Any recommendations internal speaker wire?

[kipduff]

My apologies- I am unable to search forums- keep getting message: "connection to 127.0.0.1:9312 failed (errno=111, msg=Connection refused)".

Looking for recommendations for wiring between Xovers and drivers. Need to run about 1.5 foot wiring between my GPA N604-8A Xovers and 604-8K LF and HF drivers. These Xovers currently have about 3' of apparently 14ga wires. My instinct at this point is for smaller gauge shorter wiring- I can run short because I am going to temporarily build open baffles with Xovers mounted near drivers. I'm using the JEL/Japanese 31.5" X 36.5" design for this quick build- building myself from 3/4" birch ply. I know open baffle is not an ideal set up, but I bought these speakers about 4 months ago and haven't been able to listen to them yet. Don't have time or space for proper enclosure at this point and curriosity is killing me. I know Jeff Markwart mentioned a version of "vampire" brand wire, but I think is no longer available. I am using a 300B tube amp with Audio Research Corp. speaker cables. Any consensus/things people are happy with?

Thanks. Kip.........

[Altec Best]

Search function is one of many things not working properly here at the moment.

[kipduff]

Search function is one of many things not working properly here at the moment.

Good to know that it's not just me!

[Elitopus1]

I use regular copper "lamp cord" 12 awg wire in and between all my speakers. I am very happy with it.

For some fancier wire, there is some mil-spec stuff that is cheap and also excellent sounding. M22759-11 is the spec. Its silver coated copper. A few users here will vouch for it.

I find that speaker wire it something you just have to try a bunch and choose which you like the best. Some people are very serious about it. There's many a speaker wire thread at Audiokarma that gets locked.

Btw, sounds like a cool project you have going. Post some pics when you get it all together.

[mah]

18 AWG is usually suitable for most domestic speaker crossovers. Go a gauge thicker for high power amps or if it makes you feel more comfortable. Thicker than 18 AWG may require more skill in soldering.

OT Crossover Wiring

[kipduff]

Btw, sounds like a cool project you have going. Post some pics when you get it all together. [/QUOTE]

I'll be happy to. Hope to have them completed soon.......

[kipduff]

I use regular copper "lamp cord" 12 awg wire in and between all my speakers. I am very happy with it.

For some fancier wire, there is some mil-spec stuff that is cheap and also excellent sounding. M22759-11 is the spec. Its silver coated copper. A few users here will vouch for it.

I find that speaker wire it something you just have to try a bunch and choose which you like the best. Some people are very serious about it. There's many a speaker wire thread at Audiokarma that gets locked.

Btw, sounds like a cool project you have going. Post some pics when you get it all together.

Elitopus:

Educated myself on this wire and discovered that it's available at Apex Jr. here in Los Angeles area. On my way home from work yesterday, I headed to Torrance and bought a small stock of 14, 16, and 18 AWG M22759/11 wire from Steve. Some of it may be MW16878/4 type E spec- Steve claims is equivalent. As far as trying different wires, since it's possible that they may need break in (?), not sure I have the patience for that (maybe after I retire and have more fee time!). Thanks!

[LowOhms]

My apologies- I am unable to search forums- keep getting message: "connection to 127.0.0.1:9312 failed (errno=111, msg=Connection refused)".

Looking for recommendations for wiring between Xovers and drivers. Need to run about 1.5 foot wiring between my GPA N604-8A Xovers and 604-8K LF and HF drivers. These Xovers currently have about 3' of apparently 14ga wires. My instinct at this point is for smaller gauge shorter wiring- I can run short because I am going to temporarily build open baffles with Xovers mounted near drivers. I'm using the JEL/Japanese 31.5" X 36.5" design for this quick build- building myself from 3/4" birch ply. I know open baffle is not an ideal set up, but I bought these speakers about 4 months ago and haven't been able to listen to them yet. Don't have time or space for proper enclosure at this point and curriosity is killing me. I know Jeff Markwart mentioned a version of "vampire" brand wire, but I think is no longer available. I am using a 300B tube amp with Audio Research Corp. speaker cables. Any consensus/things people are happy with?

Thanks. Kip.........

Hi Kip,

Here is what I find works best, crossover to drivers - and especially with lower powered tube amps:

From the Crossover to the high frequency compression drivers, use a 57 1/8th inch run of M22759/11 16 , ( 16 AWG, so you don't lose the highs ) one run for each polarity, do not twist the two wires.

For the crossover to the Woofer, use TWO runs of 12 AWG for EACH polarity. That would be m22759/11 12 and you can lightly twist the two wires in each polarity, but NOT the two polarities together. Again, use 57 1/8th inch length intervals.

I also find the ALTECs sound best when the press to fit connectors, stock on the drivers, are bypassed completely ( ie - not used ). I solder the 57 1/8th inch long 16 AWG m22759/11 16 directly to the tabs on the diaphragm ( did this just last night to a pair of 802Ds) . Place a clean rag OVER the diaphragm when soldering, to avoid splatters onto the diaphragm. I prefer Wonder Solder. In and out QUICK with a HOT gun.

On the woofer, I also prefer to bypass the crummy press-to-fit connectors, temporarily placing a rag over the backside of the cone when soldering, and solder the two 12 AWG Mil Spec wires DIRECTLY to the inner ALTEC stock terminal, that holds the lead-in wire to the voice coil. Loop each double 12 woofer wire, off the terminals and Double Tie Wrap each double 12 AWG run to the ALTEC woofer 's frame, to avoid TUG damage. Double 12 to each polarity equals about 9 AWG effective.

