Difference in speaker wire?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Sonoran Desert of Arizona
Difference in speaker wire?
I went to Home Depot to buy some 12ga speaker wire. Came home empty handed. They have 2 types, regular and premium. The premium is over twice the cost of the regular. Is it worth it? I dont want to spend $$ if I don't need to. Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: San Pedro CA
there is one major advantage to the pricier wire... it will hold up better over time. cheap wire will harden and rot over time.
I recommend going to your local audio store for wire... something about home depot scares me....
I recommend going to your local audio store for wire... something about home depot scares me....
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Frankenstein never scared me. Marsupials do, because they're fassst…and they DART, THAT'S crazy!
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
I usually pick up my 12 gauge speaker wire at Radio Shack. Good quality and only 99 cents a foot isn't too bad.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Fort Knox
Originally Posted by _Nomad_
I usually pick up my 12 gauge speaker wire at Radio Shack. Good quality and only 99 cents a foot isn't too bad.
Radshak also sells ungodly large 12 guage speaker wire, thats is pretty much a monster cable knock off - which is great. I never understood paying all that cash for the name brand stuff like Monster. Still conducts electricty the same, and its not like you are going to put a lot of amperage thru them. Its all just OFC (oxygen free copper) wire. But really, for the door speakers, 22 guage is fine. Radshak is about par with Home Depot, Lowes, and walmart on the price of wire. You're local audio show will more than likely bend you over for their wire, unless you are purchasing something else.
Its all just marketing...
snoopdan
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Sacramento CA
22 is plenty for head unit power, I agree.
Personally, I like 16 gauge. Cheaper, Still easy to run, and gives a little room if you want to go up to about 200watts a side. Also easier to push into connectors. I used to run 14, though. (Stinger) but got tired of mashing the cables into the crossovers.
I run 12 gauge to my sub (1000watts, 2 foot run.)
Personally, I like 16 gauge. Cheaper, Still easy to run, and gives a little room if you want to go up to about 200watts a side. Also easier to push into connectors. I used to run 14, though. (Stinger) but got tired of mashing the cables into the crossovers.
I run 12 gauge to my sub (1000watts, 2 foot run.)
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,136
Likes: 2,983
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Originally Posted by snoopdan
Radshak also sells ungodly large 12 guage speaker wire, thats is pretty much a monster cable knock off - which is great. I never understood paying all that cash for the name brand stuff like Monster. Still conducts electricty the same, and its not like you are going to put a lot of amperage thru them. Its all just OFC (oxygen free copper) wire. But really, for the door speakers, 22 guage is fine. Radshak is about par with Home Depot, Lowes, and walmart on the price of wire. You're local audio show will more than likely bend you over for their wire, unless you are purchasing something else.
Its all just marketing...
snoopdan
The local stereo shops will rape you if you buy wire from them, and they don't even kiss you afterwords. I get my 0-guage and accessories from knukonceptz, they have always treated me well.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,664
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From: Sonoran Desert of Arizona
The 14 ga. premium wire at the Depot is $.59 per foot, the standard grade is $.29 per foot.
Both appear to have the same insulation jacket. the premium looks like more and finer strands of wire in the conductor.
I am going to use this wire between the amp and the speakers, no sub.
Amp is a Pioneer 4 channel, 4x50rms. (used, $80 local pawn shop)
Speakers are Infinity reference 9603i in the rear and
6002i in the doors. (new, $80 on ebay)
Head unit is a Pioneer DEH-P77DH (new $215 on ebay)
Connecting the headunit to the amp with Monster cable 4 channel coax cable.(new, $15 on ebay)
$390 spent for this set up without the power feed wire or speaker wire.
Wanted to keep under $400 so its going to be close,lol. (gotta love ebay)
Original post I put 12ga, woops, that should have been 14ga.
Both appear to have the same insulation jacket. the premium looks like more and finer strands of wire in the conductor.
I am going to use this wire between the amp and the speakers, no sub.
Amp is a Pioneer 4 channel, 4x50rms. (used, $80 local pawn shop)
Speakers are Infinity reference 9603i in the rear and
6002i in the doors. (new, $80 on ebay)
Head unit is a Pioneer DEH-P77DH (new $215 on ebay)
Connecting the headunit to the amp with Monster cable 4 channel coax cable.(new, $15 on ebay)
$390 spent for this set up without the power feed wire or speaker wire.
Wanted to keep under $400 so its going to be close,lol. (gotta love ebay)
Original post I put 12ga, woops, that should have been 14ga.
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,961
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From: Fort Knox
Originally Posted by OzzyC4
Head unit is a Pioneer DEH-P77DH (new $215 on ebay)
Connecting the headunit to the amp with Monster cable 4 channel coax cable.(new, $15 on ebay).
Connecting the headunit to the amp with Monster cable 4 channel coax cable.(new, $15 on ebay).
Coax cable?!??
I know what you meant. I had a friend that, for years he called RCA cables coax cables...drove me up a wall. Good choice on the head unit, fits nice, and although I hate Pioneer in general, it IS a good product. I think the controls are much better than Alpine. And ive had a ton of Alpine head units.
snoopdan