What size do you use? I have a 5.1 system and I'm using 14ga for the center and front satelites. The wife doesn't want the speaker wire for the rear surround speakers to be seen and I can't stuff the 14ga wire in the little space between the carpet and fireplace brick. I can stuff 16ga though except that the run is about 27ft half way around the perrimiter of our family room. Is 16ga enough?

 

16 ga is plenty of wire.

 

if you have the budget: http://www.decorp.com/dewire.htm

if not, personally i dont think the rears need wires as thick as the fronts and center, so 16 would be ok

 

BTW, I know its 27 feet because I cut a 50-ft. roll in half and ran the wire only to come up 2 ft. short. I hate it when I get that look from her.

 

whoa, thats pretty interesting.

 

^^ Cool speaker wire!

 

Another benefit of ribbon cables is that with some systems it sounds much better as well, ribbon cables can go from low and to extreme high end and plenty of choices in between. Goertz is bit player in the entry level ribbon cable market, they may have something available that won't break the bank.

 

Here is a great read on speaker wire. Be sure to scroll up to the top of the page and read the whole thing. Roger Russel used to be an Engineer at McIntosh so he knows what he is talking about. His home page is here

 

Thanks doopstr. That is a great read on the topic. It confirmed my suspicions and also allied my fears about the 16ga wire. My speakers surround speakers are 6-ohm nominal so the 27-foot run will be no problem.