What gauge speaker wire should I use for a 50 foot run?
For most average speakers 16 AWG wire will work well for you in lengths of less than 50 ft. For longer runs or for higher end speakers, you probably want thicker wire.
What is the difference between CL2 and CL3 speaker wire?
The difference between the two is that CL2 is rated for up to 150 volts while CL3 is rated for up to 300 volts. (NEC 725.71 F) According to NEC 725.2, CL2 offers some protection from electric shock while CL3 offers a bit more because it is rated to carry more voltage.
What size is factory speaker wire?
The most common audio speaker wires are 12 Gauge, 14 Gauge, 16 Gauge, and 18 Gauge. Stranded wire is more flexible, easier to route, can withstand vibration and flexing than solid wire; therefore, it is more commonly used in audio speaking wiring.
Can you use 18 gauge wire for speaker wire?
For most low power home or car speakers (not subwoofers) 18 gauge (18AWG) is fine. 18AWG wire is good for about 50 watts for 4 ohms and 100 watts for 8 ohm loudspeakers up to 50 feet (15 m) or 100 feet (30 m) respectively. For higher power systems or longer lengths, 16 gauge is a great choice.
Is 12 AWG speaker wire overkill?
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.
How far can I run 14 AWG speaker wire?
80-foot
Speaker wire of 14 gauge is good for an 80-foot run, and 12 gauge is good for 120 feet.
Do I need CL2 or CL3?
The main difference between the two is the wattage that a CL3 rated cable can carry. While CL2 cables can carry a surge of up to 150 watts, and CL3 can carry twice that at 300 watts. A CL3 rated cable can take the place of any CL3, however, a CL2 cannot take the place of a CL3.
What does CL mean in speaker wire?
CL Cable Designation
While NEC codes don’t specifically refer to home theater use, these do refer to multipurpose wire used for remote-control, signalling and power limited circuits.
Can speaker wire be too big?
Although the speaker wire can’t be too thick, you can have too long of a cable. Ideally, a speaker wire shouldn’t be longer than 50 feet (15.24 meters), and anything longer than that can affect the sound quality.
What happens if speaker wire is too thin?
If your speaker wire is too thin, it will have a lot of resistance. Resistance is proportional to how thick or thin your speaker wire is. Thin wires have a relatively higher resistance than thick wires. Due to this, thinner wires should not be used for running long-distance setups.
Can a speaker wire be too thick?
Speaker wires can’t be too thick because thicker wire means lower resistance, more signal flow, and better sound quality. Although not every setup needs a thick wire and the wire thickness depends on the speaker’s impedance and the distance between the sources, you can’t have too much of it.
What happens if speaker wire gauge is too big?
For example, 18 gauge wire connected to an 8 Ohms speaker should not exceed more than 32 feet in length from amp/receiver to speaker. If you have a wire that exceeds its recommended length, the audio signal and quality will degrade.
Does speaker wire length affect sound quality?
When long runs (of either interconnects or speaker cables) are used, cable quality becomes extra important. Due to the additional signal losses longer runs impose, the better the cable is at “protecting” the signal, the better will be the sound.
Can speaker wire be too long?
Speaker wires can definitely be too long. Ideally, the maximum length a speaker wire should be run through is about 50 feet. Anything above 50 feet is considered too long. The length of the run of speaker wires from amplifiers to speakers affects the quality of the sound produced by a system.
What gauge wire should I use for my speakers?
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. It’s cost-effective and easy to work with.
Does speaker wire need CL2?
Voltage Specifications
CL2 cable must accept a maximum voltage of 150 volts, while CL3 handles up to 300 volts. Both are adequate for most speaker installations, and CL3 can be used in place of CL2, though CL2 cannot be used if CL3 is required.
Should speaker wire be twisted?
Speaker Cable should always be twisted. Witnessed a System with Parallel wire (Zip Cord) in a home where the receiver and all electronics were unplugged and removed or un-wired from the speaker wires and yet the speakers were clear as a bell still working.
How long can speaker wire be run?
Ideally, the maximum length a speaker wire should be run through is about 50 feet. Anything above 50 feet is considered too long. The length of the run of speaker wires from amplifiers to speakers affects the quality of the sound produced by a system.
Is Thicker gauge speaker wire better?
Speaker wires with lower-gauge numbers are better at carrying an amplified audio signal. When determining which wire gauge to use, consider how far away the speakers are from your amplifier or A/V receiver. Generally, for short speaker wire runs, a 16-gauge wire is sufficient.
What does twisting speaker wire do?
The twisted pair of electrical wires is a cabling technique used in audio and network technology, among many others. Wires are twisted together to accomplish two main goals: reduce outgoing noise and reduce incoming noise related to electromagnetic interference.
Should speaker cable be shielded?
Speaker wire doesn’t need shielding. Induced noise on high impedance lines can be audible because the current transfer on high impedance lines is low. Speaker wires are low impedance and any induced voltage from any normal source is not going to support enough current to affect the signal.
What happens if speaker wire is too thick?
Should you twist the end of speaker wire?
What do speaker wire colors mean?
Stranded wires are far more flexible and therefore much easier to run through the walls of a house. PVC is commonly used in insulators and jackets. The color codes for the four-conductor wire for speaker one are Red (positive), Black (negative), and White or Yellow (positive), Green (negative).
What happens if you use an instrument cable instead of a speaker cable?
Using an instrument cable in place of your speaker cable can cause catastrophic damage to your amplifier. While your amp will still work initially, the high amount of current going through the instrument cable’s small gauge wire can actually melt the cable! Furthermore, this may cause a short, damaging your amplifier.