The above maximums are the maximums to ensure that your cable resistance is less than 5% of your speaker’s impedance. ExamplesĪt 2Ω, 22-gauge wire can be extended about three feet without signal loss 20-gauge wire can be extended about five feet 18-gauge wire can be extended seven feet 16-gauge wire can be extended 11 feet 14-gauge wire can be extended 13 feet 12-gauge wire can be extended 29 feet, and 10-gauge wire can be extended 49 feet.Īt 4Ω, 22-gauge wire can be extended about five feet without signal loss 20-gauge wire can be extended about nine feet 18-gauge wire can be extended 15 feet 16-gauge wire can be extended 23 feet 14-gauge wire can be extended 39 feet 12-gauge wire can be extended 59 feet, and 10-gauge wire can be extended 98 feet.Īt 6Ω, 22-gauge wire can be extended about eight feet without signal loss 20-gauge wire can be extended about 14 feet 18-gauge wire can be extended 23 feet 16-gauge wire can be extended 35 feet 14-gauge wire can be extended 59 feet 12-gauge wire can be extended 89 feet, and 10-gauge wire can be extended 148 feet.Īt 8Ω, 22-gauge wire can be extended about 11 feet without signal loss 20-gauge wire can be extended about 19 feet 18-gauge wire can be extended 31 feet 16-gauge wire can be extended 48 feet 14-gauge wire can be extended 79 feet 12-gauge wire can be extended 118 feet, and 10-gauge wire can be extended 195 feet. Because of this, the higher the gauge the shorter the distance you can extend your wire. The wire is measured in numerical gauges the higher the gauge, the thinner the wire and the greater the resistance. The higher the impedance, the longer you can extend your wire. Speakers usually come in one of four impedance levels: 2Ω, 4Ω, 6Ω, or 8Ω. Speaker impedance is measured in ohms, represented by the Greek letter omega, Ω. This is usually indicated on the back of the speaker. Impedance is a measurement of the amount of resistance in the coil of a speaker. The recommended maximum depends on two variables: wire gauge and speaker impedance. The longer the length of wire a current has to travel equals the more energy that will be lost as heat.īecause of this, as you use longer wire, you lose power to your speakers. Resistance in lengths of wire results in loss of energy as heat. Speaker wire, like any conductor, has a certain degree of resistance. One reason to use the same gauge of wire is that it makes it possible to easily calculate how long you can extend your speaker wire. If you need to use different lengths of wire for paired speakers, you may need to use different gauges of wire, but calculating this is complicated and best left to a professional. In general, you will want paired speakers to use the same length of wire to balance the impedance load between the speakers. If you need to run a wire further than this, it is highly recommended that you use wiring that is 12 gauge or less. Thus, in general, you want to use the highest gauge wire you can get for the distance you intend to run your speaker wire over.Īlthough lower gauge wire can theoretically be extended over long distances, it’s recommended that you don’t run any speaker wire longer than 50 feet. This is good if you are running the wire over longer distances, however, you could lose power to your speaker due to this. The thicker the wire, the more impedance or resistance the wire will have. Gauge is expressed as a number where a higher gauge actually equals a thinner wire. The gauge of a wire refers to its thickness. The first thing we need to be concerned with when it comes to speaker wire is the wire gauge. This guide will take you through everything you need to know to extend your wire. Though, some claim that the “drop” in sound quality is merely a myth. Ideally, you would want to use a single length of wire, convenience and cost may overtake the minor loss in sound quality from using extended wires. In particular, your connection type and your wire gauge will determine which method you should proceed with. But before doing so you must consider the wire gauge and speaker impedance. The most effective method is to strip the wire and use a wire cap. You are all ready to plug them in when you discover your speaker’s wire does not go as far as you need it to. You position them in perfect places in your room to achieve that robust home theater sound.
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