Can surround sound speakers be connected using existing telephone wire?

Question

House is pre-wired, but the place where we have home theater system is not. There is a coaxial cable, and a telephone wire with 3 of the twisted pairs unused. Can I use the telephone wire to connect the rear surround sound speakers?

Answer 1

Telephone wire should work, but not very well. If you're putting in a decent home theater then spend a couple extra bucks on good audio wire.

A high-end speaker wire is about the cheapest component in a home theater, and it does have a tremendous impact on the sound quality. Why on earth would you try to skimp on this?

Answer 2

Yes,the wire size of phone lines vary from 18-22 gauge AWG depending on the length and manufacturer. The line watt loss would be minimal to the ear but measurable with electronic equipment but, you really couldn't tell a difference. Be sure to keep the polarity of the wiring consist ant with the system speakers. Use one type of the wire as ground and you could connect all the grounds together in the system, the only variable would be the channel wire which would be one of the pairs.

Answer 3

The answer is Yes, but if your investing in a nice surrond system, put in the correct wire. The better the wire the less resistance which will give you the best sound. If you want to try it yourself. hook up the telephone wire on one side, connect some good speaker wire to the other and see for yourself....

Answer 4

It will work, just not *well*
If you're going to the effort of setting up a home theater system, use high quality audio wire and conceal it. You local audio specialy place should have some good ideas in appealing wire concealment.
You WILL hear the difference.

Answer 5

Only if you can determine for sure that those wires don't come from the telephone lines. If you can find both ends of them and check the continuity to be sure then they should carry the signial without any problem.

Answer 6

You say 3 pairs are unused, .. I would use 1 pair each twist these together.. use color coded for easier I.D. That would carry enough of the signal for adequate Speaker quality

Answer 7

i wouldnt as the gauge is to small and will 1 cause heat and 2 cause signal loss from the resistance of the wire.

Answer 8

I dont see why not - depends on the type of metal the existing wire are made from.

Answer 9

Two things, gauge is too small you'll lose impedence, second you'll pick up phone interference on the stereo or speaker output in the phone. Go buy zip cord.