To show how little I’ve ever cared about car audio, is it OK to use 18 gauge wire for speakers? I have an abundance of 18 and don’t want to make another parts run.
Speaker wire?
- Thread starter Doug Chahoy
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Thanx, no high powered system. As said I’ve already got an abundance of 18 why spend more for smaller wire.
For my Regal I believe I ran 12 or 14 gauge pure copper fine strand speaker wire with a nice flexible casing which made for easy routing.
I have an aftermarket stereo with new 6 x 9's in the rear, 3-1/2" in the dash and I added 6-1/2" speakers in the doors I am no audio expert and I am not looking for a loud stereo and there is no external amp added but IMO if I am going to do all of these upgrades why not spend a little on a quality speaker wire so the items I installed can work their best.
I bought my speaker wire off Ebay a few years ago but it was similar to this listing below.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-...0001&campid=5335822911&icep_item=123318172981
I have an aftermarket stereo with new 6 x 9's in the rear, 3-1/2" in the dash and I added 6-1/2" speakers in the doors I am no audio expert and I am not looking for a loud stereo and there is no external amp added but IMO if I am going to do all of these upgrades why not spend a little on a quality speaker wire so the items I installed can work their best.
I bought my speaker wire off Ebay a few years ago but it was similar to this listing below.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-...0001&campid=5335822911&icep_item=123318172981
Good to know. With all the home wiring I’ve done, the smaller the gauge number the better. Just hoped it was the same for speakers.
18 Gauge speaker wire ought to be adequate for your stereo unless you're running amplifiers that have greater than 25W/channel RMS. If you're only using the head unit to power your speakers (head unit = CD player, radio in the dash) 18 gauge should suffice.
The time(s) to go with heavier speaker wire are when you build what I'm getting ready to modernise...I currently run a Rockford-Fosgate 4 channel amp (60w/channel RMS) along with a 400W subwoofer amp.I use 100% copper wire...10 gauge speaker wire to the 4 standard speakers, MONSTER cable to sub...100% copper 0 gauge amp power wire to junction block, 2 gauge copper wire to amps from block, 0 gauge grounds. I'm going to be modernizing my sound system and adding at least one more channel, with my intention of adding 6.5" component speakers with the mid bass driver going in the lower door panels & the tweeter likely going into a pod mounted somewhere on the A pillars as the 3.5" front dash speakers add very little to the overall sound while severely restricting the amount of power I can use from high end amps. I *MIGHT* also add 6.5" component speakers to the rear side panels aside each passenger. I currently have a set of Infinity Kappa series 6x9 speakers in the rear deck (with adapters). I can't make this decision until I hear how it will sound. I also will be updating my head unit to a bluetooth unit that charges cell phones etc etc.
For me I HAVE TO make 100% certain I NEVER have to suffer...sitting in traffic with someone cranking (C)rap so loud my body vibrates in my own car. I literally want to murder people the instant I hear rap/hiphop/techno/industrial etc etc and I do enjoy the look on their faces when they can hear the 'Stones emanating from my car.... the looks on their faces are quite priceless.
The time(s) to go with heavier speaker wire are when you build what I'm getting ready to modernise...I currently run a Rockford-Fosgate 4 channel amp (60w/channel RMS) along with a 400W subwoofer amp.I use 100% copper wire...10 gauge speaker wire to the 4 standard speakers, MONSTER cable to sub...100% copper 0 gauge amp power wire to junction block, 2 gauge copper wire to amps from block, 0 gauge grounds. I'm going to be modernizing my sound system and adding at least one more channel, with my intention of adding 6.5" component speakers with the mid bass driver going in the lower door panels & the tweeter likely going into a pod mounted somewhere on the A pillars as the 3.5" front dash speakers add very little to the overall sound while severely restricting the amount of power I can use from high end amps. I *MIGHT* also add 6.5" component speakers to the rear side panels aside each passenger. I currently have a set of Infinity Kappa series 6x9 speakers in the rear deck (with adapters). I can't make this decision until I hear how it will sound. I also will be updating my head unit to a bluetooth unit that charges cell phones etc etc.
For me I HAVE TO make 100% certain I NEVER have to suffer...sitting in traffic with someone cranking (C)rap so loud my body vibrates in my own car. I literally want to murder people the instant I hear rap/hiphop/techno/industrial etc etc and I do enjoy the look on their faces when they can hear the 'Stones emanating from my car.... the looks on their faces are quite priceless.
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