I guess this is the best forum for this question. I recently wired a pool courtyard and pool house for patio speakers. The distance from the receiver (actually the speaker selector) to the farthest pair of speakers is probably over 250 feet, most of this running in underground conduit and attic space. The closest pair is 10 feet. The other four pairs are somewhere in between for a total of 6 pairs. I have a Onkyo 2 channel, 100w per channel receiver powering the speaker selector. The speakers are all identical: 115 watt 8ohm, 89db sensitivity. IDIOT Me runs 18 gauge wire to everything not even considering the distance and the resistance associatied with such distances and small guage wire. Now keep in mind this system is for background ambient music only and each speaker may see 5 to 10 watts max. Rewiring with 12 guage is not an option for the 250 foot run because I don't have access and can't pull new wire but I could rewire probalbly the first 200 feet of that run from the speaker selector. Would there be any advantage to doing so with the last 50 feet still being 18 guage? I'm not concerned about sound quality improvment, just the prevention of damage to my receiver.

The length will not pose a danger to your receiver.

The worst that could happen would be a difference in level, the farthest being a little less loud.

Given the environment, just try it and see. If your happy with the result, leave the wire alone.

Cheers, John

thanks John...I appreciate the advice

The length will not pose a danger to your receiver.

The worst that could happen would be a difference in level, the farthest being a little less loud.

Given the environment, just try it and see. If your happy with the result, leave the wire alone.

Cheers, John

What is the damping factor of your amp? Plug your wire length, gauge and amp info into this.

http://www.bcae1.com/dampfact.htm

What is the damping factor of your amp? Plug your wire length, gauge and amp info into this.

http://www.bcae1.com/dampfact.htm

Not, IMO, a significant concern for background music.

Additionally, I read somewhere that adding pretty much any length of speaker wire levels the damping factor playing field.

Yeah I know I was looking more at the lost Wattage in the run but for background music it should not be that important.