What can be used as speaker wire?

Most systems will use 16, 14 or 12-gauge AWS wire. 16-gauge copper wire can run up to 48-feet with 8-ohm speakers. So, if you want a wire size that will suit most circumstances, then a 16-gauge copper wire is probably a good fit. For speakers with a lower impedance, then you might go with 12 or 14 AWG just to be safe.

Can you use 16 gauge wire for speakers?

Generally, for short speaker wire runs, a 16-gauge wire is sufficient. However, for longer speaker wire runs (to another room, for example), it is better to use a thicker, lower-gauge wire.

Will regular wire work for speaker wire?

The most basic answer is “yes, if you use regular electrical wire a speaker could work” — as long as you have two same-size conductors for positive and negative, you’ll get sound. There are differences in the metal used and in shielding (for some speaker wire, but not all).

What is 16 gauge speaker wire for?

The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. Thick wire (12 or 14 gauge) is recommended for long wire runs, high power applications, and low-impedance speakers (4 or 6 ohms). For relatively short runs (less than 50 feet) to 8 ohm speakers, 16 gauge wire will usually do just fine.

What is bigger 14 or 16 gauge wire?

14 gauge is thicker than 16 gauge. Bigger speakers or long distances will be better with thicker wire.

Can telephone wire be used for speaker wire?

Using existing telephone wire and powered speakers, it’s fairly simple to connect speakers throughout the house via existing phone lines. This will work only if the lines have 3 extra wires, such as when no land line is in use, or if the house has 6 (very common) or 8 strand telephone wire.

Can you use any wire for audio?

If you live in the USA or Europe, any old electrical wire will work. You can find electrical wire anywhere.

Which is heavier 12 gauge or 16 gauge wire?

The thicker the wire, the lower the gauge number. For long wire runs, high power applications and low impedance speakers, thick wire (12 or 14 gauge) is recommended. 16 gauge wire is usually fine for short runs less than 50 feet.

Does bigger speaker wire make a difference?

Thicker wires are better: It’s true that for long runs, thicker wires are better at reducing the effects of resistance. But for most set ups (those with speakers within 100 ft of the amplifier), 16-gauge lamp cord is fine. For speakers 100 to 200 ft. It would take miles of speaker wire to hear any difference.

What is the best speaker wire?

While some speaker wire may sound slightly better with some audio systems, that’s a needle-in-a-haystack search that’s simply not worth it for most people. For most of us, the Monoprice 2747 12-gauge is a great deal on a sturdy and widely available cable.

How to choose speaker wire?

AWG. When deciding what kind of cable to use for your speaker setup,one of the first things to consider is the cable’s AWG (American Wire Gauge).

Is 16 gauge good enough?

For higher power systems or longer lengths, 16 gauge is a great choice. For longer lengths (50-100ft)/ (15-30.5m) you’ll need to go up 2 gauges (14 ga.) to avoid losing power. Very long lengths of speaker wire lose a bit of power over the long distance due to resistance. Using larger wire can help reduce or avoid this.

Which is thicker 16 gauge or 18 gauge wire?

Gauge is the standard unit of measure for sheet steel and wire products. The lower the number, the thicker the steel. Therefore, 16 gauge is thicker than 18 gauge steel. The reason we promote using 16 gauge steel for your sinks versus 18 gauge is 16 is more rigid.