Buyer's Guide
When it comes to audio gear, nothing beats good quality sound. If you have a pair of headphones or a set of speakers, chances are they were made using high-quality components. The same goes for your car stereo system - the better the wiring, the more powerful the sound. This applies to everything from your computer speakers to your hi-fi systems. So what does this mean for you?
Speaker wire is used to connect your speakers to your amplifier. You might think that you only need to worry about connecting your speakers directly to your amp, but this isn't always possible.
16 gauge speaker wire is commonly referred to as "twist-on" speaker wire because it comes in a spooled roll form rather than an individual cable. It is most commonly found in audio applications where there is no need for flexibility. The reason why this type of wire is used for speakers is because it has a higher resistance than standard speaker wire. This makes it more suitable for high power applications. Because of its strength, it is also ideal for connecting large speakers to amplifiers.
The main advantage of using 16 gauge speaker wire over regular speaker wire is that it will provide better sound quality at lower volumes. Regular speaker wire is typically made up of two strands of copper wrapped around each other. This allows for greater flexibility but means that the wire must be twisted together before soldering. As a result, the wire becomes less rigid and may break if bent too much. If you want to connect multiple speakers to a single amplifier, you would need several lengths of speaker wire. With 16 gauge speaker wire, only one length of wire is needed.
When it comes to choosing the right speaker wire, most people assume that thicker wire is better. But this isn't true. In fact, thinner wire has several advantages over thick wire.
Thinner wire is lighter and cheaper. Thicker wire is heavier and more expensive. However, thin wire does have its benefits.
The main advantage of using thinner wire is that it doesn't require as much power to run. This makes it perfect for smaller speakers.
However, thinner wire is also more flexible. This means that it bends easily. This makes it ideal for connecting multiple speakers together.
Another reason to use thinner wire is that it looks nicer. When you connect two speakers together, you want them to look nice. Thin wire gives off a cleaner appearance.
Finally, thinner wire allows you to fit more speakers into a given space. This is useful if you have limited floor space.
So, next time you're shopping for new speakers, think about how you plan to use them. Will you be running multiple speakers through one amplifier? Are you planning to hook up several speakers together?
If you're going to do any of these things, then you'll probably need thinner wire.
But if you're only planning on running one speaker through one amp, then thicker wire will suffice.
In either case, however, you'll still need to know which type of wire you need. Fortunately, we have a guide here to help you decide.
If you've ever tried to use cheap speaker wire, then you'll understand how frustrating it can be. Cheap speaker wire just doesn't work properly. This is because cheap speaker wire isn't designed to handle the power demands of modern audio equipment. When you purchase cheap speaker wire, you may experience one of two things:
Both of these situations are caused by bad wiring. You should never have to deal with either of these issues. Instead, you should expect great sound quality and smooth operation every time you turn up the volume.
To ensure that you receive the best possible performance from your speakers, invest in a quality 16 gauge speaker wire. This type of wire is specifically designed to handle the power requirements of modern audio systems. Because of this, you won't encounter any of the above mentioned problems.
In addition to being able to provide excellent sound quality, 16 gauge speaker wire is durable. Unlike other types of speaker wire, 16 gauge speaker wire is constructed from solid copper. Solid copper provides superior conductivity, durability, and resistance to corrosion. These qualities mean that you can enjoy years of trouble free service from your speaker system.
As you can see, investing in a quality 16 gauge speaker wire is a worthwhile investment. You'll find that this type of wire offers many advantages over cheap alternatives. So, if you want to hear music like never before, buy a quality 16 gauge speaker wire now.
Speaker Wire. Speaker wire is used to connect speakers together. The type of wire you use depends on how many speakers you plan to connect and where they are located. Both work well, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
16 Gauge. This is the most common type of speaker wire. It's strong enough to handle higher power levels than other types of speaker wire. However, this type of wire is thicker than 14 AWG wire, which makes it more difficult to bend. As such, it may not be suitable for connecting multiple speakers near each other.
14 AWG. This is thinner than 16 AWG wire, which makes it easier to bend. Because it's thinner, it's less expensive than 16 AWG wire. But it's still thick enough to handle higher power levels than 14 AWG wire.
Wire length. Most speaker wire is sold in standard lengths. These are usually labeled "1/4" or 1/2". While these sizes are convenient, they aren't always ideal. In particular, if you're using longer lengths of wire, you may run into issues with audio quality. That's why it's important to measure the distance between speakers before purchasing wire.
Lengths. Some speaker wire comes in various lengths. For example, you could buy 3 feet of 2 footer, 6 feet of 4 footer, etc. Make sure you know exactly what you're ordering before you order.
Color coding. Color coding isn't required, but it does make it easier to identify which end goes where. If you're working with multiple pairs of speakers, color coding them can help prevent confusion.
Copper vs. aluminum. Copper speaker wire is stronger than aluminum. However, copper tends to oxidize over time, which causes corrosion. Aluminum doesn't corrode, but it's softer than copper, which means it bends easier. As such, it's often recommended to use aluminum instead of copper.
16 gauge speaker wire is commonly referred to as "spooled" wire. Spooled wire is the standard wire size used by audio professionals. It is also known as "heavy duty" wire. When shopping for spooled wire, look for the following features:
The number of strands. A good rule of thumb is to always go with the highest number of strands possible. For example, 24 strand wire is better than 18 strand wire. 18 strand wire is better than 12 strand wire. Anything less than 8 strands is going to be too thin and won't hold up well under heavy use.
The diameter of the wire. Smaller wire sizes are used for smaller speakers whereas larger wire sizes are used for larger speakers. Larger wire sizes are also used for longer runs. Longer runs mean lower resistance and therefore greater volume.
The material of the wire. Copper is the preferred conductor due to its low cost and excellent conductivity properties. Other materials include aluminum, silver, and nickel plated copper. Nickel plating helps prevent corrosion and tarnishing.
The color of the wire. Black is the most common color. White is also acceptable although it does not offer any advantages over black.
The price of the wire. High quality wire should never be cheap. Cheap wire will break easily and will not last long. Always shop around for the lowest prices.
FAQs
You can purchase 16 gauge speaker wire at most electronics stores. Most online retailers sell this type of wire.
This type of wire is ideal for connecting speakers to your car stereo system. If you have multiple speakers connected to your vehicle's subwoofer, then you will want to use 16 gauge speaker wire.
20 gauge speaker wire has a larger diameter than 16 gauge speaker wire. Therefore, it is stronger than 16 gauge speaker wire.
14 AWG speaker wire is thinner than 16 AWG speaker wire. As a result, it is less durable than 16 AWG speaker wire.
12 AWG speaker wire is thicker than 16 AWG speaker wire. As a result, it is more durable than 16 AWG speaker wire.
18 AWG speaker wire is slightly thicker than 16 AWG speaker wire. As a result, it is stronger than 16 AWG speaker wire.
