What gauge speaker wire for 20ft at 100W RMS
#1
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I am trying to figure out what the best gauge speaker wire is to run my doors at 100W RMS with the amp in the back.
Would 14 gauge Oxygen-free Copper get the job done? I feel like 14 gauge is overkill, but the price is good.
Would 14 gauge Oxygen-free Copper get the job done? I feel like 14 gauge is overkill, but the price is good.
#3
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iTrader: (4)
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Yes, 14 gauge will give you plenty of headroom and is fine if you can get it cheap and you don't mind the stiffness and diameter for routing the wires. But 16 gauge is more than enough for 100W output. You will lose only 0.34 dB at 20 feet into a 4-ohm load... that's inaudible to the human ear (14 gauge wire will lose 0.22 dB in the same situation so the difference is minimal). Now, if you plan on upgrading to 500W at some point then going larger now will avoid future rewiring.
#4
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Yes, 14 gauge will give you plenty of headroom and is fine if you can get it cheap and you don't mind the stiffness and diameter for routing the wires. But 16 gauge is more than enough for 100W output. You will lose only 0.34 dB at 20 feet into a 4-ohm load... that's inaudible to the human ear (14 gauge wire will lose 0.22 dB in the same situation so the difference is minimal). Now, if you plan on upgrading to 500W at some point then going larger now will avoid future rewiring.
#6
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I figured 14 was over kill, but I got 100ft of it for less than $30.
For now, I'm going to have 90W to 6.75 components in the doors, 90W to 6.75 mid-bass in the sails, and @60W to 5.25 components in the hatch (i will turn that down as needed). I know.. I am breaking the rules by putting components in the hatch, but I do not like front staging.
For now, I'm going to have 90W to 6.75 components in the doors, 90W to 6.75 mid-bass in the sails, and @60W to 5.25 components in the hatch (i will turn that down as needed). I know.. I am breaking the rules by putting components in the hatch, but I do not like front staging.