speaker wire gauge
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=50702
Printed Date: May 08, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Topic: speaker wire gauge
Posted By: spilot
Subject: speaker wire gauge
Date Posted: February 23, 2005 at 6:22 PM
i have ordered a 14 gauge speaker wire for my car speaker (60 and 40 W ones), and was told on a different forum that's it's an overkill...is it?
Replies:
Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: February 23, 2005 at 6:30 PM
14 awg wire is overkill. 18 awg wire is just fine and is much easier to run into the doors with. But the 14 awg wire will still work. Steven Kephart Adire Audio -------------
Posted By: spilot
Date Posted: February 23, 2005 at 6:32 PM
damn it. he's just sent it to me too..
Posted By: spilot
Date Posted: February 23, 2005 at 6:33 PM
damn it. he's just sent it to me too..
so it is still fine to run it, even though it's an overkill? has to do some harm to speakers, no?
Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: February 23, 2005 at 6:42 PM
Not at all. It will work just fine. It's just a little harder to install. I like to use larger wire in area's where it is visible as well just because it looks better. Steven Kephart Adire Audio -------------
Posted By: blg748
Date Posted: February 23, 2005 at 10:14 PM
i dont know where i read this but ppl stated that for wiring a sub u shoudl use 14or lower guage for sub wiring. eg my amp to sub run is less than 2ft so i ran a 2ft wire of 12guage to the sub isnt that ok?
Posted By: deocder
Date Posted: February 23, 2005 at 10:42 PM
Thats fine. You just don't want to use a wire thats too small. Same principle as the power wire coming from the battery to power amps. If it's too small, there will be too much resistance which turns into heat which can melt the cable and lead to a short. Very unlikely for a speaker wire however. I use 16 gauge personally for regular speakers.....I've used 10 on subs before....not really necessary but it still works...
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Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: February 23, 2005 at 10:59 PM
Even for subwoofers 16 awg is just fine. That's what I run with over a kilowatt and never have any problems. Steven Kephart Adire Audio -------------
Posted By: spilot
Date Posted: February 24, 2005 at 10:34 AM
well, running a 14 since there's no harm. overkill just sounds dangerous lol.
Posted By: oonikfraleyoo
Date Posted: February 24, 2005 at 10:57 AM
Both the Alpine Type X and MRD-M1001 can take 8 gauge. I know theres no need for it but is there a down side to using wire that big? ------------- Nik
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Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: February 24, 2005 at 11:19 AM
Not at all. I will probably be using 8 awg in areas where it is visible just because it looks more impressive. It doesn't help out performance any, but it doesn't hur it either. Steven Kephart Adire Audio -------------
Posted By: ravenndude
Date Posted: February 24, 2005 at 11:42 AM
Clean 8ga wires look good in sub aplications. Especially if you can see the basket of the sub.
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