Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio Speaker wire, how much do I need?

So I'm going to run new wire from my amp in a rack under the parcel shelf in the trunk to all four door locations.

How much (length) should I buy. I don't want to run out during the install, and I don't really want to have too much left over either.

Here's my estimate
Rear Passenger Door - 8ft
Rear Drivers Door - 12ft
Front Passenger Door - 14ft
Front Drivers Door - 20ft , will run up passenger side sill then behind dash, to avoid the power wire on the drivers side sill.

Total = 54 ft.

Does that seem reasonable?

How much did you use for a similar install?

CM.

I think good idea is to use same length for all your doors.

And this is what you did for your install?

Why?

CM.

Yes it's what i got in my install. I a wires whore - i running THX certified interconnects. For the time you spend putting wire - cost of wire is small so better do it right (my opinion)

I just can't understand why the length of wire to each speaker has to be the same? It makes no sense at all to have 20 ft of wire run to the rear door, hidden under the carpet and what not, just cause 20 ft of wire is run to the front door.

Sure it makes sense to overestimate the length by 10-15% so you don't run out, I agree with you there the cost isn't that bad. But then again I don't want to have 30ft left over either. Why pay $25-30 for something you're not going to use.

CM.

Same length of wire is theoretically better for sound quality. I don't know if it's true or not - i just folow it.

True the same length is important, so that the signal timing is accurate for all speakers. Otherwise you might hear an echo effect if the lengths are not even. So if you want to do it right equal lenths of the front two channels and equal length of the rear two channels.

Equal length = Equal resistance.

Can you hear the difference? I would guess the answer would be a solid "not a chance in hell"

No kidding Dave. The difference in timing between electrons traveling 10ft and 20ft is so small its almost unmeasureable. I don't think Miliseconds are even close to being the right unit of measure for this.

So seriously...can anyone give me a figure for how much speaker wire they used for a similar install?

CM.

If you really wanted to do it right you'd putin some kind of processor with a rear channel time delay and mabry one for the front. I did and can use time alingment to mave the sound stage. Much easier than getting 20 ft of wire bundeled up to run rear speakers IMO.