Do speaker wires have to be the same length for each speaker?

A storm is coming oldhvymec.

ok another question, can I splice 12 ga. to say 14 ga. wire? I don't have a high end system, just don't want to spend $$ on a roll of wire if I can avoid it. Old Pioneer sx980 w/ klipsh forte ii, standard A/T turntable + cambridge CD player.

Sure..., and all of the wires inside of every piece of equipment must be the same length for both channels.

And, all "mirror image" parts in both channels must sit equidistant from the power supply.

The universe is at rest when they are but no.  

They must be the same length, or you will hear an echo.