Very newbish question regarding speaker wire...

[Nelson9937955 10+ year member]

I just need some wiring to connect a subwoofer to a 500 watt rms amp.

Is there a difference in using this type of wire

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102569&cp=&sr=1&origkw=speaker+wire&kw=speaker+wire&parentPage=search

To this type of wire?

http://www.radioshack.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2032239&cp=2032058.2032227&allCount=19&fbc=1&f=PAD%2FCable+Type%2F12+gauge&fbn=Cable+type%2F12+gauge

I know you always see speaker where in the automotive sections of stores that have all the fancy colors and of course have the two wires stuck together, but is there is any other difference or advantage other than that?

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[customtronic 10+ year member]

For the best performance you should use at least 14ga but preferably 12ga speaker wire for a 500 watt amp. If you have a local car audio shop they will probably sell you a small section of it to run to your sub. I know that Home Depot even sells 12ga oxygen free speaker cable by the foot. It was pretty reasonably priced last time I checked. Good luck with your install.

 

[Nelson9937955 10+ year member]

For the best performance you should use at least 14ga but preferably 12ga speaker wire for a 500 watt amp. If you have a local car audio shop they will probably sell you a small section of it to run to your sub. I know that Home Depot even sells 12ga oxygen free speaker cable by the foot. It was pretty reasonably priced last time I checked. Good luck with your install.

But I mean just say using the regular 12 gauge "Hookup Wire" from radio shack, running two wires to the leads vs. 12 gauge "speaker wire"...It's the exact same thing right?

 

[SocMunky 10+ year member]

But I mean just say using the regular 12 gauge "Hookup Wire" from radio shack, running two wires to the leads vs. 12 gauge "speaker wire"...It's the exact same thing right?

Yep, basically. May just be a little more messy if your doing a long run of it.

 

[Nelson9937955 10+ year member]

Yep, basically. May just be a little more messy if your doing a long run of it.

Ok thanks. My amp is on my sub box so it would basically be about 1 foot or 2 feet or so

 

[Stel 10+ year member]

For less interference it's better to have the wire stuck together, the magnetic fields from current moving in opposite directions tend to cancel for the most part. If it's only a few feet it will be easy to keep them together though.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

For less interference it's better to have the wire stuck together, the magnetic fields from current moving in opposite directions tend to cancel for the most part. If it's only a few feet it will be easy to keep them together though.

It doesn't make a bit of difference. If you really were worried about it, you'd just twist them together.

 

[dipitydoo 10+ year member]

You do not have to worry about interference/noise from speaker wires. Wire diameter matters, up to a certain point, that's it. Other than that, everything else is cosmetic.

 

[Atimm693 10+ year member]

If you need another answer, copper is copper and it wont matter.

 

[Nelson9937955 10+ year member]

Thanks alot guys. I have all the info I need here.

Focker...out.............