What size speaker wire?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 527
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From: Colchester VT
What size speaker wire?
What size speaker wire should I use from an amp with 60 watts rms and 200 watts rms to subwoffer. Also, has anyone used wires from knukonceptz.com and they any good?
Thanks for any help!
Thanks for any help!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,756
Likes: 5
From: Satellite Beach, FL, USA
Re: What size speaker wire? (98silverC5)
It really depends on how long you will run the cables and if any of the speakers are 2 ohms. In reality, you will have trouble hearing any difference between cable gages for short cables. Just don't use any krap that is shipped with the speakers.
For the 60wrms., 16-18 awg is fine. For the 200 wrms, go with 12-14 awg.
For the 60wrms., 16-18 awg is fine. For the 200 wrms, go with 12-14 awg.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 28,741
Likes: 41
From: Frankenstein never scared me. Marsupials do, because they're fassst…and they DART, THAT'S crazy!
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Re: What size speaker wire? (99HT)
It really depends on how long you will run the cables and if any of the speakers are 2 ohms. In reality, you will have trouble hearing any difference between cable gages for short cables. Just don't use any krap that is shipped with the speakers.
For the 60wrms., 16-18 awg is fine. For the 200 wrms, go with 12-14 awg.
For the 60wrms., 16-18 awg is fine. For the 200 wrms, go with 12-14 awg.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: What size speaker wire? (The^Nomad)
12 for the larger amp, 14-16 at the smallest for other applications. I have heard often the amount of loss from 18 gauge wire from a deck to rear speakers vs. 14 and even 16. 18 is dental floss. Personally if its bigger than a tweeter in my cars, it gets 14 or larger, 12 or larger if its over 8 feet away from the amp. You can't go to big, to small is easy. Use a known brand like monster or phoenix gold. Should be pretty cheap, like .20$ a foot for 12 gauge.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 28,741
Likes: 41
From: Frankenstein never scared me. Marsupials do, because they're fassst…and they DART, THAT'S crazy!
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Re: What size speaker wire? (92TripleBlack)
I have nothing smaller than 12-gauge speaker wire in my car, but thats just me. :D
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 7,726
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From: Joplin MO
Re: What size speaker wire? (The^Nomad)
I would agree with all of the gauging replies so far. If you want a great site to learn a tremendous amount about car audio go to Basic Car Audio Electronics. It is a very good site. :yesnod:
In regards to KnuKonceptz, I used iton my install and it all looked like very good quality cable to me. Why pay for the "Monster Cable" or "Phoenix Gold" name on a wire when it is hidden under carpet never to be seen again? :rolleyes:
In regards to KnuKonceptz, I used iton my install and it all looked like very good quality cable to me. Why pay for the "Monster Cable" or "Phoenix Gold" name on a wire when it is hidden under carpet never to be seen again? :rolleyes:
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: What size speaker wire? (mrkln)
I figure at 20-40 cents a foot depending on the gauge, coupled with good shielding, flexibility for getting around curves, and high strand count they are not that expensive at all. Less than $20 for the whole car? Its the power wire and RCAs that do the most damage to your budget. Look for the same properties in those wires as above. Not to say a cheaper no-name wire can't have these properties. I usually use these names so people know what type of wire I'm talking about, can find it easily, and can feel a piece to see what I'm talking about at most sterio shops.
