[Amazon.ca] Monoprice Access Series 12 Gauge/ 50ft Speaker Wire/Cable - $ 20.86

Feb 18th, 2021 11:01 am

#1

2Riskit [OP]: Deal Addict; Jan 12, 2014; 3336 posts; 6087 upvotes; Laval

Feb 18th, 2021 11:01 am

[Amazon.ca] Monoprice Access Series 12 Gauge/ 50ft Speaker Wire/Cable - $ 20.86

Deal Link:: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B003L170C6
Price:: $ 20.86
Retailer:: Amazon.ca

Monoprice Access Series 12 Gauge AWG CL2 Rated 2 Conductor Speaker Wire/Cable - 50ft Fire Safety in Wall Rated, Jacketed in White PVC Material 99.9% Oxygen-Free Pure Bare Copper $ 20.86

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B003L170C6

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Feb 18th, 2021 11:31 am

#2

U4IA: Deal Addict; Jan 10, 2004; 4012 posts; 1316 upvotes; Edmonton

Feb 18th, 2021 11:31 am

Good price for 12 GA wire. Might be too big depending on your application. I had bough the amazon basics 14 gauge and was a tough install for the ceiling speakers we were using. The spring clips just weren't big enough.

This is the limit for most banana plugs as well.

+1

Feb 18th, 2021 11:55 am

#3

S0Lguy: Newbie; Nov 19, 2020; 3 posts; 1 upvote

Feb 18th, 2021 11:55 am

12 Awg speaker wire is very large for most applications. Unless you've got a slammin' setup you probably only need 16 or 14 awg at most.

+1

Feb 18th, 2021 12:00 pm

#4

BinaryJay: Deal Expert; Oct 19, 2003; 19541 posts; 6823 upvotes; Toronto (Bloor West …

Feb 18th, 2021 12:00 pm

Paid around $35 for 100" of 14 gauge version of this a while ago, the cable jackets even on 14 are really fat. You'd have to have an extremely long run for it to make even the slightest difference.

Feb 18th, 2021 12:17 pm

#5

fudge_u: Deal Guru; Jun 29, 2004; 11542 posts; 8377 upvotes; Oil Country

Feb 18th, 2021 12:17 pm

S0Lguy wrote: ↑ 12 Awg speaker wire is very large for most applications. Unless you've got a slammin' setup you probably only need 16 or 14 awg at most.

Agreed, but if you can get 12 gauge at that price, then why not?

I paid $23.50 for this stuff a month back because I wanted pure copper.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0076S5GYE/

"Retail is for suckers."
- the K-Man

Feb 18th, 2021 12:23 pm

#6

Daijoubu: Deal Fanatic; Dec 11, 2004; 9989 posts; 2634 upvotes; Montreal, QC

Feb 18th, 2021 12:23 pm

fudge_u wrote: ↑ Agreed, but if you can get 12 gauge at that price, then why not?

I paid $23.50 for this stuff a month back because I wanted pure copper.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0076S5GYE/

Why not, for the reason listed above lol

Too big to fit in spring clips and potentially (very?) tight fit in banana plugs depending on types, hard to work with, need to drill larger holes in wall, not as malleable/harder to bend lol.
It's going to be so bulky behind the AC receivers with that THICC of cables hah

Last edited by Daijoubu on Feb 18th, 2021 2:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

+8

Feb 18th, 2021 12:27 pm

#7

koontzy: Deal Addict; Dec 16, 2011; 2659 posts; 1029 upvotes; QC, Canada

Feb 18th, 2021 12:27 pm

Any downside using this for current? Need fews feets for 10-15-15 amps for a small diy project

Feb 18th, 2021 12:29 pm

#8

BinaryJay: Deal Expert; Oct 19, 2003; 19541 posts; 6823 upvotes; Toronto (Bloor West …

Feb 18th, 2021 12:29 pm

koontzy wrote: ↑ Any downside using this for current? Need fews feets for 10-15-15 amps for a small diy project

15 amps you should just be using Romex no? The gauge of this speaker wire is probably fine but I don't think the jackets on it are made expecting it to actually heat up any.

Last edited by BinaryJay on Feb 18th, 2021 12:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

+2

Feb 18th, 2021 12:30 pm

#9

fudge_u: Deal Guru; Jun 29, 2004; 11542 posts; 8377 upvotes; Oil Country

Feb 18th, 2021 12:30 pm

Daijoubu wrote: ↑ Why not, for the reason listed above lol

Too big to fit in spring clips and (very) tight fit in banana plugs, hard to work with, need to drill larger holes in wall, not as malleable/harder to bend lol.
It's going to be so bulky behind the AC receivers with that THICC of cables hah

lol.... good point about the banana plugs. Didn't realize it was an in-wall cable. My bad.

"Retail is for suckers."
- the K-Man

Feb 18th, 2021 12:31 pm

#10

karlb: Deal Addict; Apr 30, 2009; 1898 posts; 2361 upvotes; GTA

Feb 18th, 2021 12:31 pm

koontzy wrote: ↑ Any downside using this for current? Need fews feets for 10-15-15 amps for a small diy project

It's speaker wire. The insulation is not rated for AC power.
If you're using this for low voltage, then sure. If you're using this for 110V/220V, then no.

