31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Ok for some applications, but not really well designed, February 22, 2007
This review is from: SuperFlat Mini Navajo White Easy-to-Hide Speaker Cable - 50 ft. pc. with 4 prs. pins (Electronics)
This cable really isn't that flat - it's about 2 to 2.5 mm (1/10th inch) thick, and 14mm (0.55 in) wide. (The thickness dimension at the Monster site is wrong.) Not really enough thinner than regular wire, and not space-efficient (see below).
It may be best for running along baseboards, etc. It's a little too thick to run under most carpets, or to paint and have it actually disappear.
Monster doesn't like to tell you the gauge of cables, but these are 16 AWG. Which is just fine for up to about 40 feet, maybe more. Google speaker wire for some discussion on what size wire you need for a given distance from the receiver to the speaker.
The design could be improved, maybe that's why these are sharply discounted lots of places. As noted, they aren't at all Superflat. There's a chunk of plastic down the center that seems unnecessary - maybe it's there to provide a place to attach (nail, screw, staple), but it's just taking up space that could have been used to make the wire flatter instead.
If you're willing to pay a lot more (about $1/foot) you can get truly flat speaker wire. But, since this cable is available for a fraction of list if you look around, it might suit your needs for a specific installation.
The color is an off-white, with a slightly yellowish tinge. Sort of a cream color.
But - and here's another design flaw - one wire is marked on one side with a silver line, with "Superflat Mini" and a bunch of other text every foot. It's much more than is needed to mark the polarity of the wire (to make sure you connect + to + and - to - on the speakers). So it means that only the unmarked side of the wire is really usable - a 90 flat turn on a surface flips the text out onto the exposed side of the wire - unless you plan to paint this.
The SFLM GP50 package includes 4 red/black pairs of straight termination pins, crimp to attach. They don't seem designed for this wider wire, though - they're really meant for standard round wire. There are also 4 clamps (to hold the wire to the wall) and 2 "corner trim" pieces (for making a 90 turn by folding over the wire and putting it into the trim). Not enough clamps for a whole run, if you use them, but might be handy.
File this under products that could be a lot better.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not very easy to work with..., May 31, 2009
This review is from: SuperFlat Mini Navajo White Easy-to-Hide Speaker Cable - 50 ft. pc. with 4 prs. pins (Electronics)
The idea is good, but not completely thought out. The broad flat insulation around the wires plays havoc with a normal wire stripper, and if you were actually going to use all of the wire, there isn't nearly enough wall achors included with it to do the job. Being flat, it is very awkward and difficult to make a flat 90 degree turn, and the wire twists like a garden hose between anchors, instead of laying flat against the wall as it is supposed to.
If you really want your speaker wire to not be seen, then it needs to be run up inside the wall into the attic and across and back down inside the other wall and wired to a speaker terminal. Otherwise, I think it's better to not pay so much, and just buy normal speaker wire that can be hidden along the baseboard under the carpet - or behind the floor wall trim, and alongside a door frame, etc.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not as expected, December 14, 2007
This review is from: SuperFlat Mini Navajo White Easy-to-Hide Speaker Cable - 50 ft. pc. with 4 prs. pins (Electronics)
It is flat, but large. Regular 16 gauge wire is less noticeable. I would up not even using it.
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