FAQ 10
Last updated 03/31/08
Do I have the right Speaker Wire for my system?
- The simple answer: Use no less than 16 gauge wire for an 8 ohm load up to a distance of 50 feet.
- Speaker wire causes confusion for several reasons:
- Wire is measured using the American Wire Gauge (AWG) table that
is opposite or counter intuitive to most other measuring systems. This means that the smaller numbers
mean larger diameter wire. Still confused?
- 0 gauge wire is nearly 1/2 inch (0.5") in diameter.
- 8 gauge wire is about 1/8 inch (0.125") in diameter.
- 14 gauge wire is about 1/16 inch (0.0625") in diameter.
- See where this is going?
- While larger diameter wire has less resistance to the
electrical current needed to drive a speaker and bigger could be
considered better, there are some who say that monstrous is mandatory.
You could easily get talked into paying more for the wire than the
speaker with no possible improvement in performance.
- Conductivity, In-wall, plenum, oxygen free, silver, multi
strand, ultra-flat, terminals, shielding, twisted pair, and
on it goes. Definitions:
- Conductivity - the single most important issue. Speaker
wire is needed to pass a low impedance high current signal from an
amplifier to a speaker and as long as the conductivity of the wire used
does not hinder this signal there can be no improvement to the
performance by getting anymore exotic (read expensive).
- In-Wall speaker wire - as the name suggests, is used
when hiding wire in the walls of the room or house. It differs
from regular speaker wire in that it is sheathed in an extra layer of
insulation to protect it from damage during installation.
- Plenum speaker wire - similar to In-Wall wire (defined above)
but the extra sheathing is heat rated so it can be run in HVAC
(Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) ducts.
- Oxygen Free wire - is a copper purification process that
actually helps the wires conductivity by removing traces of iron.
The difference is so small however, that it could only make a
difference at the very limits of the wires performance spectrum.
This means you are better off using a larger wire (lower gauge)
of a very long run than worrying about anything like oxygen free wire.
- Silver - is a better conductor and gold is even better, but
the costs associated with these metals just do not compare favorably
with copper for speaker wire.
- Multi strand wire - has many small separate strands of wire
twisted together instead of one single strand which is more flexible and
therefore easier to work with.
- Ultra flat wire - is used in some installations where it will be visible or is running beneath a carpet.
- Terminals - are used to make connections between components.
There are terminals on the receiver and on the speaker, the
question is are banana plugs or spade connectors needed? Adding
terminals to wire increases the wires resistance and is therefore less
conductive. The only benefit to terminals is for use with
uncommon component connectors or those that would be changed often.
Bare wire connected to either binding posts or snap terminals
will be more conductive than using banana plugs or other types of wire
terminals.
- Shielding - is not necessary for speaker wire because the
high current signal being passed is not subject to interference
from other electrical components. Shielding is critical for line
(low) level signals that pass between your DVD player and your
Receiver, for example, but, except in very extreme conditions, has no effect on
speaker wire.
- Twisted Pair - is a form of shielding not required, as stated
above, for speaker wire. There is some interesting science behind
twisted pair as it rejects interference using magnetic principles but,
again, because of the nature of the signal being carried is not
necessary for speaker wire.
- Bottom line:
- Use normal, inexpensive 16 gauge wire for normal exposed runs of less than 50 feet.
- Use In-Wall wire for runs inside a structure (attic, wall, rafter, floor joist, etc.).
- Use plenum wire for runs inside heating ducts.
- For runs longer than 50 feet or for lower impedance loads (4 or
6 ohm as opposed to a typical 8 ohm load) use a larger (lower
gauge) wire such as 14 or 12.
Corrections?
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