what gauge wire fits into Altec A7 speaker clips?

Rensselaer

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Mar 23, 2021
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Hi all,

I bought my Altec A7's used. They came with a newly rebuilt crossover, wired with thick stranded wire that I couldn't get into the small holes of the speaker clips. I ended up stripping about 1/2" of insulation back, then using a knife cutting off >1/2 of the copper strands, twisting the remainder into a smaller diameter bit and inserting most of it into the small holes, per wire.

I am wondering if using solid wire from crossover to speaker would harm the sound in any truly audible way, and if not what gauge wire I should use (that will fit into these clips)? I wrote an email to Great Plains Audio, but they didn't respond. Any Altec A7 owners out there? What do you use?

All advice greatly appreciated.
 

Robh3606

Well-Known Member
Aug 24, 2010
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Destiny
Hi all,

I bought my Altec A7's used. They came with a newly rebuilt crossover, wired with thick stranded wire that I couldn't get into the small holes of the speaker clips. I ended up stripping about 1/2" of insulation back, then using a knife cutting off >1/2 of the copper strands, twisting the remainder into a smaller diameter bit and inserting most of it into the small holes, per wire.

I am wondering if using solid wire from crossover to speaker would harm the sound in any truly audible way, and if not what gauge wire I should use (that will fit into these clips)? I wrote an email to Great Plains Audio, but they didn't respond. Any Altec A7 owners out there? What do you use?

All advice greatly appreciated.

Can you solder?? Instead of cutting strands you could pig tail it with a gage that fits. You could also crimp on pins that fit into the speaker clips.

Rob :)
 

ddk

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2013
6,261
4,040
995
Utah
Hi all,

I bought my Altec A7's used. They came with a newly rebuilt crossover, wired with thick stranded wire that I couldn't get into the small holes of the speaker clips. I ended up stripping about 1/2" of insulation back, then using a knife cutting off >1/2 of the copper strands, twisting the remainder into a smaller diameter bit and inserting most of it into the small holes, per wire.

I am wondering if using solid wire from crossover to speaker would harm the sound in any truly audible way, and if not what gauge wire I should use (that will fit into these clips)? I wrote an email to Great Plains Audio, but they didn't respond. Any Altec A7 owners out there? What do you use?

All advice greatly appreciated.
I don’t know how much your A7’s been modified but originally they came with 16 or 18 gauge tinned copper wires. Thicker wires while impressive in upper bass tend to flatten and homogenize the sound robbing the speakers of nuance and life. You might want to get a pair of original crossovers and try them out at least to know what yours are doing. Using heavy gauge wire to rebuild the crossovers isn’t a good sign.

david
 

Rensselaer

VIP/Donor
Mar 23, 2021
571
456
275
69
I don’t know how much your A7’s been modified but originally they came with 16 or 18 gauge tinned copper wires. Thicker wires while impressive in upper bass tend to flatten and homogenize the sound robbing the speakers of nuance and life. You might want to get a pair of original crossovers and try them out at least to know what yours are doing. Using heavy gauge wire to rebuild the crossovers isn’t a good sign.

david
Thanks David,

So,
1. solid copper in-speaker connecting wire has an obvious deleterious effect on sound?
2. original in-speaker hook up wire was 18 gauge, or 16 gauge (which?), stranded tinned copper, and fit into those small speaker clip holes?

is this correct?
 

ddk

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2013
6,261
4,040
995
Utah
Thanks David,

So,
1. solid copper in-speaker connecting wire has an obvious deleterious effect on sound?
Yes!
2. original in-speaker hook up wire was 18 gauge, or 16 gauge (which?), stranded tinned copper, and fit into those small speaker clip holes?

is this correct?
You can use 16 or 18 depending on what can find that you’ll like, both will fit.
david
 

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