Home cinema - speaker cable and can we expand what we've got

[Lols]

Hi all,


Need some advice/help/suggestions on a new Dolby Atmos Cinema room we are building in our house.


Firstly, what speaker cable to instal?
We will be keeping the AV receiver in a media cupboard/room we have at the back, so will have potential cable runs of about 10meters to the front left/right/center/sub speakers, and then the in ceiling(atmos) and rear speakers with runs of about 6-4meters. We are hoping to use something like QED QX16/2 LSZH 2 Core Speaker Cable. Is this ok, or should we be looking at a lower gauge especially for the longer runs? From what I've read there seems to be split opinion on the value of more expensive cable so interesting to hear your thoughts!

And secondly, what speakers? And can we mix brands?
We are looking at setting up a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos, and we currently use a B&W mini theatre 5.1 set up (M1 and PV1), which we are happy with.
Do I purchase 2 more M1’s to make the 7 speakers all the same, and purchase B&W ceiling speakers, in the hope that being all the same brand it should integrate with each other better, and produce a better sound?
Or could I use 4 of my M1’s for the rear surrounds and add maybe Kef or Monitor front left/right/centre and ceiling speakers, or is this a bad idea to mix the brands up? (I’m not sure I can justify getting rid of/not using the B&W speakers at least for the rears).


Sorry for all the questions, but am at a bit of a loss of what is the best way forward for this, so any thoughts and advice would be really great.


Thanks

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My thoughts are a little different and firmly based on quality>quantity. A well setup 5.1 system will be far better than a system with 14 speakers all over the ceiling and walls.

I run 5.2 and don't see any reason to upgrade or add in extra speakers as the current system just works incredibly well, with the rears and subs completely hidden.

For speaker cable I use Sommer meridian (same as van damme). Good quality stuff, costs next to nothing and just works. Worrying about speaker cable should be the last thing on your mind, there won't be a difference so just install some decent OFC copper cable and get on with enjoying the system rather than chasing possible perceived differences.

Setup the system well and consider some room treatment, be it even a rug (if hard floors), thick curtains, plants/furniture to break up the room, or even some room treatment panels (can get them covered with art/prints etc.

[B17NNS]

2.5mm oxygen free copper is fine.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Van-Damme-268-525-060-B...

Most of what you hear will be left, right and centre - those need to match.

Do you have a diagram of your room? Size? Viewing position? What receiver are you planning on using? - 11 channels are spendy.

Depending on the room a good 5.1.2 might be better than a compromised 7.1.4. More information required.

[Lols]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. Hopefully the attached plans work, as requested.

I have measured the longest run from the media room and its about 15meters (with tails), for the front Right speaker. From what I've read, this is about the maximum length for standard 16 gauge speaker wire. Should we put 14 gauge wire for the front L/C/R channels to be on the safe side, and just do the 16 gauge for the ceilings and rears, or do you guys think the 16 gauge will be ok for everything? We are looking at QED QX16/2 2 core pink speaker cable (£87 for 100meters), or is the Van Damme worth more than 3 times more? Happy to pay more if its genuinely worth it. Any thoughts on the interconnect for the Subwoofer? This will be a long run too, which i know is not great. ive put two positions on the plans incase i can only get a 10 meter cable.

With regards to the speakers, I think we've decided on getting some B&W 600 series for the front L/C/R, and use our owned B&W M1's for the rear surrounds. Then just get some B&W ceiling speakers. Thoughts on this?

[B17NNS]

Definitely space for a 7.1.4. Makes sense to use what you have for the rears.

These guys seem to know what they're talking about re wire gauges...

https://www.audioholics.com/audio-video-cables/spe...

General consensus from the pros on here is 2.5mm OFC copper is fine for most things. At 15m maybe go with 4mm.

[Lols]

So are you able to use two different gauge speaker cable from the AV/receiver, or should i just use the same gauge for all of them?

[B17NNS]

Lols said:

So are you able to use two different gauge speaker cable from the AV/receiver, or should i just use the same gauge for all of them?

You can use different gauges if you like. It might be cheaper to buy a single big reel of a particular gauge.

Your situation is opposite to most. The receiver is usually close to the fronts. The fronts are what is important. That is where most of the sound will come from.

Looking at the B&W 600's they are 8 Ohm so going off that guide 12AWG should be more than enough at 15m.

12AWG is 2.05mm so 2.5mm should do you for all of it.