Can I use speaker wire for line level?

joe carrow · 29th April 2007, 08:05 PM

This seems like a silly, stupid question- and I didn't know how to narrow down a search for it since it uses such common terms.

My friend has a computer on one side of his room with a headphone style output, and a set of speakers about 25 feet away that he wants to send a signal to.

I've been looking for 25 foot extension cables, and other than Amazon it doesn't seems like anybody's really selling anything that long. I happen to have 75 feet of plain 2-conductor cable, 16 gage.

Question: Would there be any major problem if I just soldered some 3.5mm connectors on the ends of 25 or 30 feet of speaker wire?

I'm not looking for extreme fidelity or anything. Most of my searches for DIY interconnects have talked about air dielectrics, and sealing the metal against oxidation. That stuff's not especially helpful in this case, you know? We just want to play some MP3s in a dorm room that could have a better arrangement for sound without re-arranging it.

AndrewT · 29th April 2007, 08:09 PM

Hi,
I think he has a set of powered speakers that use line level for a signal.

The 2core will work but you need 2 sets for the two channels (stereo?)

You would be better trying to find a twisted pair (telephone cable) or better still screened twisted pair to go around the room. But still two sets.

Original Burnedfingers · 29th April 2007, 08:13 PM

Find a local sound contractor and get some shielded mic line and use that for your line level. You will need two pieces.

joe carrow · 29th April 2007, 08:18 PM

Nuts... you're right, I completely spaced and forgot that I would need three conductors. I'll just go to a few different stores on foot and see what anyone has.

Thanks for the help, guys.

richie00boy · 29th April 2007, 08:46 PM

Twin screened cable is common as muck, you should not have any need to try speaker cables. On that length of run speaker cable may pick up hum and/or noise/RF quite badly too.

peufeu · 29th April 2007, 09:58 PM

The cheapest source of audio coax (shielded) I found is the nearest supermarket which sells 10 meter RCA stereo cables for €3. I just cut the RCA plugs off. That's 20m cable for 3€.

29th April 2007, 08:05 PM	#1
joe carrow diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Francisco	Can I use speaker wire for line level? This seems like a silly, stupid question- and I didn't know how to narrow down a search for it since it uses such common terms. My friend has a computer on one side of his room with a headphone style output, and a set of speakers about 25 feet away that he wants to send a signal to. I've been looking for 25 foot extension cables, and other than Amazon it doesn't seems like anybody's really selling anything that long. I happen to have 75 feet of plain 2-conductor cable, 16 gage. Question: Would there be any major problem if I just soldered some 3.5mm connectors on the ends of 25 or 30 feet of speaker wire? I'm not looking for extreme fidelity or anything. Most of my searches for DIY interconnects have talked about air dielectrics, and sealing the metal against oxidation. That stuff's not especially helpful in this case, you know? We just want to play some MP3s in a dorm room that could have a better arrangement for sound without re-arranging it.

29th April 2007, 08:46 PM	#5
richie00boy Did it Himself diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gloucestershire, England, UK	Twin screened cable is common as muck, you should not have any need to try speaker cables. On that length of run speaker cable may pick up hum and/or noise/RF quite badly too. __________________ www.readresearch.co.uk my website for UK diy audio people - designs, PCBs, kits and more

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29th April 2007, 08:09 PM	#2
AndrewT diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scottish Borders	Hi, I think he has a set of powered speakers that use line level for a signal. The 2core will work but you need 2 sets for the two channels (stereo?) You would be better trying to find a twisted pair (telephone cable) or better still screened twisted pair to go around the room. But still two sets.

29th April 2007, 08:13 PM	#3
Original Burnedfingers diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002	Find a local sound contractor and get some shielded mic line and use that for your line level. You will need two pieces.

29th April 2007, 08:18 PM	#4
joe carrow diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Francisco	Nuts... you're right, I completely spaced and forgot that I would need three conductors. I'll just go to a few different stores on foot and see what anyone has. Thanks for the help, guys.

29th April 2007, 09:58 PM	#6
peufeu diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lyon, France	The cheapest source of audio coax (shielded) I found is the nearest supermarket which sells 10 meter RCA stereo cables for €3. I just cut the RCA plugs off. That's 20m cable for 3€.