Speaker wire too big?

D

D.I.A.

New Member
I just got some new 12 gauge speaker wire to hook up my Marantz 2270 to Heresey IIs. The problem is that the wire is too big for the holes on my speakers and receiver. I'm wondering if it's ok to trim some of the copper wire so that it can fit or should I just get new speaker wire?
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Unless you can find some kind of adaptor that works (like banana plugs), I don't see any other solution. My B&W DM-12 are connected that way and sound great!
 
Get the biggest wire that will fit the recepticles, solder a female 1/4" phone jack onto the leads, and terminate your 12 ga wire with a 1/4" male phone plug (Switchcraft or some such equivalent). I use 12 ga speaker wire on my Klipschorns and they love it. This set up makes it easy to switch out wires to whatever's terminated to 1/4" male, and they're super sturdy.
 
12 gauge wire is good for 20amps! You seriously pumping 20A out of your amp?

As stated above, you can do things to make the wire fit, but also can just use a smaller diameter wire that will fit and it will sound the same.
 
michaelhigh said:
Get the biggest wire that will fit the recepticles, solder a female 1/4" phone jack onto the leads, and terminate your 12 ga wire with a 1/4" male phone plug (Switchcraft or some such equivalent). I use 12 ga speaker wire on my Klipschorns and they love it. This set up makes it easy to switch out wires to whatever's terminated to 1/4" male, and they're super sturdy.
Click to expand...

And make sure your Amplifier is OFF before switching anything if you do this!
 
Try these:

317BWVk7%2BuL.jpg
 
Just cut off some strands until it fits. The benefit of thicker wire is in the run, not the connection. No accessories needed.
 
They're monster cables. Some say they're awesome and others say they're just snake oil.

You don't really need to solder the wire. Cut some strands out and twist the remainder together and connect to your speakers.
 
Good wiring is like a firm "solid" breaking system.

river25 said:
12 gauge wire is good for 20amps! You seriously pumping 20A out of your amp?

As stated above, you can do things to make the wire fit, but also can just use a smaller diameter wire that will fit and it will sound the same.
Click to expand...

The 20 A rating only has value when run inside your walls and is used for AC power, as it is rated to not overheat and catch fire at that Amperage.

When used for audio work, the 12 gauge wire insures a minimum Voltage drop and maintains an amplifiers "damping factor" that controls cone movement, that is with low resistance wiring, when the amp. says "MOVE" the speakers move, when there is no signal when the amp. says "STOP", the cone motion stops.

Like a breaking system, any air in the lines makes for a "mushy" break pedal action and poor stopping power (like too small speaker wires), bleed out the air and the breaking system has a solid and firm response to the pedal (this is an example of low resistance speaker wiring, with the amp. having good "solid" control of speaker cone motion).

Mark T.
 
I'm facing this situation myself. My Tara Labs 12g has too many strands to go through my binding posts. I think I will trim a few off.

Now about tinning the ends. I used to do that, and then some else told me leaving them bare allows the strands to crush under the contacts, making a larger connection area. It also seems to act as a lock washer for the thumb screw (knob).

Tinning is convenient to putting the wire in, however. So I go back to tinning?

I guess it's my choice. Have I covered all the pros and cons?
 
Last edited:
12 gauge cable - Depends on the actual distance between the amp and the speakers, plus power you wish to push through the speaker wires.

Soldering - Tinning the cables makes it easier if you are swapping speakers about the place and don't want the strands to get all messy, but it's not mandatory.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom