Speaker Wire
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
Rule of thumb on speaker wire is, use as thick a wire as you want to spend. The fatter, the better. Serious audiophiles use wire so thick you'd think they were welding with it.
The factory speakers are rated at 10 ohms. If you use thin wire that has 1 or 2 ohms of resistance, you are losing 10 or 20% of amplifier power right off the bat.
The factory speakers are rated at 10 ohms. If you use thin wire that has 1 or 2 ohms of resistance, you are losing 10 or 20% of amplifier power right off the bat.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
The size is fine-but make sure what you have is the good stuff!!!
Make sure it's NOT "CCA" or Copper Coated Aluminum- It's just what is says it is- Copper Coated cheaper Aluminum-
It doesn't conduct as well as "OFC"- Oxygen Free Copper and it tends to break a LOT easier plus it oxidizes faster.
How to check-
Strip back the wire and scrape it w/ a knife- if its silver looking underneath- you don't want to use it.
This also goes for any other wiring in your car- not just the speakers!!!
Richard
Make sure it's NOT "CCA" or Copper Coated Aluminum- It's just what is says it is- Copper Coated cheaper Aluminum-
It doesn't conduct as well as "OFC"- Oxygen Free Copper and it tends to break a LOT easier plus it oxidizes faster.
How to check-
Strip back the wire and scrape it w/ a knife- if its silver looking underneath- you don't want to use it.
This also goes for any other wiring in your car- not just the speakers!!!
Richard
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
The size is fine-but make sure what you have is the good stuff!!!
Make sure it's NOT "CCA" or Copper Coated Aluminum- It's just what is says it is- Copper Coated cheaper Aluminum-
It doesn't conduct as well as "OFC"- Oxygen Free Copper and it tends to break a LOT easier plus it oxidizes faster.
How to check-
Strip back the wire and scrape it w/ a knife- if its silver looking underneath- you don't want to use it.
This also goes for any other wiring in your car- not just the speakers!!!
Richard
Make sure it's NOT "CCA" or Copper Coated Aluminum- It's just what is says it is- Copper Coated cheaper Aluminum-
It doesn't conduct as well as "OFC"- Oxygen Free Copper and it tends to break a LOT easier plus it oxidizes faster.
How to check-
Strip back the wire and scrape it w/ a knife- if its silver looking underneath- you don't want to use it.
This also goes for any other wiring in your car- not just the speakers!!!
Richard
But question, is there any place that CCA would be good?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
See the difference-
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
I noticed a lot of so called high end car audio wire is CCA...I guess trying to rip the unsavvy buyers as it's price is the same or more than good tinned copper marine wire.
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