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Using solid copper Door Bell wire as speaker wire.

In the search for good speaker wire that doesn't break the bank, I came across a forum where one guy asserted that solid copper door bell wire would be the same as the solid copper wire that costs big bucks. The wire in question is 18 gauge. Can anyone out there confirm or rebut this assertion?

I've got Audio Research D-51 tube amp, Audible Illusions Modulus tube pre-amp, Rogers L2sa speakers, Oppo BDP95 CD and Project Expression III Classic turntable with Sumiko Pearl cartridge.
sprintz699

Showing 2 responses by mechans

mechans
3,048 posts
 
I don't think it was labeled specifically as "doorbell" wire, but I have used the thick solid copper "hook up" wire in braids and it worked very well.
I got some much more sophisticated speaker cables and abandoned my project, except for use as the jumpers on the speakers themselves. I think the wire is better than the brass ?? alloy the stock jumpers were made of. The speakers sound great.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
Still difficult to believe that different amps all sound the same if level matched. If that is true then we should all be using very inexpensive amps. You did find cables made a difference. I don't think that argues for the use of very inexpensive cables, however it wasn't clear that solid copper wire would be a bad idea.
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