This is heavy-duty wire that is ready to equip any home or vehicle with monstrous phonic potential, with lower static and impedance. Aluminum has only 61% of the conductivity of copper (in other words, it has 39% more resistance) meaning it will take larger aluminum wires to get the same power handling, capacity, and resistance value. Use enough force to hold the wire in place and slightly pinch the insulation, but not enough to put force on the wire inside.

Gauge vs. 14 Gauge Speaker Wire: Which is Better? 16 Gauge vs. 14 Gauge Speaker Wire: Which is Better?

Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now. Of course, if you’re an audiophile ready to test the limits of each type of wire, it might be worth it to conduct a test of your own with higher-end materials; however, many of us won’t notice the difference between premium speaker wires and more affordable options as much as we’ll notice the difference between music and no music. This InstallGear speaker wire is particularly popular for car speaker systems but can also be used for home systems.If you rarely use your amp or stereo output above 50%-60% power, you can go down one wire AWG gauge. While it may not be top-of-the-line or feature pure copper, it will get the job done for at-home systems.

Speaker Wire Gauges Explained: Which Do You Need? - How-To Geek

You can’t reinvent the wheel, and you can’t make such a product significantly better than your competitors’ versions. Although 16-gauge speaker wire is generally cheaper than 14-gauge speaker wire due to being thinner, as an audiophile, you shouldn’t compromise cost over the sound quality. Solid core wire isn’t easy to deal with in situations where you’ll need to go around curves like around car seats or tight spaces. This means that when comparing two equal size wires made of aluminum and copper, you don’t get the same performance.

Low impedance is the key factor of a good quality audio cable, particularly when it comes to speakers and low impedance headphones. Heat the wire-tab junction until solder flows freely and covers most of the wire end at the metal tab.

speaker wires for 2023 | Popular Science The best speaker wires for 2023 | Popular Science

This 16-gauge wire is wrapped in a clear plastic jacket, with a white line down one side to indicate polarity. If not, you can follow the general rule of thumb that 12 or 14 gauge speaker wire is needed for long wire runs with low-impedance speakers (4 or 6Ω). Even though a speaker wire is merely a "wire," there are a few things you should consider before purchasing one. For lengthy wire, high-power applications, and low-impedance speakers, a thick wire of 12 or 14 gauge is advised.

In that case, a general rule of thumb is to double the size by choosing a wire thickness 2 sizes up from what you would use for shorter distances.