To my ears, under hard drive, direct soldering and the wiring, precisely as described, sounds nicer - more dynamic, is lower in distortion, than using a stock NON soldered press to-fit-connections and crummy wire. Really, IMHO, no comparison between the two methods, if you seek ultimate ALTEC performance.

Oh, from amp to speaker, I use two 57 1/8th inch lengths ( 114 1/4 inch runs ) of TRIPLE m22759/11 12 . I prefer to keep the two speaker wire polarities TOTALLY separate, no light twisting, they simply do not touch each other. Its very audible. If you have a long distance between amp and speakers, the low powered tube amp will under-perform with long speaker wires. In that case, use a long interconnect, and short speaker wire ( eg: a single 57 1/8th inch run - amp to speaker , DOUBLE 12 AWG ).... and have the amps placed right near the speaker.

For anyone who posts that what I propose ( and do !! ) is " unnecessary ", I can GUARANTEE you Kip, they haven't tried it nor heard it, nor will they have the mindset to follow this precisely as was described. I LOVE this wiring, biggest ( wiring ) performance bang for the buck !! No deviations. Wonder Solder. If you execute this, as described, PLEASE share with us all your listening experience and impressions. Have fun, I do.


Low Ohms..... Jeff Medwin

( 825s, 515Bs, 802Ds 400 pounds of mass loading per enclosure, DIY crossover, Type 46 or JJ 2A3-40 DIY Direct-Coupled single-ended tube amps )

PS: For people who may be unaware, 57 1/8 th inches, and multiples and divisors thereof, is a length developed by Audio Engineer Robert W. Fulton, in the 1970s, which he applied to all his wiring.

Fulton Musical Industries - Biography

[kipduff]

Hi Kip,

Here is what I find works best, crossover to drivers - and especially with lower powered tube amps:

From the Crossover to the high frequency compression drivers, use a 57 1/8th inch run of M22759/11 16 , ( 16 AWG, so you don't lose the highs ) one run for each polarity, do not twist the two wires.

For the crossover to the Woofer, use TWO runs of 12 AWG for EACH polarity. That would be m22759/11 12 and you can lightly twist the two wires in each polarity, but NOT the two polarities together. Again, use 57 1/8th inch length intervals.

I also find the ALTECs sound best when the press to fit connectors, stock on the drivers, are bypassed completely ( ie - not used ). I solder the 57 1/8th inch long 16 AWG m22759/11 16 directly to the tabs on the diaphragm ( did this just last night to a pair of 802Ds) . Place a clean rag OVER the diaphragm when soldering, to avoid splatters onto the diaphragm. I prefer Wonder Solder. In and out QUICK with a HOT gun.

On the woofer, I also prefer to bypass the crummy press-to-fit connectors, temporarily placing a rag over the backside of the cone when soldering, and solder the two 12 AWG Mil Spec wires DIRECTLY to the inner ALTEC stock terminal, that holds the lead-in wire to the voice coil. Loop each double 12 woofer wire, off the terminals and Double Tie Wrap each double 12 AWG run to the ALTEC woofer 's frame, to avoid TUG damage. Double 12 to each polarity equals about 9 AWG effective.

To my ears, under hard drive, direct soldering and the wiring, precisely as described, sounds nicer - more dynamic, is lower in distortion, than using a stock NON soldered press to-fit-connections and crummy wire. Really, IMHO, no comparison between the two methods, if you seek ultimate ALTEC performance.

Oh, from amp to speaker, I use two 57 1/8th inch lengths ( 114 1/4 inch runs ) of TRIPLE m22759/11 12 . I prefer to keep the two speaker wire polarities separate, no light twisting, they do not even touch each other. If you have a long distance between amp and speakers, the low powered tube amp will under-perform with long speaker wires. In that case, use a long interconnect, and short speaker wire ( eg: a single 57 1/8th inch run - amp to speaker , DOUBLE 12 AWG ).... and have the amps placed right near the speaker.

For anyone who posts that what I propose ( and do !! ) is " unnecessary ", I can GUARANTEE you Kip, they haven't tried it nor heard it, nor will they have the mindset to follow this precisely as was described. I LOVE this wiring, biggest ( wiring ) performance bang for the buck !! No deviations. Wonder Solder. If you execute this, as described, PLEASE share with us all your listening experience and impressions. Have fun, I do.


Low Ohms..... Jeff Medwin

( 825s, 515Bs, 802Ds 400 pounds of mass loading per enclosure, DIY crossover, Type 46 or JJ 2A3-40 DIY Direct-Coupled single-ended tube amps )

PS: For people who may be unaware, 57 1/8 th inches, and multiples and divisors thereof, is a length developed by Audio Engineer Robert W. Fulton, in the 1970s, which he applied to all his wiring.

Fulton Musical Industries - Biography

Jeff:

Though I have no technical background to back this up, at this point, I am staying with approx 16" (and less) runs of 16 and/or 18 AWG wire (possibly 14 on woof). My open baffle project here is probably going to be a temporary setup- who knows? However, I feel the info I've received on this thread is important enough for me to convert to PDF and store in my Altec/GPA folder on my computer so I won't have trouble finding it later. It will take me a while to digest this info! Thanks, Kip.............

[thenewold]

Hello. Another option is the new Duelund tinned copper wire. (16awg) I've used it internally in two separate pairs of speakers and as speaker wire runs from low watt tube amps. It's $9.99/meter currently at Partsconnexion. Worthy of a listen.

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