How Do You Choose Speaker Wire Gauge?
When deciding what speaker wire gauge to choose for your audio system, there are a few key factors to keep in mind, including the size of your audio system, the length of the wire between speaker and power source and the quality of wire. Choosing the correct speaker wire gauge is extremely important if you’re looking to get the best performance possible from your audio system. The American Wire Gauge (AWG) number or simply the gauge thickness identifies speaker wire. Speaker wire tends to fall between 12 and 16 gauge in home and car audio systems, with the lowest gauge numbers being the thicker wire that can handle high levels of electrical current more efficiently. Determine how long each run of speaker wire will be from the power source (amp) to the speaker. This step is especially important for home audio applications because the speaker wire runs are typically 10 to 20 feet or more. Longer runs of wire require thicker gauge wire for best performance and for less strain on the ampli
