Choosing the correct in wall speaker wire can make a great difference to the sound quality of your home audio system; expensive speakers won’t sound good if you are using poor-quality speaker cables. When you buy speakers they don’t come with in wall speaker wire, and there are many different types of wire available which can make it difficult to choose. When choosing the best in wall speaker wire for your system it is important to select the correct gauge, length, and type of wire as well as the best connection options for your equipment.
What is the correct gauge for my system?
The thickness or gauge of the wire is numbered according to the American Wire Gauge (AWG) system and the lower the number the thicker the wire and the better the quality for the audio signal. Most of the available in wall speaker wire currently ranges from 12 to 16.
It is important when choosing the right gauge to consider the quality of your system and the budget you have allocated for the cables. Another important consideration is the distance between your amp and your speakers, if you have a greater distance you will require thicker cable.
Generally speaking the thicker the wire the better the sound quality will be from your speakers especially if you are using high quality components for your music system or surround sound home theater. High quality in wall speaker wire will give your system a more dynamic sound with more detail and range of frequencies especially if you are using a surround sound system. The thick wires will reduce the overall resistance of your amp to produce a better sound quality.
What is the best quality of in wall speaker wire?
The best in wall speaker wire uses high quality metal that improves the conductivity and you can also choose shielded cables that won’t cause interference in order to get the best possible sound.
What is the best method to measure the amount of wire you need?
In order to ensure you have the right amount of in wall speaker wire it is best to measure the distance from your amp to the speakers and allow for corners or other obstructions that may require some extra length. Always allow some extra wire for connecting and also consider that you may want to move the speakers in the future. Try to use the same length of wire for all of your speakers as this will guarantee the best sound as each speaker will receive the same amount of power from your amp with the same resistance. You can choose flat in wall speaker wire that can also be painted to match the color of your floor and walls to give your system and the room a neater look and to make the wire less noticeable in your room. If you want to run the wire inside the wall you should opt for UL-rated in wall speaker wire with a CL2 or CL3 label. This means the wire has been tested by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) to ensure it will not overheat and cause a fire while being used especially inside the wall and if you want to install your speakers outdoors you will need special outdoor in wall speaker wire to provide the necessary protection.
How important is in wall speaker wire?
In wall speaker wire is important for your system as it delivers the necessary power from the amp to drive the speakers. If you use thin or old speaker cable the speakers don’t receive enough power to be driven properly which results in poor sound quality and it is particularly noticeable if you are using high quality components and speakers in your system.
How to connect your speakers
The in wall speaker wire has to be connected to the speaker terminals from the back of your amp to the speakers. The wire and terminals will be colored to ensure you connect them correctly and the connectors on the amp and speakers are normally marked with a (+) and a (-) and colored red and black. Using special speaker connectors are a better idea than just connecting the bare wires, the connectors will ensure a good solid connection as the bare wires may become frayed or damaged over time.
Some speaker cables come complete with attached connectors so make sure that the connectors are the correct type for your amp and speakers before purchasing to ensure compatibility for the terminals. If you want to cut and connect the in wall speaker wire yourself make sure you twist the wire strands tightly before connecting to ensure there are no stray wires that could potentially cause a short circuit and damage to your system.
In wall speaker wire terminals
Speakers usually have one of two different types of connection terminals spring clips and binding posts. Spring clips are easy to use and the spring-loaded mechanism holds the in wall speaker wire securely in place. Spring clips can be used with bare wire and pin connectors, but it’s not possible to use spade connectors or any kind of banana plugs.
Binding posts will offer you a good solid connection that will ensure a good sound coming through you in wall speaker wire.