Best Gauge Speaker a Wire.

Larry Hamilton · From: Amarillo,Tx

Like the title says, what is the best gauge speaker wire to make speaker cables. I have a Sarno Revelation rack system. I know you can even use lamp cords but I've read that there is preferred gauge range. Thanks
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Keep pickin', Larry

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I'd say 16 would be good,possibly a tad over the minimum needed.
12 is certainly overkill, and starts adding weight and stiffness.
I'd worry about 20. Anything from 14-18 (AWG) would be in my Goldilocks Zone for shorter runs.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Larry Hamilton · From: Amarillo,Tx

Thanks Lane, that answered my question. I read it one time but wasn't going to trust my memory. Got some pretty good jacks, this will be tomorrow's little project.
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Keep pickin', Larry

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Don't remember where, but I fished this guide off the web a couple of years ago:

Clark Doughty · From: KANSAS

Thanks Donnie,

Got it copied and on file. Thanks for the post.
I'm using 16 but that was just from what I'd heard before.......clark

Doug Hall · From: Alabama, USA

Minimum wire size depends on maximum power you'll be putting through the wire, i.e., if you're running 5 watts max, your wire will not need to be as heavy as if you're running 500W, just to use an extreme example.

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

Just cross-checked with the cables (measured in mm2) I use, and found that for lengths where 16AWG cables are listed (in the image above), I'd use 10AWG, or thicker, cables.

Although the effect (Wattage drawn) matters, speaker dampening is more important when dealing with SS Amps. Speaker dampening is less of an issue with tube amps with their output transformers - they don't dampen all that well anyway.

Typically: for an 80Watt SS Amp, through an approx 10ft length of cable, into 4ohm speaker(s), I will use no less than 8mm2 cable = approx 8AWG. Any thinner cable and I'll hear the "bungee cord" effect caused by weak speaker dampening.

For those who don't know what the term "speaker dampening" means, it is an Amp's ability to dampen off a speaker's tendencies to continue to move/vibrate the coil and membrane on its own once set in motion. The higher/better the dampening factor, the more precise the sound (re)production.
The loss of a few percent effect (Watt) through a thin cable may not sound like much and cannot be heard, but the dampening factor falls many times as much as the effect through a cable that is on the thin side and that can be heard.

Larry Hamilton · From: Amarillo,Tx

Hey guys, thanks so much. Great information provided. Reasons to do or NOT to do things. Information for all players. Thanks again.
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Keep pickin', Larry

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