speaker cable sizing/ideas for Rotel/Paradigm

[jk@home]

For a while now I have been using my Rotel 1055 receiver as a HT pre/processor for my L/C/R channels, feeding seperate Aragon/Marantz power amps.

I have decided to "seperate" my system. Will be using the Aragon to drive some maggies for music, and use the Rotel receiver to drive an all Pardigm HT system. Now have Studio 20v3s, will get the matching center/sides later.

So I have a 45' cable run between the Rotel and the L/C/R speakers, which will be partially in-wall/ceiling. Do ya think I will be ok with 12 gauge or should I go higher with a 14/4-wire (11 gauge) or 12/4-wire (9 gauge)? Thinking of something like Kimbers KWIK12s or similar CL rated cables.

Thanks, John

[soundhound]

For a 45' run #12 should be fine, you should'nt have any loss. Also do some of these manufacturers get silly with their wire ratings? I interpet 14/4 as 14 guage, 4 conductor, and the 12/4 respectively as set by the AWG.

[jk@home]

Actually I was referring to taking a 4 conductor wire and wiring it "star quad", to end up with two conductors per speaker terminal. see link:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_10_2/ultralink-CL414-cable-5-2003.html

Although I haven't see the Kimber stuff in person, I understand they are basically doing the same thing. Two large and two small conductors, wiring one large and small together to equal 12 gauge. I am assuming for the same reasons that are referred to in the above article.

[Jeff]

I'd go with the 9 guage. Once those wires are in the wall you won't want to change them. You'll then not have any second guessing.

My 2 cents.

[jk@home]

Agree. Think I will try the Liberty stuff, they have a 12-4 conductor that would equal 9 gauge wired as above.

It amazes me that all these In-wall 4 conductor "specialty" wires come with black/red/white/green conductor cable colors. In other words it's basically 120/240-volt power cord, with fancy packaging on the outside! Liberty is suppose to be an OEM supplier, so that does makes me feel a little better.