Power and audio signal cables are the most common
sources of sound system failure. Well-made and carefully
maintained cables are essential to the reliability of the
entire system. If long speaker cables are required, make
sure the wire is of sufficient size to transfer all of the avail-
able amplifier power to the speakers rather than absorbing
power itself. As a rule of thumb, the larger the wire the
better (larger wire has smaller "gauge numbers").
Below, we have listed the smallest wires (the highest num-
bered gauges) recommended for best results. To make it
simple, we'll assume you are operating under worst case
conditions with 4 ohm loads. 8 ohm operation will
improve results with the same wire.
Larger diameter (small gauge number) wire is expensive
and long cables made from it are heavy. Rather than run-
ning long speaker cables, it is better to locate power ampli-
fiers near speakers and run a line-level signal cable over the
long distance to the amplifier. This approach eliminates
most of the signal loss due to speaker cable resistance so
the speakers are fed all of the amplifier's power without the
need for heavy cables. This can actually save money in
many instances.
Always use stranded wire for three reasons:
1) It is more flexible and less prone to metal fatigue breakage.
2) If an end is nicked while insulation is being stripped for
connection, only one or two strands will break and not the
entire wire.
3) There is some evidence, though disputed, that higher
frequency audio signals flow along the outside of each
conductor (skin effect): if this is so, the more strands, the
lower the effective cable resistance to high frequencies.
In cases where speakers and power amplifiers are located
far away from the signal source (a mixer or a preamp), bal-
anced line" signal cables are a wise choice.
5
SPEAKER WIRE GAGING TABLES
BASIC CONNECTIONS and WIRING
CROSS REFERENCE TABLE
AWG
CROSS SECTION
18
0.83
16
1.32
14
2.10
12
3.32
10
5.27
[mm2]
*Example - The length of the speaker
wire required is between 25-50 feet
(7.60-15.25 meters) and the speaker
impedance is 8 ohms. The minimum
recommended speaker wire gauge is 16.
10
12
14
12
14
16
14
*16
18
16
18
18
18
18
18
4
Ω
*8
Ω
16
Ω
100'-UP
(30.5 m-UP)
50'-100'
(15.25-30.5 m)
*25'-50'
(7.60-15.25 m)
10'-25'
(3.05-7.60 m)
0'-10'
(0.00-3.05 m)
SPEAKER WIRE GAUGE
SPEAKER IMPEDANCE [z]
SPEAKER WIRE
LENGTH
