What kind of speaker wire should I use?

[bdonkersgoed 10+ year member]

Hey Everyone,

I am in the process of acquiring new audio equipment for my '99 Passat, and was wondering what kind of speaker wire I should use to get maximum SQL? What brand name and what gauge?

SETUP:

- Focal Utopia 165W 2-Way Components in front

- PPI Ax400 (Art Series) amp to power Focals

- RE-XXX 6.5" Mids in rear doors

- Orion HCCA 225 G4 amp to power RE's

Any help is appreciated!

Regards,

Bryan

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[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I'd use 14ga or 16ga wire, any brand will suffice. I use Stinger just because I can get it here locally for pretty cheap.

 

[bdonkersgoed 10+ year member]

I'd use 14ga or 16ga wire, any brand will suffice. I use Stinger just because I can get it here locally for pretty cheap.

Sounds good . . . thanks Squeak //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

How much is reasonable to pay per foot? And is there any advantage to the twisted pair speaker wire?

Thanks!

Bryan

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I wouldn't pay anymore than $.50 a foot. Somewhere in the $.20-$.40/ft should be pretty typical.

 

[bdonkersgoed 10+ year member]

Thanks //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Approximately how many feet should I be looking to buy? Do you think there is an advatage to twisted pair?

Thanks!

Bryan

 

[cjj2d 10+ year member]

I get stinger speaker wire for pretty cheap in town too:

12ga - .35/ft

14-16ga - .25/ft.

 

[bdonkersgoed 10+ year member]

Is this Stinger wire twisted pair, or not twisted? Does anyone know the advantage of twisted pair (if there really is any?

Thanks,

Bryan

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

In theory, they should have the advantage. In reality, you won't notice a difference //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Oh yeah....how many feet? Bust out the measuring tape and found out yourself //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif It depends on a lot of variables, such as where the amps are mounted, how you run the wire, etc etc. Get the meausuring tape, take some rough estimates, then add 5-10 feet to the rough estimates and you should be good //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[bdonkersgoed 10+ year member]

Thanks //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif I guess I will just take whatever is cheapest/available then.

I'm guessing that 12ga wire would be more appropriate in my case? Does it send a more clear signal or handle moer power than the 14ga?

Thanks again,

Bryan

 

[bdonkersgoed 10+ year member]

I am thinking about buying a spindle online which is why I am asking for approximate length. I guess 50ft should probably be more than enough . . . if not, I will just buy some locally.

Thanks,

Bryan

 

[cjj2d 10+ year member]

it really depends on where you want your crossovers, etc. remember if you are running the speaker wire from say trunk to speakers up front you will be running two sets for each side. so if you need 15ft(usually about how much from door to trunk, sometimes more) then you will need atleast 60ft just for the set of compnents.

once you get started you will realize you use alot more wire than you think at first. atleast I did.

12ga wire is really only neccasary for subs. 14 or 16ga is fine for comps.

 

[bdonkersgoed 10+ year member]

Yikes . . . yeah, it looks like I might be needing more like 100ft of wire. My two amps will be in the trunk (or under the rera seat if possible). If I biamplify the two-way components, I guess I would be looking at even more wire, correct?

I'll look at getting 100ft to start, and buy the rest locally.

Thanks!

Bryan

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

if you mount your crossovers under the dashboard or in the door, you will need less wire because ONE pair of wires goes from the amp to the crossover, and TWO pairs of wire goes to its respective tweeter or midrange.

||------[]====8

*KEY*

|| amp

--- wire from amp to crossover

[] crossover

== TWO wires

8 midrange and tweeter

if that makes sense. so if you mount the crossovers in the trunk, we are talking about TWICE as much wire being ran through the car.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I guess I would be looking at even more wire, correct?

Yup. I honestly wouldn't be suprised if you used 100ft. I know on my single comp set w/ crossovers in trunk and not bi-amping I used >50ft.