Best speaker wire selection help

[skytra7]

Hi, I would like to upgrade my speaker to recommended 12AWG from 18AWG and have whittled it down to three choices based on my $40.ca max budget. They all seem pretty similar to my ignorant eyes so I was wondering if somebody could help me split some hairs to reveal the one that is the best out of the bunch. I appreciate any help on this?


1.
Fosmon Speaker Wire, 12AWG Spooled CCA (Copper Clad Aluminum) Speaker Wire with Red Polarity Mark (50ft / 15m)

https://www.amazon.ca/Fosmon-Speaker-Spooled-Aluminum-Polarity/dp/B01KYHME20/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8


2.
FosPower Speaker Wire, 12AWG Premium Oxygen Free Bare Copper Speaker Wire with Clear Jacket and Red Polarity Mark (50ft / 15m)

https://www.amazon.ca/FosPower-Speaker-Premium-Oxygen-Polarity/dp/B01L0I290O/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8


3.
Monoprice 102747 50-Feet 12AWG Enhanced Loud Oxygen-Free Copper Speaker Wire Cable

https://www.amazon.ca/Monoprice-102747-50-Feet-Enhanced-Oxygen-Free/dp/B001UNGJF6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8


ADMIN Note: Please Read: Choosing the Best Speaker Cables & Gauge

 

[everettT]

12 gauge is 12 gauge. Either buy for looks or if applicable connectors.

 

[skytra7]

12 gauge is 12 gauge. Either buy for looks or if applicable connectors.

ok thanks, good to know

 

[Irvrobinson]

Buy only pure copper stranded wire. That copper clad aluminum stuff is inherently inferior.

 

[Speedskater]

Yes, skip the Fosmon Speaker Wire. It's just Copper Clad Aluminum.

There are hundreds of real 12AWG copper cables to chose from. The only differences will be in construction, safety rating and appearance.
They will all sound the same.

 

[lovinthehd]

Do you even need 12g wire? What is the nominal impedance of your speakers and how long is the run of wire to the speaker?

 

[Dale Doback]

Stay clear of CCA. It's crappolla.

 

[skytra7]

Do you even need 12g wire? What is the nominal impedance of your speakers and how long is the run of wire to the speaker?

8ohms speakers and the speakers are pretty much next to the AV receivers - 2 meters at most...

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

 

[lovinthehd]

8ohms speakers and the speakers are pretty much next to the AV receivers - 2 meters at most...

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

Your 18g wire is just fine for that application. Save the money for more important things. Try looking around this website, particularly the wire table.

 

[skytra7]

Your 18g wire is just fine for that application. Save the money for more important things. Try looking around this website, particularly the wire table.

Thanks didn't realise that! I have cancelled the order . Although the company that I am going to buy speakers from fluance recommend using 12 awg, are they just trying to make a cash grab then or is there some truth to the guage vs sound improvement...

http://blog.fluance.com/selecting-proper-speaker-wire-for-your-speakers/

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

 

[lovinthehd]

Thanks didn't realise that! I have cancelled the order . Although the company that I am going to buy speakers from fluance recommend using 12 awg, are they just trying to make a cash grab then or is there some truth to the guage vs sound improvement...

http://blog.fluance.com/selecting-proper-speaker-wire-for-your-speakers/

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

Try the website I linked, you can see by the wire table you're fine now; Roger Russel's a former director of McIntosh. Now while 12g certainly won't hurt, it's just not necessary and it won't be audibly different. The fluance blog thing isn't very helpful as far as determining the math involved, here's an AH article on the subject. You simply need sufficient gauge for the job in terms of impedance and length.

That said, many of us do just use good copper 12g cables to account for different speakers and lengths with a single stock to draw from, I do; I buy it in 300ft reels, like this https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023903&p_id=2790

 

[skytra7]

Try the website I linked, you can see by the wire table you're fine now; Roger Russel's a former director of McIntosh. Now while 12g certainly won't hurt, it's just not necessary and it won't be audibly different. The fluance blog thing isn't very helpful as far as determining the math involved, here's an AH article on the subject. You simply need sufficient gauge for the job in terms of impedance and length.

That said, many of us do just use good copper 12g cables to account for different speakers and lengths with a single stock to draw from, I do; I buy it in 300ft reels, like this https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023903&p_id=2790

Thanks again, good to have knowledge especially when it saves money!!

 

[mtrycrafts]

... Although the company that I am going to buy speakers from fluance recommend using 12 awg, are they just trying to make a cash grab then or is there some truth to the guage vs sound improvement...
...

No, it is not a cash grab unless they are peddling expensive cables. If you didn't have speaker cables, then 12/14 ga is preferable but 18 will do for that short distance. Audibility will not be affected.

 

[afterlife2]

Was wondering if you guys could tell me where to get the thin 10 feet speaker wires for cheap on ebay? Something like these type wires: https://www.delcity.net/store/2!Way-Flat-Connector/p_8873.h_84862.r_IF1003?mkwid=sgYu4071d&crid=38094426869&mp_kw=&mp_mt=&gclid=CjwKCAiAjuPRBRBxEiwAeQ2QPnJFunLDfWDMXh3ndp-hSlM9wh1za1_E_Hze7Q91fl7m2ZZilDiRKRoCJckQAvD_BwE

Merci.

 

[afterlife2]

Er Bump.

 

[lovinthehd]

You need what gauge of wire, and with those particular fittings in your link? Some reason why ebay only?

 

[afterlife2]

That's the reason I asked dunno. It's for a DIY of a 1.5 Range speaker(Ordered from ebay 3 weeks ago) that I want to solder. Just don't want to spend too much. I'm sure I can get them from China for a reasonable price on ebay. I'm thinking they are 24 gauge although not sure. My 16 gauge cables are too thick for this project. These are my drivers:

 

[lovinthehd]

That's the reason I asked dunno. It's for a DIY of a 1.5 Range speaker(Ordered from ebay 3 weeks ago) that I want to solder. Just don't want to spend too much. I'm sure I can get them from China for a reasonable price on ebay. I'm thinking they are 24 gauge although not sure. My 16 gauge cables are too thick for this project. These are my drivers:

What is too thick about your 16g to work? Do you need two colors to keep things straight? You just need a few inches of each? Maybe just go to a car stereo installer and see what they have?

 

[afterlife2]

Should be easy to acquire on Ebay and cheaper. Maybe something like these might work? https://www.ebay.com/itm/NETCOMLAB-50-Feet-20-Gauge-GA-Red-Black-2-Conductor-Speaker-Wire-Audio-Cable/302089570246?_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=2&asc=41376&meid=5957720aa9ee41f79e65143cf9a9a4e6&pid=100005&rk=5&rkt=6&mehot=ag&sd=251442366530&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

[lovinthehd]

Should be easy to acquire on Ebay and cheaper. Maybe something like these might work? https://www.ebay.com/itm/NETCOMLAB-50-Feet-20-Gauge-GA-Red-Black-2-Conductor-Speaker-Wire-Audio-Cable/302089570246?_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=2&asc=41376&meid=5957720aa9ee41f79e65143cf9a9a4e6&pid=100005&rk=5&rkt=6&mehot=ag&sd=251442366530&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

There ya go and don't have to leave the comfort of your home! Happy holidaze!