Audio Systems: Speaker Cable, polk rti10, denon 987

Question
QUESTION: I have a Denon 987 I am considering purchasing Polk Rti10's and a Center Polk CSi5.  I wanted to by a set of quality speaker cables.  With the equipment that mentioned do you have any recommendation?  I notice that some have "connectors" and some don't.  As you may tell I am a novice at this. From the manuals the connection appears to be wrapped around the terminal.  Any information would be welcome
ANSWER: Do you want speaker cables that look nice or that cost alot of money or that sound the best?

In test after test after test with golden ear high fidelity experts it has never been proven there is any audible difference between good wire A and good wire B and not so good wire C.  In other words, if the wire has good low resistance it will be just fine.

So, now, you must give me an idea of how long you are going to run the speaker wires.  If less than 20 feet you can use 16 gauge zip wire from the local hardware store and it will be just fine.

If you are running over 20 feet, go up one size to 14 or 12 gauge.

Hope this helps.

C



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you, That does help.  For my Front and Center Speakers the distance is about 10 to 15 foot.  My rear speakers, when I decide what they are, will be over 30 foot, because they will be installed in the wall and ceiling. The cable has to be threaded up the wall across the attic and down the wall at the back.

Do they have to look nice?  My wife, who must be obeyed, says she doesn't want to see them!   I haven't told her about the Subwoofer yet. But that's another cable.
Thank you again


Answer
Those are not long runs.

I still recommend just plain old electrical zip cord.  It is cheap and if you are not a super hi-fi nut with golden ears you will not hear any degradation in sound quality.  A sub will soak up the most juice, so if you want to get fancy with big fat wire, that would be the one to treat to special wire.

Zip is easy to hide and get out of the way; you can push it under corner molding and fish it up through speaker walls easily.

Have fun; enjoy your new system.

c