing the job, but isnt showing my SS-K90ED Sony speakers potential... I got a great deal on these things and they are truely amazing, kevlar midrange and all, and it jus seems like im buying a formula car and running it on pump gas.... so any suggestions for relatively inexpensive DIY cables for longer lengths would be awsome.... also can i get some feedback on my system... i'm only just turnin 18 and this is my baby... i know my friends and family like it, but i would like to hear some more experienced critiques and suggestions... oh and btw these arent the most updated picts but the arrangement is the same except the display case has been replaced with a bar and popcorn machine... and the stray cables visible in the pictures have been dealt with...... Thanx, BigMike :D

Hello..... anyone out there.... *crickets*..... does anyone have suggestions on diy speaker cable for longer lenghts? Any help would be really appriciated... thanx, Mike

it jus seems like im buying a formula car and running it on pump gas....

I am sorry you feel this way, there is no reason for it.

Personally I am in the "wire is wire" as long as the guage is big enough camp (as the majority here are) so I don't have any real advice for you.

But if you truly are looking for exotic speaker wire recomendations I suggest you ask the guys in the Cable Asylum (http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/cables/bbs.html).

People in there swear even little things like the direction you twist the wires (clockwise vs. counter clockwise) can drasticly effect the sound. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

-Your post is hard to read! Use paragraphs!
-Wire is wire.

I'll repeat what the others have said. Wire is wire.

As long as the gauge is sufficient, the type of wire won't make one bit of difference.

If you don't believe me, take apart one of your speakers and look at the wire that actually connects your speakers. You will be quite shocked at how thin the wire is. Enough said.

Spend your money on a better receiver or a better tv or a better anything. Just don't waste it on expensive snake-oil speaker wires.

Its interesting you've mentioned that actually, the whole idea about the inside speaker wires, and I've read a whole tear down article on these speakers with surprising things. The cheaper sony's like you say use cable that i wouldnt even use for my computer surround system. These, on the other hand, use a quite heavier gauge. People have built external crossovers to improve these but at a cost of around 150 per pair, and I will soon have a 9.3 setup, so that could get quite costly, but might just make the difference. Do you have any recomendations on better recievers, or even separates in the used catagory, that will give good sound and not break the bank. I'm going to be working at the Magnolia center at the nearby bestbuy soon so I might be able to get a break that way. Any suggestions would be really helpful though.

Any suggestions would be really helpful though.Room treatments and speaker upgrades will result in the greatest improvement. I recommend 12 gauge speaker wire for longer (50ft) runs. Home Depot sells it...

Wire is cheap. I find using 14/2 and/or 14/4 in-wall speaker wire works best in most residential setups. It'll handle decent distances without significant voltage drop.

It's not about the gauge of wire running a few inches from the back of the speaker to the cones. It's about not losing power due to resistance in the wire over distances of FEET. Heavier gauge wire will help avoid that loss.

The fans have screw holes, use them. Adhesive dies over time, faster when being pulled downward. The last thing you need is the glue to fail and have the fan drop, pulling wires loose or shorting something out.