Car Speaker Wire

What is Car Speaker Wire?

Car Speaker Wire is the wire that provides the link between loudspeakers and amplifiers. Although it is most often used with automotive stereos, it is not necessarily only used in cars. The construction of car speaker cable consists of two insulated electrical conductors of the same size, plastic or rubber insulation, and in some cases a jacket.

When Can Car Speaker Wire be Used?

Car Speaker Wire can be used in low-voltage applications, such as radios, public address systems, speaker systems, music systems, and other speaker connections. Car Speaker Wire is most commonly used in automotive applications, which is why we list it as a car speaker wire. Speaker cable is not intended to be used in extreme conditions and has a maximum temperature of 60°C. Car speaker wire is not intended for in-wall applications, such as home theaters.

Is the gauge size of a Car Speaker Wire Important?

To carry an amplified signal, a speaker wire needs adequate thickness. Because cable thickness is measured in gauge and affects sound quality, the gauge size of the wire is important to take into consideration. The American Wire Gauge (AWG) uses lower numbers to indicate thicker wire and higher numbers to indicate thinner wire, so make sure to check the AWG size when choosing your wire.

How to Choose Wire Gauge For Car Audio Speakers Wire

There’s a standard size for almost all types of stereo systems. So whether you’re buying one for your car audio or a home theater system, you can go for the standard choice. In this case, an 18-gauge wire gauge would be considered to be standard. When you’re looking at the price-performance ratio, this length would definitely give you the best value overall. There is a slight difference between the wattages of car audio speakers and the theater systems in your home. But keep in mind that an 18-gauge wire gauge would do just fine for a 50W car speaker.

Power Handling Rating

When it comes to choosing the correct speaker wire gauge, the power handling rating comes into consideration. The rating of the wires depends on the power of the speakers used in your vehicle. If you haven’t gone overboard with gigantic boom boxes in your truck, an 18-gauge wire would be enough to tackle a 4Ohm car audio speaker. Things are slightly different for home speakers, though. Since they consume half the power, you can opt for a more powerful speaker with the same 18-gauge wire.

The AWG Standard

If you’re new to the word AWG, you should know that it stands for the American Wire Gauge standard. And most wires should be following this standard if they’re not already. The best wire gauges follow the AWG standards. So if you’re on the hunt for a proper wire gauge for audio speakers, look for one that strictly maintains this standard. AWG ratings also specify how much power the wires can handle. So if you’re looking to blow the sound through the roof of your car, you’ll probably need a wire gauge with a higher AWG rating.

Which Size Car Speaker Wire Should I get?

If you’re looking for a quick and easy answer, well, there really isn’t one. But getting the 18-gauge car speaker wire should be the safest bet. They’re perfect for car speakers of 50 watts and 4 ohms. They can also do quite well with 100W home speakers.

And, if you’re looking for wire gauges for higher powered systems that come with powerful subwoofers, then you’re going to have to dish out a lot more cash. Stick with 16gauge ones for these systems.