![]() ![]() However, for longer speaker wire runs (to another room, for example), it is better to use a thicker, lower-gauge wire. Note For short speaker wire runs, a 18-gauge or 16-gauge wire is sufficient,depends on the impedance of the speakers. Very Long Speaker Runs High Power Subwoofers (2 or 4 ohms) with the short length Subwoofers Long Speaker Runs High Power Subwoofers (2 or 4 ohms) with the short length Subwoofers, 110-volt Air Conditioners, Kitchen Appliances with 20 amps Long Speaker Runs, High Power Subwoofers (2 or 4 ohms) with the short length, light fixtures, lamps, lighting circuits with 15 amps Longer Speaker runs, Moderate power Subwoofers (under 225) with the short length, light-duty extension cords supporting 13 amps Speaker Wire Gauge vs Recommended use Speaker Wire GaugeĬar and Homer Speakers, Low Voltage Lighting, and lamp cords in 10 amps ![]() If you have a wire that exceeds its recommended length, the audio signal and quality will degrade. Best Performance can be achieved by moving the amplifiers closer to the speakers.įor example, 18 gauge wire connected to an 8 Ohms speaker should not exceed more than 32 feet in length from amp/receiver to speaker. Note2: Avoid Speaker Cable runs more than 50 feet. We recommend using a gauge larger wire for CCA, especially for the longer runs. Note1: This chart is for stranded copper wire only. The table below shows gauge wire size and the maximum length that it can handle based on the impedance of the speakers. Once you measured the length of the wire, you should check the nominal impedance of your speakers. The rule of thumb for speaker wire is: The longer the run is from your audio amplifier to the speakers the lower the gauge is. If you are unsure which size cabling is appropriate for your run, it is always safe to use a thicker wire to ensure your speakers are operating at peak performance. If you are using 8-ohm speakers, 16 AWG wire is recommended for runs up to 48 feet and 10 or 12AWG wire for runs up to 200 feet. ![]() For 6-ohm speakers 16AWG wire is recommended for runs up to 36 feet and 10 or 12AWG wire for runs up to 150 feet. With 4-ohm speakers you can run up to 24 feet on 16AWG wire and for runs up to 100 feet, 10 or 12AWG wire is recommended. The rule of thumb for speaker wire length is: Buy at least a little bit more than your estimate. You can use this distance to determine the wire gauge necessary to get peak performance out of your speakers. This will give you very close to an exact distance and it works whether your speakers are indoors or outdoors. The easiest way to measure the distance of your cable run is to simply take a string from the source to your speakers. The length of the cable will also impact the gauge of wire you need to get an optimal performance out of your speaker. To get peak performance out of 4-ohm and 6-ohm speakers you’ll need more expensive 12AWG wire. 8-ohm and 16-ohm speakers will work perfectly fine with 16AWG wire. However, thicker speaker wire is also more expensive, so if you don’t have an audiophile’s ear it may not be necessary.įor an average listener, you may be able to get by with thinner wire depending on the impedance of your speakers. This means that a thicker wire will generally give a clearer signal to the speaker. So, what does the thickness of the cabling matter for speakers? To put it simply, the thicker the wire is, the easier electricity can flow through that wire. 12AWG is the thickest wire and 18AWG is the thinnest. Typical speaker wires come in 12AWG, 14AWG, 16AWG, or 18AWG options. The lower this number is, the thicker the wire is. Wire gauge refers to the thickness of the cable based on the American Wire Gauge (AWG) metric. Choosing The Right Speaker Wire Gaugeīefore we can discuss what gauge wire is appropriate for your speakers, you first need to understand what wire gauge even is. It is a lot of information to go through, but everything can be broken down into simple terms so you’ll know exactly which options are best for your circumstances. ![]() You need to consider the proper gauge that will deliver the best sound quality, how long of cabling you need, which type of cable you need, and what type of connectors are required by your speakers. Figuring out the best speaker wires can be a daunting task, especially for first time installers. ![]()
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