use two parallel cable runs for speaker which is twice as far away?

Originally Posted by segmentor 

I have to wire my surround speakers.

For reasons of misunderstanding I have a quantity of 17AWG cable available for use. In short, the store threw it in with the speakers and told me it's 16AWG suitable for running along the wall edge under the carpet, but it's really 17AWG. I discussed this with the guys in store who still say it's fine for surrounds and it doesn't matter. I'm pedantic though, and I care.

Judging by Roger Russell's much linked-to wire table, 17AWG will do for the left channel. Both speakers are rated at 8 ohms (Polk FXi-A4)

The right speaker requires about 5.5m of cable. (0.09 ohms cable impedance @ 16.61 ohms/km)
The left speaker requires about 12.1m of cable. (0.2 ohms cable impedance)

Is it worth running two pairs of cable from the receiver to the left speaker to halve the resistance, making up for the poor cable gauge?

Will this cause any other issues like different capacitance on the cables to each speaker?

Yes I know I should go out and buy some 14AWG cable and be done with it, but I'd rather use what I have. I also don't know if 14AWG will fit where I need to run it.

Originally Posted by commsysman 

0.2 ohms of wire resistance, when connected to a 4 ohm speaker, is 5% of the impedance of the speaker.

This simply means that you will have a 5% loss in the wire, and have to turn the volume up 5% higher. Big freaking deal...lol.

With a double run, or 14 gauge wire, you will knock the loss down to 2% or so.

Originally Posted by arnyk 

The problem with too-thin hifi speaker wires is not overall sound loss, but differential sound loss at various frequencies.
If the problem were due to overall sound loss, the too-thin cable could be compensated for over a wide range by simply turning up the volume a little more.
Most speakers, as is correctly pointed out in post 6 have a frequency range where their impedance is minimum, while the impedance of the same speaker is much higher over broad ranges at other frequencies.
The cable's resistance usually causes far more loss in the range of frequencies where the speaker's impedance is minimum or close to minimum. The cable's losses over the range where the speaker's impedance is higher is often much less.

The difference in the cable's loss in different frequency reanges is the essence of the problem. If the difference in the losses is large enough then the sound of the speaker may be audibly colored by the cable's excess resistance.

This same problem can be caused by certain tubed amplifiers that may provide even higher source impedances than the wire that we are talking about right now.

5% loss corresponds to a 0.5 dB loss which is possibly audible, but rarely if ever an actual serious sound quality problem. Modern AVRs with automated system optimization facilities may address problems like this or even far worse as part of their normal operation.

Therefore the basic advice that a speaker cable with only 0.2 ohms or less resistance will cause no serious problems with a reasonable worst case speaker that dips down to 4 ohms is basically good.

However I thought this was a good opportunity to clarify the basic goal of the discussion, which is to produce high fidelity and minimize audible coloration.

If you carefully analyze what you just said, you will realize that you are talking nonsense.

Originally Posted by commsysman 

If you carefully analyze what you just said, you will realize that you are talking nonsense.

If speaker wire has a resistance of 0.2 ohms, which is much higher than most will be, that will give you a 5% loss at a frequency where the speaker is 4 ohms, and a 1 % loss at a frequency where the speaker is 20 ohms.

So....in one case the speaker is getting 95% of the power and in the second case it is getting 99%. Do you think anyone can hear a 4% change in volume between the two frequencies? Absolutely not!!

It is well-documented by extensive hearing research that no one can hear that kind of minute difference.