16G speaker wire too small for a sub?

[Basshead808 10+ year member]

What's up guys? Merry Christmas I just wanted to know if 16G speaker wire is too small for a sub on 1200watts..

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[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

I'd say yes. You should probably go with 12awg.

 

[planet audio 10+ year member]

There is only about a 1 Db difference between 18g and 14g wire so unless u want that one decibal it doesnt really matter.

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

yea... i would go with 12 gauge as well.

although im using a 16 gauge for 800w

 

[amedeuce 10+ year member]

I love it when my wire GLOWS !
Anyways, the wire gauge you should use depends on the current and distance.

1200 watts @ 4 ohms = 12 gauge

1200 watts @ 2 ohms = 10 gauge

1200 watts @ 1 ohm = 8 gauge

http://www.darvex.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SGPINS8&Product_Count=1

would this be the thing to use to get that 8 gauge wire into sub terminals and amps that might not accept 8 gauge speaker wire?

I know it might be a noob question, but I guess I am so it's a suitable question for me then.

Cause getting both wires of 12 gauge wire into sub terminals isnt easy itself when wiring down to a 1 ohm configuration, so I could imagine 8 gauge.

 

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

i've never really understood those. do they conduct more current then wire? because otherwise your connection is only as good as the bottleneck so you midas well just stick with wire

 

[amedeuce 10+ year member]

i've never really understood those. do they conduct more current then wire? because otherwise your connection is only as good as the bottleneck so you midas well just stick with wire

I always thought straight wire was best also, but I don't see how else to get 8 gauge in there without cutting down the wire, but then that is the same as getting those reducers.

 

[Basshead808 10+ year member]

Okay I am gonna get some 8 guage wires for my sub then thanks you guys //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif.

 

[1stAugie 10+ year member]

I use 12 ga for 1200 watt @ 3 feet @4 ohms,,,,18ga may not be able to handle the load and if I had 2 decide on 18 not being enough &12 not catching my car on fire,,,, I would just take the safe route and use more than maybe not enough

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

i've never really understood those. do they conduct more current then wire? because otherwise your connection is only as good as the bottleneck so you midas well just stick with wire

That's not true. If that were the case we'd be hearing reports of car fires constantly because no one would want to use fuses.

sound degredation in the case of speaker wire comes from voltage drop, and as Jmac eluded to, voltage drop is a function of both impedance/resistance AND distance. That 8 ga adapter might be thinner than 8 ga wire, but it's no more than an inch long. Any signal loss do to it would be negligible. Not only inaudible, possibly immeasurable.

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

 

[militaryboy91 10+ year member]

Look, unless you don't give a crap about performance you should use 12g wire on just about any sub. Its not expensive and can have a significant impact on performance.

 

[1stAugie 10+ year member]

I really dont think he is going to use a mile or more of wire But My system is ran from Pioneer HU into 3 amps/ 2,400 watt 2 ch=1 sealed 15"xxx sealed/1000 watt memphis d-class=dual 1000 watt audiobaun 12" banpass/400 watt acoustic monobloc =5.25 drivers in the door and 10" r's in the rear deck. 4 monitors/10 disc cd changer

 

[Basshead808 10+ year member]

Okay im getting scared im gonna change my speaker wires to 8G right now //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/uhoh.gif.c07307dd22ee7e63e22fc8e9c614d1fd.gif.

 

[M@nJo 10+ year member]

12awg is fine and more likely has headroom left on 1200wrms.

16awg will work, but no headroom for upgrading.

 

[Basshead808 10+ year member]

Okay I changed to 8G. IS there a difference? I think so.. Sub does play louder at low volumes.. Everything in my car flexes better hehe.