Sonance M Series Selecting the Proper Speaker Wire, Surround Speakers 7.1-ChannelSystem

SONANCE MERLOT® M

Surround Speakers (7.1-Channel System)
• Left & Right Surround Speakers: Place the left					Right Surround
and right surround speakers directly to the sides
of the listening position, at least 5 feet from the		Right
floor.		Front							Right
• Surround Back Speakers: Place the surround									Back
								Surround
back speakers in the rear wall,	between 3 feet
and 6 feet apart and at least 5 feet from the		Center
floor.									Left
Use Figure 5 as a guide.
									Back
Selecting the Proper Speaker Wire		Left						Surround
		Front
For the best sound we recommend that you use					Left Surround
premium Sonance MediaLinQ® speaker cable,
which also complies with UL fire	rating codes.		Figure 5: Speaker Placement in a 7.1-Channel System
You may also experiment with audiophile brands of
speaker cable and interconnects, but be sure to
check local codes governing wire that may be installed
within walls or ceilings. Different brands of wire can have
			WIRE RESISTANCE IN OHMS VS. LENGTH OF CABLE RUN
different sonic characteristics, and some may be more
compatible with the sonic “signature” of your various			Distance in Feet	50'	100'	150'	200'	250'	300'
audio system components.
			20 gauge	1.04	2.07	3.11	4.14	5.18	6.22
For the best sound you should never use thin-gauge speaker
			18 gauge	.65	1.30	1.96	2.61	3.26	3.91
wire – it will constrict the sound and diminish bass
			16 gauge	.41	.82	1.22	1.63	2.04	2.45
response. Extra resistance in the speaker wire can make a
speaker sound less dynamic and reduce definition of the			14 gauge	.26	.52	.77	1.03	1.29	1.55
bass frequencies. In extreme cases, it can even attenuate
			12 gauge	.16	.32	.49	.65	.81	.97
high frequencies. Also, amplifier power is wasted in thin
wire with extra resistance, reducing your system’s			10 gauge	.10	.20	.31	.41	.51	.61
maximum output level. To prevent degrading sound
			Figure 6: Speaker Wire Resistance Table
quality, the total wire resistance should be less than 10%
of the speaker’s impedance. This means that for an 8-ohm

speaker, the total resistance of the wire should be less than 0.8 ohms. Refer to Figure 6 when selecting the proper wire gauge for your system.

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