Speaker wire size
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=72889
Printed Date: May 03, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Topic: Speaker wire size
Posted By: smokinsmitty
Subject: Speaker wire size
Date Posted: February 15, 2006 at 4:48 PM
What size speaker wire should I use inside my box and from my amp to my terminals on the back of my box? I have a Audiobahn A8002T amp and 2 12" Fusion PowerPlant subs
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1 15" Memphis Mojo,
Memphis 16-mc1000D amp,
Audiopipe 4gauge mp kit, Pioneer DEH4700MP head unit.
2002 Yamaha 660R Raptor
Yamaha FZR600 crotch rocket
Sea Doo XP800
Sea Doo Spi
Replies:
Posted By: kfr01
Date Posted: February 15, 2006 at 5:53 PM
16g would be fine if the box is close to the amp. You'll probably want 12 to impress your friends. ;-)
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New Project: 2003 Pathfinder
Posted By: kfr01
Date Posted: February 15, 2006 at 6:03 PM
I now use Canare 4S11 for just about everything, home and car. It is tough as nails and can either be wired in 14g bi-amp or 11g when the 2 pairs are combined to form one. Look here: https://www.diycable.com/main/product_info.php?products_id=528 Diycable is great, but overpriced for this item. See Markertek. ------------- New Project: 2003 Pathfinder
Posted By: prophesybh
Date Posted: February 15, 2006 at 6:11 PM
Most subs have a recommended gauge you should use. Like my speakers use an 8 gauge wire. so look in you manual or go to the manufactures website and find the recommended gauge to use ------------- Don't Ask Questions When You Already Know The Answer!!!
Posted By: kfr01
Date Posted: February 15, 2006 at 7:14 PM
prophesybh wrote:
Most subs have a recommended gauge you should use. Like my speakers use an 8 gauge wire. so look in you manual or go to the manufactures website and find the recommended gauge to use.
Most subs recommend unnecessarily large gauge sizes. They usually do this to make their company and their subs look tougher than they really are. A 12g wire will handle a 5 foot run of 1500w without any audible SPL loss. 8 gauge. That's funny as hell. ------------- New Project: 2003 Pathfinder
Posted By: prophesybh
Date Posted: February 16, 2006 at 2:24 PM
I had a smaller gauge ran, then I re-installed the into a different box with 8 gauge wire and the sound quility is a bit better. I'm not saying it made all the difference in the world, but made some.
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Don't Ask Questions When You Already Know The Answer!!!
Posted By: kfr01
Date Posted: February 16, 2006 at 9:46 PM
prophesybh wrote:
I had a smaller gauge ran, then I re-installed the into a different box with 8 gauge wire and the sound quility is a bit better. I'm not saying it made all the difference in the world, but made some.
8 Gauge speaker wire is totally laughable. If it made an audible difference, which I highly doubt, it was because your other wire had something wrong with it or was less than 14 gauge. You simply could not have heard an audible difference between a 12 gauge wire and 8 gauge wire. I don't care how much power you're using or how long the run is. At 2000 watts running a 1 ohm load 5 feet, the decibel loss will be less than 0.20 db. You can't here this loss. No one can. You're kidding yourself if you think you can hear a difference between 12 and 8 gauge speaker wire. ------------- New Project: 2003 Pathfinder
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: February 16, 2006 at 9:59 PM
No, at the same time you installed the sub into a different box. That was the difference.
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Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.
Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: February 17, 2006 at 12:43 AM
prophesybh wrote:
I had a smaller gauge ran, then I re-installed the into a different box with 8 gauge wire and the sound quility is a bit better. I'm not saying it made all the difference in the world, but made some.
It's amazing how much psychoacoustics can effect your experiences. If you expect to hear a difference, you probably will. Here's an interesting link: https://www.bcae1.com/wire.htm It proves that even 18 awg wire ran 12 feet with even a kilowatt of power running through it has inaudible losses.
