arcticvef.blogg.se - Speaker wire connector types

If you’ve done research on this already, or have checked out other sites, you may notice that our chart is greatly simplified compared to most, and for good reason.

Length of Wire – how long is the distance between the stereo and the speakers?.

Amplifier size, or power (in Watts per channel – should be listed on the back of your receiver or amplifier).

Speaker Impedance (in Ohms, or Ω – should be listed on the back of your speakers).

Speaker Wire Gauge Chart – this basic chart shows speaker wire by size, or thickness, based on three factors: You cannot use too-thick of wire, though – that is, while 18 gauge wire isn’t a good idea for a big amplifier, 12 gauge wire is always fine for smaller amps. Sometimes there’s not a huge difference in sound quality, but it is noticeable, and anyway there’s usually a very small difference in price, so why not? So much of the fun of this hobby is in making little upgrades and tweaks and being able to hear little (or sometimes big) improvements!Īnyway, as you can see from the chart below, for longer runs of speaker wire, more powerful amplifiers and lower impedance speakers, thicker wire is always better, and even necessary, for sound quality and the health and reliability of your equipment. We have found that thicker wire will always sound better – especially if it is a good quality speaker wire. Many people will recommend using at least 18 gauge, but we would never use wire smaller than 16 gauge for our own equipment (which again is a bit thicker than 18 gauge), and recommend that you don’t either. The larger the number, the smaller (thinner) the wire.

Wire size, or thickness, is measured in gauge, as identified by the standard American Wire Gauge (AWG) number.

Selecting Your Speaker Wire – What Type of Wire do you Need? What Gauge (Size) of Speaker Wire do you Need? Fortunately, basic good quality speaker wire is quite inexpensive, and even extremely good audiophile speaker wire is often surprisingly reasonable. If your wire is old, in bad condition, or has any of the other conditions listed above, it is essential to sound quality (and sometimes to the health and safety of your stereo system) to replace it with good, new wire. Is it really speaker wire, or designed for something else (like electrical wire)?.Is the wire very thin (under 18 gauge)?.Do you have different types or sizes of wire for different speakers?.Are there any breaks in the wire itself?.Does the plastic insulation have any cracks or breaks?.Poor quality, old and degraded wire can really hurt performance and sound quality, and you should check for the following things and replace the wire if you find one or more of them: Inspecting your Speaker Wire – Is it Good Enough, or Should it Be Replaced?įirst we want to determine if your existing speaker wire is in good condition. What speaker wire do I need for in-wall installations?.How can I tell which speaker wire is positive – red or black?.5 Frequently Asked Questions about Speaker Wire.Pin Connectors: A Must-Have for Certain Jobs.Spade Connectors: Super-Secure and Sound Great.Banana Plugs, Spades, and Pins – What Are They For, and What’s the Difference?.Should You Use a Speaker Wire Connector or Bare Wire?.Speaker Wire Connectors: Easier, Neater and Better Sounding.What’s the Best Speaker Wire for Your System?.What Gauge (Size) of Speaker Wire do you Need?.

Selecting Your Speaker Wire – What Type of Wire do you Need?.

Inspecting your Speaker Wire – Is it Good Enough, or Should it Be Replaced?.