Advice on Speaker Wiring - Larger Advent w. McIntosh MA6500 Amplifier / Speaker Settings

Theoretically, the shorter, the better. And also most will tell you that 16 ga. is too light. Personally i doubt you'd hear any difference with changes,

I don't recall Advents having adjustments, but I guess my memory is faulty. Most likely a setting for tweeter level.

Not even taking into account inductive reactance, resistance will be substantial.  Gauge 16 is about 4mohm/ft making 0.8ohm per 2x100ft.   I would keep it as short as possible and use thicker wire.  Coiling unused cable would make no difference, but I would stay as short as possible.

With thicker wire you might get another problem - resistance change because of skin effect.  12 gauge copper wire has about 1/3 higher resistance  at 20kHz (0.4ohm/2x100ft) than at 20Hz (0.3ohm/2x100ft).  It might not be important, since most speakers are inductive at high frequencies - meaning their impedance gets way higher.

Wire on a roll is also called an inductor.

Just fold the extra back and forth under the floor if you don't want to cut it short.

Also, imo that is far too long a run for 16ga wire, and miles too long for the cheap zip chord you used.

Belden wire is very affordable from Bluejeans cables. I had zip chord running to surrounds in my HT that I replaced with Belden wire and heard an immediate difference even with cheap speakers and an AVR.

Yeah, I know ASR says it's fine, it's not...

@joshua43214 

"Also, imo that is far too long a run for 16ga wire, and miles too long for the cheap zip chord you used."  

Why?

From what I see on Amazon, Bluejeans cables have a max length of 50ft, not long enough.  

Wire on a roll is also called an inductor.

True, but cable in not a wire.  It consists of two wires producing opposite magnetic field (since they carry identical currents in opposite direction).  That's how non-inductive bifilar resistors are wound.  

@paulinastoria 

I don't know what you are referring to on Amazon.

https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

They buy it on huge rolls, it meets codes for in wall installation and can be run for very long runs.

Get it from the source, it is prolly cheaper and no reason to give a 3rd party your money.

@joshua43214 Thanks for the link to bluejeanscable.com

I see that they do cables for Home Theater and don't mention speaker wire for Hi Fi at all.  After all these Large Advent speakers were made in the 1970's and the McIntosh is also at least 20 years old, before the development of home theater.  

Curious to know if there is any difference between speaker wire for HiFi audio that is different than Home Theater?  I would imagine the size, build, etc.. of the speakers for Home Theater is very different than my vintage audio system, and may require more specialized cables as a result.

So I'm wondering if the cables at bluejeans aren't overkill and not necessary for my vintage system?

@paulinastoria Speaker wire is speaker wire. It hasn't changed.

If it sounds good, leave it alone. Like I said, you will likely not hear a difference.

If it makes you feel better, run 12 ga. 

Don't fall for the audiophile cable mumbo jumbo. 

Here is what the setting switch does!

Description: Two-way direct-radiator loudspeaker. Crossover frequency: 1kHz. Balance control: Tweeter switch selects flat, +3dB, or –3dB. Impedance: 8 ohms. Power capacity: 100W program.

the switch is for tweeter level...most corrode with time so maybe a good leaning...I do believe in audiophile cable mumbo jumbo, but not for 50 year old Advents...just enjoy...