Posted By: ajctodd
Date Posted: February 17, 2006 at 2:07 AM
Question.... 1.)What happens if let's say you lengthen your factory speaker wire that's 16 gauge to a 12 gauge wire running to your speakers? That's bad right? 2)I just bought a pair of rockford fosgate 6''1/2' component punch speakers and when i hooked them up to my jvc head unit, it sounded like crap when i turned it up, and i know these speakers a re made for loud play...What's going on? ------------- Adam J. Todd
Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: February 17, 2006 at 2:54 AM
1. I don't see why it would be bad. You did pick up from the discussion that 18 awg wire is just fine right? 2. Your head unit is clipping creating distortion. The 15 watts your head unit can produce isn't enough to produce the output levels you desire. The solution is an outboard amplifier.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: February 17, 2006 at 3:16 PM
1) it makes no difference. 2) sounds like Steven nailed it. In almost any car stereo installation there is absolutely no need for any speaker wire larger than 16AWG. In fact, in almost any stereo installation there is no need for larger than 16 gauge. And wire is wire. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: prophesybh
Date Posted: February 17, 2006 at 4:57 PM
All I was saying is that a made a minute audible difference, whether it was the new box, the old wire was bad, or whatever.
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Don't Ask Questions When You Already Know The Answer!!!
Posted By: smokinsmitty
Date Posted: February 17, 2006 at 11:18 PM
Ok guys I got 16gauge wire with my amp kit but my 18gauge looks thicker!
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1 15" Memphis Mojo,
Memphis 16-mc1000D amp,
Audiopipe 4gauge mp kit, Pioneer DEH4700MP head unit.
2002 Yamaha 660R Raptor
Yamaha FZR600 crotch rocket
Sea Doo XP800
Sea Doo Spi
Posted By: arrow12
Date Posted: February 17, 2006 at 11:21 PM
Is the wire bigger or is the casing?
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That's my opinion. Take it, leave it, or correct me.
Posted By: smokinsmitty
Date Posted: February 18, 2006 at 11:37 PM
the wire! but the casing is bigger on the 16 but wire is bigger on 18
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1 15" Memphis Mojo,
Memphis 16-mc1000D amp,
Audiopipe 4gauge mp kit, Pioneer DEH4700MP head unit.
2002 Yamaha 660R Raptor
Yamaha FZR600 crotch rocket
Sea Doo XP800
Sea Doo Spi
Posted By: justin89
Date Posted: February 19, 2006 at 12:27 AM
I use 10 guage which i know is overkill but why not i had it around so i used it
Posted By: kirktcashalini
Date Posted: February 19, 2006 at 2:56 PM
ok, just admit it makes no difference, its what everyone wants lol. There is that website that shows db loss in speaker wiring, and from 8 gauge to even 20 there isnt much. Just run what you have I use 12, just because i bought a shmutz load at one time. But if i only had 16, I'd run that.
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99 Blazer LT. Yellow Top. Big 3. Infinity Kappa Speakers All Around. Jensen CD/DVD flip out. 2 Infinity Kappa Perfect 12DVQs powered by a Alpine PDX600.1 (in one custom box, building a FG box)
Posted By: kirktcashalini
Date Posted: February 19, 2006 at 2:58 PM
oh, yeah... I did notice that cheaper wirign manufactures wire is off what it should be. For example my 2 gauge, which is RF, is bigger than my friends power akoustik (cheap) 2 gauge, which normal 4 gauge is bigger than as well. I dont know why, seems to not have that much regulation in that field.
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99 Blazer LT. Yellow Top. Big 3. Infinity Kappa Speakers All Around. Jensen CD/DVD flip out. 2 Infinity Kappa Perfect 12DVQs powered by a Alpine PDX600.1 (in one custom box, building a FG box)
Posted By: torquehead
Date Posted: February 21, 2006 at 11:40 PM
I wish I were lying!!! Back in the day, I witnessed the use of 12AWG ROMEX from an amplifier to a sub box!!!!! LOL, funny I laugh, it worked just fine! If only the insulated sheathing were routed, secured, and painted, it would have served for a good hidden fabrication/concept for wiring.
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