Speaker Wire Guage Question

(hornsfan) · (hornsfan) **Join Date: Mar 2009** 03-18-2009, 9:58 AM

Okay so I just swapped out my interior speakers with (4) Polk db651. They are wired in parallel, thus 2-ch is running at 2ohm. (about 100 w each speaker)

Didn't really think about a specific guage speaker wire but what i did use was 18 ga. The speakers scream and sound good. To change out the speaker wire to 16 ga or 14 ga, would I get a noticeable difference in sound? Drawbacks to using 18 ga.?

(05mobiuslsv) · (05mobiuslsv) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 03-18-2009, 10:24 AM

Check out this website and calulator. According to this you are loosing a little power due to voltage drop but not much. Biggest issue is the current you're running through that small wire.

http://www.bcae1.com/images/swfs/speakerwireselectorassistant.swf

(colombiansurfer)

Nu Bu, that is a great little program.

(chpthril) · (chpthril) **Join Date: Oct 2007** 03-18-2009, 5:16 PM

IMO, those small drop is not worth the time spent to rewire. What wire ga was running to the speakers before the swap?

(crushing76) · (crushing76) **Join Date: Feb 2007** 03-18-2009, 8:15 PM

NuBu,

I have to say.... The main site that goes with the link you posted is probably the single most informative source of audio information I have come across...

Kind of scarey though... Some of the audio shops I have talked to have recommended wire sizes to me that, according to this site, would be insufficient.

THANKS FOR THAT LINK!!!!

(crushing76) · (crushing76) **Join Date: Feb 2007** 03-18-2009, 8:16 PM

^^^^^ http://www.bcae1.com/

(05mobiuslsv) · (05mobiuslsv) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 03-18-2009, 8:30 PM

You're welcome, I've learned alot from that site. I though everyone knew about that site, that site and the12volt.com are great info.

(brucemac) · (brucemac) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 03-18-2009, 11:33 PM

thanks for that. that is a great site.

(crushing76) · (crushing76) **Join Date: Feb 2007** 03-18-2009, 11:41 PM

WHEW.... Maybe I need to take back that thanks... I have been reading every dang page of that thing non stop since my last post!!! My eyes are KILLING me...

What I learned pertaining to my system specifically...

1. I was not planning on using NEARLY enough fuses.

2. The fusing that was on the boat when I bought it was completely out of whack.. i.e., fuses were WAY too big for cable gauge.

3. Many other nifty little facts about ohms law, THD, and wiring up a system in general...

I cant wait to get back home and put all this knowledge to use!!!

(ship_of_fools) · (ship_of_fools) **Join Date: Sep 2007** 03-20-2009, 9:42 PM

C.R. I am not busting on you or anything I just thought it was kind of funny. I have been to that website and (like you said) there is a ton of information there. You typed:

"I cant wait to get back home and put all this knowledge to use!!!"

Where have you been doing all your research - while at work??

(crushing76) · (crushing76) **Join Date: Feb 2007** 03-21-2009, 9:25 AM

FJK,

My job requires a LOT of travel, so I get quite a bit of hotel time... I'm still on my quest to find the end of the internet.

I think I've gotten close a few times...