Select the Best Speaker Wire
I bought a really nice sound system from a guy on Craigslist a while back. It came with a 7.1 receiver, 5 speakers, a sub, and a few cables. The whole system sat in my basement for many months and I’m just now setting it up. Everything is going smooth so far but I needed to purchase more speaker wire. And, it got me thinking about what’s the best speaker wire. So here’s what I’ve learned.
Best Gauge for Speaker Wire
Wire gauge refers to thickness. The lower the gauge, the thicker the wire. There are several wire gauge standards but this post will use the American Wire Gauge (AWG) standard. Wire gauge is important because it affects how much power (audio signal) actually reaches the speaker. Thicker gauge wire is better able to carry the audio signal farther. Generally, if the wire run is less than 80 feet, 16 AWG gauge is sufficient. Runs longer than 200 feet should use 12 AWG gauge wire.
In-Wall Speaker Wire
In-wall (aka premise wiring) is approved for running in the walls, under floors and in the ceiling. This wiring complies with the National Electrical Code (NEC) and provides a nice, clean look to your home theater system. Purchase Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved, in-wall speaker wire. UL tests how much heat is created, how fast the wire can catch / spread fire, and how well the wire withstands damage from external stresses like pressure, moisture and abrasion. Generally, CL-2 or CL-3 labeled speaker wire is acceptable but you should always check local code guidelines.
- CL-2 – general purpose wire, rated for up to 299 volts.
- CL-3 – general purpose wire, rated for over 300 volts.
- CL-2P and CL-3P – are rated for the air space above ceiling tiles
- CL-2R and CL 3R – are rated for risers (vertical shaft between floors)
Recommended Speaker Wire
I really like the Mega Home Theater speaker wire available from Amazon. It’s good speaker wire at a great price. Plus, you aren’t overpaying for a big name like Monster Cables.
Editor’s Update: After writing this post three different people weighed in below noting that monoprice.com has significantly lower prices than any other store online. And as one points out, “wire is wire,” which rings true to us. Best to check out there if you’re in the market.
What do you think? What speaker wire do you use?
Image courtesy of tanakawho
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5 Responses to Select the Best Speaker Wire
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February 12th, 2009 9:46 am
Thanks, thanks. We have the original 1968 sound system throughput the house and on my to-do list is to re-rewire and replace the wall speakers. This gives me an idea of what to look for
February 12th, 2009 10:28 am
For every wire need that I have in my house, I use monoprice. Generally speaking, wire is wire is wire, so you should focus on the type of wire you need and not on the brand of wire you need. Oh, and avoid buying cables and wires from any of the big box stores; they jack the prices way up…
February 12th, 2009 10:32 am
http://www.monoprice.com . That is all I have to say. High quality wires, dirt cheap.
February 12th, 2009 5:31 pm
I second Monoprice – they are the best place for cables. As for which wire, the 16 gauge should be fine, as long as you keep it away from power lines. They have the same thing you got for around $29.
February 13th, 2009 8:49 pm
Guys – thanks for all the responses (I’m replying b/c Ethan is out of pocket temporarily). I updated the post with your collective monoprice.com suggestion. After looking there, I agree that’s a pretty great place. When we’re in the market for it for our basement, that’s where we’re heading.