Quick audio opinion needed

[pdq]

Is it better to have long runs of plain old speaker wire, or long runs of line-level shielded wire?

Without getting into details, I've got speakers a long way from a line-level source-

Given this limitation, is it better to place an amp close to the speakers (and connected to the line level source through shielded audio cable) or

place the amp close to the line level source, with long speaker wire runs.

(I'd rather run the audio cable, cause it's being snaked through conduit, and I think it would take somewhat less space than decent-gauge speaker wire)

[The Grim Ninja]

What type of source cabling?

If it's balanced 1/4" or XLR-esq signal, then longer runs should be fine. If you're running unbalanced (two conductor, audio + ground), then you run the risk of picking up a lot of interference.

What else is in the conduit? Long runs of unshielded line level audio going along next to AC power could be a LOT of interference.

What is the source of the audio? Any chance of going digital? (optical, coax)

How long is the run? Very long runs of speaker-level wires may degrade a good bit and call for higher gauge wiring.

[pdq]

>What else is in the conduit?

Nothing. It's just plastic conduit I ran when the house was built 15 years ago for this kind of purpose. But it might pass by some AC wiring in the wall.

>If it's balanced 1/4" or XLR-esq signal, then longer runs should be fine. If you're running unbalanced (two conductor, audio + ground), then you run the risk of picking up a lot of interference.

I was thinking the latter.

>How long is the run?

Probably 25-30 feet.

>What is the source of the audio? Any chance of going digital? (optical, coax)

Well, that'd be cool- I've got cat 5 running all over - but I'm not sure how to use that in this setting without spending megabux.

[Harbourmaster]

If your wire runs are under 50ft then 12AWG audio wire should be fine.

Note: you need to use wire that is certified for use inside of walls...

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023901&p_id=3844&seq=1&format=2

[anonymouse1]

Grim nailed it.

[Dick Moore]

Speaker wire is Class 2 low-voltage and needs no special insulation or ratings for use by itself or with other speaker wire in conduit of any type. Do not run with AC power lines.

For 50 feet, losses will be negligible with any modern audio power amplifier; I use 16 ga. for that length run at my place.

I would avoid 50' runs of line-level signals from unbalanced sources -- line-level outputs on typical consumer audio gear are driven from relatively high impedance sources, often over 1kOhm, potentially causing frequency response losses due to cable capacitance.

Ye Olde Farte Audio Engineer of the Internet (apologies to Donkey Hotay)

[deckeda]

[quote Dick Moore]
I would avoid 50' runs of line-level signals from unbalanced sources -- line-level outputs on typical consumer audio gear are driven from relatively high impedance sources, often over 1kOhm, potentially causing frequency response losses due to cable capacitance.
Ding! We finally have a winnah!