in-wall wiring for car audio?

[brocken 10+ year member]

Please tell me if this is a dumb idea. I did search but didn't find much info.

I'm thinking about this not just for cost saving but for space saving. 12 or 14 gauge in-wall wiring takes up a lot less space than the car audio stuff with the thick coating.

I remember back in the day something about the coating helping prevent interference but is that really a problem if the wires are routed properly?

Basically, would I compromise good sound by running in-wall wires?

Any other opinions on it?

Thanks!

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[brocken 10+ year member]

Bueller? Anybody?

 

[Horsemanwill 10+ year member]

solid wire is not made fore car audio. you need to stick with fine stranded wire. also romex is not suited for harsh environments.

 

[Jaredturp 10+ year member]

That^

 

[shizzzon 10+ year member]

AC and DC do not travel the same way in a wire. that's why AC is solid and DC is stranded.

 

[brocken 10+ year member]

Thanks,that's what I needed. Though it's not technically romex and it is stranded I understand the point.

 

[Silverbullet555]

I'm assuming you are talking about in wall SPEAKER wiring. It's still speaker wire, it's just got the extra cover on it. I doubt it does anything for shielding, but I would think it would do fine. I used the stuff from parts express that is for direct buriel and in wall in our last boat and it was fine. That being said, I don't know that it is worth the expense. The stuff does not bend around corners for crap if you are fishing it through.

 

[brocken 10+ year member]

Yes, sorry. Should have made that clear. In wall speaker wire.

You're right, it is pretty stiff. I was just thinking it would fit easier through the door looms since I have to run two pairs. But it sounds like it's not the best product for a car install.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

AC and DC do not travel the same way in a wire. that's why AC is solid and DC is stranded.

Nope, not really.

 

[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

In wall speaker wire tends to be really stiff due to the four strands in a thick casing, which will be harder to run front to back in a car, but other than that it wont hurt anything.

 

[k_schutte 10+ year member]

I was always under the impression that a solid copper bar would be better than a ton of tiny copper strands. At least, that is what I got from this site when I mentioned strand count being important when selecting wire.

 

[brocken 10+ year member]

I just decided to make the Knu twisted wire fit somehow. Might as well do it right. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Thanks!