Cat5E cable (1 Viewer)

[door whore]

Does two 24 AWG wires twisted together equal to the equivalent of one 12 AWG wire, to run for speaker cable?

 

[Todd Erwin]

CAT5e cable has wires that are too thin for use as speaker wire, as far as I know.

 

[ScottHM]

Does two 24 AWG wires twisted together equal to the equivalent of one 12 AWG wire, to run for speaker cable?

Not even close.
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[BobO'Link]

You do not want to use Cat5E for speaker runs.

 

[door whore]

All right I understand. Thanks

 

[JohnRice]

FWIW, I did this math in my head, so it might be off, but it would take something like (48) 24 AWG wires to equal one 12 AWG. It might be only 40, but still.

 

[door whore]

So what gage speaker wire would the Home Theater Forum use for a 50' run?

 

[door whore]

Solid or Stranded wire?

 

[BobO'Link]

12 Guage AWG Audio Cord - it will be stranded wire. If your system supports it, I'd also put banana plugs on each end for the connections.

 

[JohnRice]

Yeah, I would use 12GA OFC (oxygen free copper) stranded speaker cable. There is copper clad aluminum that's a bit cheaper, but I'm a little skeptical of that. You don't need to spend a fortune. Look at something like Monoprice 12GA OFC.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

12 Guage AWG Audio Cord - it will be stranded wire. If your system supports it, I'd also put banana plugs on each end for the connections.

Banana plugs will not do anything for audio quality, but they are a great convenience when connecting the speaker cable to your receiver and speakers. Especially the receiver with its tightly spaced binding posts. I use banana plugs for all my speaker connections.

 

[BobO'Link]

Banana plugs will not do anything for audio quality, but they are a great convenience when connecting the speaker cable to your receiver and speakers. Especially the receiver with its tightly spaced binding posts. I use banana plugs for all my speaker connections.

Yes, I know. Like you, I use them for convenience. Not that I am constantly disconnecting/reconnecting the equipment, it's just easier to put banana plugs on the wires and plug them in instead of wrapping the wire around posts/screws and tightening the screws. If you do that you really should tin the wires with solder to help prevent them splaying when connectors/screws are tightened. It's usually easier to put banana plugs on the wires.

 

[door whore]

Thank you. I really like Mono Price for quality and value, they really came through with a 50' HDMI cable 12 years ago for my projector. 12 gage stranded it is.