Speaker cable

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Speaker cable

stevenz

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#98130 24-Feb-2012 14:09

Just went into Dick Smiths to buy some speaker cable, when I asked the bloke where it was, he looked at me like I'd just asked him to sell me a deep fried turd. "JayCar" was the only verbal response.

Is the return on cable really that low that they've ditched selling it altogether? Given how expensive it is I would've thought it'd have a good markup.

JayCar isn't exactly convenient for me to get to (Wellington) - who else sells the stuff who might actually be open on a Saturday so that I can get to them? (TheElectrical wholesaler type places seem to universally be closed on weekends around here.)

I don't even want anything flash, just basic twin-strand OFC wiring, or pretty much anything unobtrusive that will get the noise from the stereo to the speakers.

Would CAT5 be any use as speaker cable? It's dirt cheap and I've got mountains of it sitting behind me. Virtually no shielding obviously, but I'm only running ~50W per channel max.

@KnightNZ

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#586282 24-Feb-2012 14:43

Are you talking about a 1m run or longer?

Warehouse used to do some if you're in a rush/bind, maybe in their car audio section too.

MikeSkyrme

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#586283 24-Feb-2012 14:44

Have you tried the likes of JB Hifi / Bunnings / Mitre 10?

Michael Skyrme - Instrumentation & Controls

stevenz

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#586291 24-Feb-2012 15:04

I need about 20m all up, need to run it around some skirting etc. Can't get under the house to do it that way unfortunately.

Hadn't thought of hardware stores, the big ones should have some surely. I wouldn't have thought JB would have it, but their website says that they do. $3.70/metre so gets a bit pricey. Will check the warehouse and mitre10, cheers.

@KnightNZ

B1GGLZ

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#586302 24-Feb-2012 15:26

stevenz: Just went into Dick Smiths to buy some speaker cable, when I asked the bloke where it was, he looked at me like I'd just asked him to sell me a deep fried turd. "JayCar" was the only verbal response.

Strange. They have eight different types listed on their website.

jaymz

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#586308 24-Feb-2012 15:47

stevenz:
Would CAT5 be any use as speaker cable? It's dirt cheap and I've got mountains of it sitting behind me. Virtually no shielding obviously, but I'm only running ~50W per channel max.

CAT5 will work, however you may notice more "noise" through the speakers at higher volumes.

Bunnings here in Hamilton definatly has speaker cables on rolls in the Electrical section of their store. You buy it by the metre.

It is strange that the Dick Smith staff member said that, but i have had that in the past from other stores. It is like "I can't be bothered helping/looking/finding out, so i will tell you of another place to get you away from me"

I can understand them saying JayCar if it was cheaper and they were trying to help you out. If you feel strongly about it a phone call to the manager of the store would be best.

redjet

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#586309 24-Feb-2012 15:49

Advance Electrical on Thorndon Quay might be open on Saturday mornings

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rhysb

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#586311 24-Feb-2012 15:50

stevenz: Would CAT5 be any use as speaker cable? It's dirt cheap and I've got mountains of it sitting behind me. Virtually no shielding obviously, but I'm only running ~50W per channel max.

Brush up on your braiding skills
http://www.mejiatryti.com/SpeakerCable/fivebraid.html

stevenz

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#586321 24-Feb-2012 16:03

It'll all be part of their gradual transistion towards being just another appliance store. I did have a good look around before asking so I'm pretty sure this particular store just doesn't have cable any more - they certainly used to as I bought some from there a couple of years back.

Other stores presumably do still stock it, but I may have a line on a significantly cheaper (i.e. - some beers) source of enough cable to get the job done hopefully.

I did however notice a half-priced $49 outdoor UHF antenna in the store which I grabbed as I was about to buy one anyway, and this one came with 10m of white coax which I would usually had to have bought separately, so at least I came away with a good deal out of the visit.

@KnightNZ

Bung

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#586323 24-Feb-2012 16:06

stevenz:
JayCar isn't exactly convenient for me to get to (Wellington) - who else sells the stuff who might actually be open on a Saturday so that I can get to them? (TheElectrical wholesaler type places seem to universally be closed on weekends around here.)

Looks like the only Wgtn DSE stores with that cable definitely in stock are Lyall Bay and Queensgate.

Jaycar in Taranaki St is open 9.00-5.30 on Saturdays.

itxtme

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#586342 24-Feb-2012 16:36

Mitre10 petone had some last week, Bunnings Naenae did not, well they had the larger stuff. Under $2.00 a meter from memory

Renwick

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#586358 24-Feb-2012 17:04

I have just upgraded my Onkyo receiver to a model which has a number of spare amps. This has finally enabled be to bi-amp my B&W 603's for which I have used the DS 12 OFC 315X gauge loud speaker cable. I am not in the first flush of youth and therefore perhaps the frequency response of my hearing is may not be spot on but I can say result sounds extremely good. Whether this could have been improved using a more exotic product is debatable but having been interested in music and HIFI for many years I can say the quest for the ultimate in sound quality can be a very, very expensive road of diminishing returns involving a degree snake oil and the emperor's new clothes. Here is an interesting article of speaker cables: http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#reviewdares.

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Gigs

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#586368 24-Feb-2012 17:11

If you don't need the cable in a hurry, trademe.

crackrdbycracku

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#586404 24-Feb-2012 18:25

Sound Expression 150 - 154 Willis Street, Wellington are currently having a cable sale.

They are definitely open Saturday mornings.

They are high end, dude tried to sell me a $500 set of hear buds once saying they were 'really good'. But it is worth a shot.

Saturday 10am - 3.30pm
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Dunnersfella

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#586434 24-Feb-2012 20:06

Down here you can buy 20m of Pudney cable in almost all the main chain stores for $60.
It's in a reel, whereas the likes of Harvey Norman have different options on reels, so you can buy by the meter if you need.
Jaycar is an obvious choice - but the difference in price won't be too huge... negotiate with a sales person (can you sell me 20m of cable for $40?) and then HOPE they ask you what speaker you're running them on.

Here's a handy table...

Wire Size 2 Ohms 4 Ohms 8 Ohms

22 Gauge 3 Feet 6 Feet 12 Feet
20 Gauge 5 Feet 10 Feet 20 Feet
18 Gauge 8 Feet 16 Feet 32 Feet
16 Gauge 12 Feet 24 Feet 48 Feet
14 Gauge 20 Feet 40 Feet 80 Feet
12 Gauge 30 Feet 60 Feet 120 Feet
10 Gauge 50 Feet 100 Feet 200 Feet

RunningMan

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#586452 24-Feb-2012 21:14

If you can put up with the blank look when you go again, they do sell it -

http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/tv-video/cables/wire-loose-cable

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