Installation of Onkyo 805 with KEF KHT-3005 5.1 home theater

Wow, that's a great combination. I have setup the same one in our store before and it was awesome. I would recommend at least 16 AWG wire, if you have 14 or 11 that would be better but not necessary (if you choose monster that's up to you, non-monster wire in the larger gauges may be difficult to come across). In terms of installation, what do you mean? You just cut the speaker wire and hook it up.

On the Onkyo I would play with the equalizer for the speakers, pumping up whatever frequency is close to 100Hz by a few dB on the EQ (+2 maybe). If your speakers are not equal in distance to your listening position you can adjust the delays (speaker distance) and volume level of each speaker to your liking. I might also turn up the bass at the 63Hz level on the woofer (or whatever the lowest is on your Onkyo's EQ) if you care about bass. That dual-firing woofer setup is capable of way more than the manufacturer says.

I guess you could say that the best way to find out the best settings is to tweak it to your specific room/liking. If you are going to be using it for music find a reference song (one that you KNOW what it supposed to sound like) and adjust your speakers based on that. Personally, I use "Crazy on You by Heart" as one of my reference songs.

1. Yes, here is the 705 FAQ at AVS. Yes, it will look tremendously overwhelming. Simply sign up, then use the search function to find any specific thing. Pretty amazing what consumers do for their fellow man. Anyways, this is the most extensive FAQ I have ever seen. A lot of it, if not all, will apply to your 805

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=935808

2. Just get a gauge that is thick enough. Im sure the 14 g that jb recommends would be plenty fine. Im using 16 g (thinner) and Im not worried even though all runs are over 10 ft, and 6/7 speakers are 4 ohm minimal. (thickness desired is a function of MINIMAL impedance and speaker wire length). 14 should be plenty. 16 is probably plenty, unless you are going very long.

3. See #1.

Sorry to scare you! but its an excellent resource...

have cable specifically labeled as speaker wire (because of the type of braid.) It is absolutely fine without wasting any money.

Over my 45 years into hi-fi sound, until recently (in my self-indulgent older age) I just used "zip" cord which is simply light weight type extension cord wire.

Just to demonstrate that there will always be someone violate an extreme, my long time dealer told of a fairly self-reliant customer who bought all at once a $15,000 or so (& this was around 20 years ago) setup. He hadn't inquired about installation. He did return with a frown that he wasn't getting the kind of sound he anticipated at all. The dealer did care & did a house call. Turns out, the customer wanted to minimize bulky wire fishing so his expensive speakers were strung with bell wire. Yes, tiny bell wire. No wonder the range was muffled.

Yes, in my final iteration for music, with reference receiver pushing bi-amped B&W 804s, I splurged on dealer basic speaker cable & it truly must be over kill. Dealer sold speaker cable is always a fat profit margin item for them. Why the heck do you think big box salesmen are programmed to hard sell Monster Cable. Well, maybe 75% profit margin.

805 & KEF 3005 - nice rig. Have fun enjoying it.