The thickness of the speaker wire is measured in American Wire Gauge (AWG). This standard defines the thickness of wire and has been used in America since 1857 and is now becoming popular in Europe. So, today I will guide you about the best recommended gauge to use for your speaker wire depending on the wire length, wire material, power, and impedance of your audio system.
For speakers, 8-24 gauge wires are used. Lower gauge means thick wire and higher gauge means thin wire. However, 14 and 16 gauges are mostly used in speakers for normal audio setups.
If you choose it wisely, it will save you money. Why? Because people usually choose a lower gauge (thick wire) than they need resulting in a waste of money and difficulty in handling the thick wire. I mean if 12 gauge is enough, purchasing 10 gauge will not improve the sound quality or provide any other benefit.
Note: You can read the article below and you will reach a rough idea about the required wire gauge. Then go to my speaker cable gauge calculator for better and precise recommendations. This calculator takes into account all the factors and recommends the gauge that aligns perfectly with your setup.
There are a few factors that you need to consider when choosing the right gauge for your speaker cable. Let’s discuss them.
Distance from speaker to amp
The primary and most important factor in determining the gauge is the distance between your speaker and the amplifier. As the distance increases, you need to increase the thickness of the wire for easy flow of current with minimum resistance. If the wire is long and thin, a lot of resistance will be created and the wire will heat or even blow. In the next section, we will also discuss the recommended gauges for specific distance ranges.
Wire material
Materia is the second most important factor in determining the gauge of your speaker wire. Generally, speaker wires come in copper or copper-clad aluminum (CCA). Both are good but copper is a better conductor than CCA and offers low resistance for the same gauge. Copper wires are 2 gauge better than CCA wires which means that if you are using 14 gauge CCA wires, 16 gauges will be enough for a copper wire. You will get almost similar performance with a 2 gauge difference between copper and CCA.
Impedance of speaker
It is another important factor that determines the required gauge for speaker wire. For easy understanding, you can take impedance as resistance. Speakers that have low impedance require thicker wires (low gauge) because more current passes through them. While those with high impedance allow a small current to pass and thus require thin wires comparatively. This factor does not count as much as distance but still, it’s important to consider.
Amplifier power (watts)
Every amplifier has an output power per channel that can range from a few watts to hundreds of watts. As a general rule, large power requires thicker wires. For most amplifiers, 14-16 gauge wires are considered good. However, for large setups and high-power amplifiers, you need to lower the gauges.
Recommended Speaker Wire Gauges
Above mentioned are the 4 most important factors that decide the gauge of speaker cable. Now we will discuss some commonly used gauges briefly. We will discuss distance, impedance, and power for each gauge. The values below are for copper cables and if you want to use CCA wire, increase the gauge by 2.
24 Gauge Wire
It is the least used wire in speakers. You can use it for distances under 10 feet, amplifier power under 20 watts, and speakers of 8 ohms or higher.
18 Gauge Wire
For many low-budget setups, 18 gauge wires can be used. This can be used by up to 25 feet distance, 50-watt amplifier, and 6 ohms or higher speakers.
16 Gauge Wire
The most widely used wire gauge for speakers is 16 gauge. It can be used up to 50 feet for a 100-watt amplifier and 4 ohms or higher speakers.
14 Gauge Wire
If you have to run a long wire or use a speaker with low resistance, a 14 gauge wire is recommended for some large setups. It provides minimum resistance and safe flow of high currents. You can use it up to 100 feet for 200 watt amplifier and 4 ohms or higher impedance speakers.
12 Gauge Wire
For high-power amplifiers (up to 400 watts) and very long runs (up to 200 feet) and very low impedance (2 ohms or higher), a 12 gauge wire is recommended. Usually, this gauge is used for multi-room setups or big outdoor setups.
10 Gauge Wire
If you want to set up a big audio system like for concerts, then you can go for a 10 gauge wire. It can handle very long distances (over 200 feet), very high power amplifiers (over 400 watts), and speaker impedance from 2 ohms to higher.
8 Gauge Wire
It is a rarely used gauge for very big systems like concerts. It can handle up to 1000 watts amplifiers, over 200 feet distances, and almost any ohm speaker. This wire is very thick and difficult to handle and is used only for special setups.
Smart gauge choice can save money & simplify installation
Yes, you heard it right. Choosing the wrong gauge (lower gauge) not only increases the cost but also makes it difficult to handle the wire while providing no extra quality.
Rest assured that you will not get any better sound by choosing a thicker wire than recommended. Instead, you will just pay extra costs. Lower gauge wires are thick and bulky which makes installation much difficult.
Another thing that may be rolling in your mind is buying an oxygen-free copper wire. But think if you need it. These wires contain fewer impurities and better conductivity, but they are needed in high-end setups where every detail counts. If you are installing speakers at your home, you only need to go for standard copper wire and it will work great. Buying oxygen-free copper wire for your home theater is just a waste of money.
Wrapping up
I provided every necessary detail that will help you in choosing the perfect gauge for your speaker. Choosing lower than needed gauge is a waste of money but choosing a higher than required gauge can damage the equipment because it may heat and catch fire. So, you should use your knowledge and also my cable gauge calculator for a better and confident decision.
I’ve been an Audiophile since childhood. I specialize in troubleshooting speakers for any technical problem and I can help you choose the sound system that best matches your preferences. Stay tuned and continue reading my posts.