Selecting the Correct Wire

The first step is knowing what type of wire to install for home theater A/V components you currently have and may need for future upgrades. A professionally pre-wired home theater should always be ready for upgrades. Having said that, it is virtually impossible to future proof your pre-wired room. However, you can make future upgrades much easier with proper planning. There are two types of pre-wire installations: new construction and retro fit custom installation (homes that are already built). Regardless of the installation type, the wire used and installation methods are similar. All wire that is to be installed in the wall should be rated for in wall installation and comply with the National Electrical Code (NEC). Speaker wire approved for in wall installation will typically be stamped with the designation UL approved CL2 or CL3.

In wall speaker wire is available in many gauges both shielded and un-shielded. For high performance home theater installations and longer runs you should consider 14 AWG or 12 AWG two conductor for each speaker in the system. Another alternative is to use 16 AWG-4 conductor (16-4) and double up the conductors making a pair; then, homes run the wire to each speaker. Many “audiophiles” scoff at the idea of doubling up conductors for a wire run but sonically I have never heard a difference between two conductor 12 AWG and 16-4 doubled up. The benefit of using 16-4 is that it is easier to pull and will provide you with a back up conductor in the unlikely event that one fails. Generally, I like to run shielded in-wall speaker wire; however, if you are meticulous in your installation shielded wire may not be necessary. Multi-room or zoned pre-wire installations don’t really need large conductor wire because they are normally used with volume controls (VC’s) at lower listening levels. The use of 16 AWG is fine for these types of installations up to about 50ft. Most often, purchasing in-wall speaker wire in bulk is the most cost effective. When you measure distances for speaker wire runs add about 30%-50% to your distance total or purchase a 250ft of 500ft spool. The additional wire is needed: I will explain why later in the article.

RG6 Quad shield (RG6-QS) coax is a multi-purpose wire. This wire can be used for subwoofer interconnects, component video cables, digital interconnects, analog interconnects, and satellite/cable distribution. The best way to purchase RG6-QS is on a 250ft or 500ft bulk spool. The wire is un-terminated and you must have the proper tools for correct high performance terminations.

RG6-QS can be terminated in a variety of ways. “F” and RCA style connections are the most popular for home theater applications.

    

Many novice installers may be intimidated by the process of terminating their own cables. If this is the case, many manufacturers offer quality pre-terminated cables. Impact Acoustics, www.impactacoustics.com, and Blue Jeans cable, www.bluejeanscable.com, sell high quality, affordable cables direct to the consumer.

Now and for the foreseeable future, High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is rapidly becoming the cable of choice for high end home theater installations. Many manufacturers are quickly adopting the HDMI connection and are producing receivers, DVD players, HDTV’s, and front projectors with this input connection. Care must be taken when purchasing HDMI cables; long runs can create problems. I have tested the 35ft Blue Jeans Series-2 HDMI cable and the 15 meter Impact Acoustics Sonicwave HDMI cable at resolutions of 720p and detected no signal degradation. Of course, there are many fine HDMI cable manufacturers. Gauge and shielding should be a high priority when selecting the cable. If it goes in the wall or in the ceiling it must meet NEC standards.

                   

      Impact Acoustics Sonicwave                                                Blue Jeans Cable Series-2

Category 5 (CAT-5) is often used in structured wiring, phone, computer multi-room control systems, and home automation systems. CAT-5 can also be used in home theater applications for remote control and as a trigger cable for operation of electric screens and other accessories. Cat-5 wire is generally generic and can be purchased in either shielded or unshielded 250ft and 500ft spools.

A Final Word about Wire Selection

There is much hype and marketing BS in the wire world. The simple fact is that the audio/ video wire market is big business with many boutique manufacturers competing for your hard earned cash. When you see that fancy package with slick marketing slogans you are essentially paying more for some thing that will end up in the recycle bin. Shielding, termination, flexibility, and construction are the most important traits to look for in a cable. Below you see two examples of analog interconnects. Can you tell me which one you think sounds better?

Impact Acoustics 6ft Sonicwave $43.99pr               Ultralink 2meter Ultra Mk II $200pr

It must be the one with the fancy braided cover and the slick logo with directional indicators, right? If you can hear a sonic difference between these two cables with moderately priced equipment, then make room in your closet for that superman outfit! Cables should not sound like anything; their job is to transmit signal from one source to another without coloring the sound. Try not to get caught up in hype! Then you can spend your home theater dollars on something of greater importance.