I'd try to call my local home depot or hardware store and ask if I can pickup X metres of wire. Then you can something suitable for your application.

+4

Feb 18th, 2021 12:39 pm

#11

koontzy: Deal Addict; Dec 16, 2011; 2659 posts; 1029 upvotes; QC, Canada

Feb 18th, 2021 12:39 pm

Actually I want something a bit flexible for 12V DC
I was planning on using 14-16-18 but for this price, why not

+1

Feb 18th, 2021 12:45 pm

#12

bishop613: Jr. Member; Apr 16, 2014; 139 posts; 176 upvotes; Ottawa, ON

Feb 18th, 2021 12:45 pm

Daijoubu wrote: ↑ Why not, for the reason listed above lol

Too big to fit in spring clips and (very) tight fit in banana plugs, hard to work with, need to drill larger holes in wall, not as malleable/harder to bend lol.
It's going to be so bulky behind the AC receivers with that THICC of cables hah

Interesting. I bought some other 12AWG monoprice speaker wire a while back. Fit with these fine. https://www.amazon.ca/Banana-FosPower-P ... 06Y8YL2DM/

+1

Feb 18th, 2021 12:50 pm

#13

BootstrapX: Newbie; Sep 17, 2013; 23 posts; 6 upvotes; OTTAWA

Feb 18th, 2021 12:50 pm

Just for comparison, the Princessauto sells 50ft 18 gauge for $10 in surplus. https://www.princessauto.com/en/50-ft-1 ... 0008767543 A few weeks ago the same wire was less than $8 .... I know because I bought one.

Feb 18th, 2021 1:00 pm

#14

fudge_u: Deal Guru; Jun 29, 2004; 11542 posts; 8377 upvotes; Oil Country

Feb 18th, 2021 1:00 pm

BootstrapX wrote: ↑ Just for comparison, the Princessauto sells 50ft 18 gauge for $10 in surplus. https://www.princessauto.com/en/50-ft-1 ... 0008767543 A few weeks ago the same wire was less than $8 .... I know because I bought one.

I think 16 gauge is recommended for short runs, and either 12 or 14 for longer runs.

"Retail is for suckers."
- the K-Man

Feb 18th, 2021 1:37 pm

#15

calvados.boualrd: Member; Sep 22, 2010; 495 posts; 489 upvotes; Victoria

Feb 18th, 2021 1:37 pm

bishop613 wrote: ↑ Interesting. I bought some other 12AWG monoprice speaker wire a while back. Fit with these fine. https://www.amazon.ca/Banana-FosPower-P ... 06Y8YL2DM/

I did the exact same thing. 12AWG Monoprice with these same FosPower connectors worked great. Easy, yet secure fit between the two.

+2

Feb 18th, 2021 1:55 pm

#16

Daijoubu: Deal Fanatic; Dec 11, 2004; 9989 posts; 2634 upvotes; Montreal, QC

Feb 18th, 2021 1:55 pm

Nice, I suppose it depends on the banana plug types

Feb 18th, 2021 2:03 pm

#17

BootstrapX: Newbie; Sep 17, 2013; 23 posts; 6 upvotes; OTTAWA

Feb 18th, 2021 2:03 pm

How long your runs in 2021 are going to be? This is not 1985 when the sound system of the entire house was wired from a single amp in the basement.

Feb 18th, 2021 2:10 pm

#18

warpdrive: Deal Guru; Mar 6, 2003; 14785 posts; 6030 upvotes; Ottawa

Feb 18th, 2021 2:10 pm

BootstrapX wrote: ↑ How long your runs in 2021 are going to be? This is not 1985 when the sound system of the entire house was wired from a single amp in the basement.

I could still see myself running some in-ceiling speakers powered by a Sonos Amp for a truly invisible look, but mostly people will be served with a bunch of smart speakers scattered around the house

The only exception is home theater, you still need to run front to back and into the ceiling for Atmos system. Still need a lot of cabling in that case.

RFD is not just about saving money, it's about the thrill of the hunt and getting the stuff I want without paying full price like Joe Shmoe did.
This applies to everyday items as well as high end items that I don't really need.

Feb 18th, 2021 2:27 pm

#19

Daijoubu: Deal Fanatic; Dec 11, 2004; 9989 posts; 2634 upvotes; Montreal, QC

Feb 18th, 2021 2:27 pm

14AWG copper is good up to 48ft max into 8ohm load with 3% max cable loss, maybe if you have a HUGE HT

Feb 18th, 2021 2:35 pm

#20

BootstrapX: Newbie; Sep 17, 2013; 23 posts; 6 upvotes; OTTAWA

Feb 18th, 2021 2:35 pm

warpdrive wrote: ↑ I could still see myself running some in-ceiling speakers powered by a Sonos Amp for a truly invisible look, but mostly people will be served with a bunch of smart speakers scattered around the house

The only exception is home theater, you still need to run front to back and into the ceiling for Atmos system. Still need a lot of cabling in that case.

I don't mean to turn this thread into a religious war, but I think if you are going to use a few satellite speakers on the other side of the recreation room, the 18 gauge copper wire should be just fine. Especially taking into account double difference in the price. The RFD is all about the bang for the buck, right?