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Speaker Wire

Discussion in 'General Car Audio Discussions' started by electrolytic, Feb 12, 2007.

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  1. electrolytic

    electrolytic Full Member

    hey, i want to hook up my new amp but i don't have enough 12 gauge speaker wire and i'm broke lol. Would 8 gauge wire be ok for speaker wire, i have lots of it, but if it's going to do funny things to the amp then i will wait.

    Orion 9002
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2007
    electrolytic, Feb 12, 2007
    #1
  2. JoeAudio26

    JoeAudio26 Full Member

    If you asked this question at caraudio.com, you would be told to run 0 gauge lol.
    But I'm not those Idiots.
    I run 12 gauge and like it that being said I also have used 16 and 14 and noticed no loss of power gain or db . As far as running 8 gauge that's a bit much kinda useless over kill. I'd save a few bucks, and get some wire 12or 16 gauge is more then efficient..

    Come to think of it I have 50 ft of 16 gauge sitting in the garage by streetwires, maybe you can use some of it..?
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2007
    JoeAudio26, Feb 12, 2007
    #2
  3. DaveDSMer

    DaveDSMer Full Member

    sell me some 8 gauge wire for my install... now!
     
    DaveDSMer, Feb 12, 2007
    #3
  4. JoeAudio26

    JoeAudio26 Full Member

    I use 8 gauge for powering my amp. I cant Imagine, what it's like to use for speaker wire..:eek:
     
    JoeAudio26, Feb 12, 2007
    #4
  5. aznboi3644

    aznboi3644 Full Member

    8 gauge is used for competition and show...16 gauge is fine for speakers. You will hear no difference.

    And to answer your question...YES! 8 gauge will work. As in sending the signal from the amp to the speaker than yes it will work...just not as practical...more of a waste.
     
    aznboi3644, Feb 12, 2007
    #5
  6. electrolytic

    electrolytic Full Member

    Cool, i decided against it, it wouldn't fit in the plugs anyways, i made do with what i had. The amp is so big i can't mount it in the side of my trunk like i wanted, it won't fit! lol So i just screwed it to the top of my enclosure, hope it doesn't rattle it to pieces. Very nice amp by the way, have never heard bass sound so smooth and controlled and punchy in my car anyways. I'm very happy with it, now to find a dual 2 ohm or a 4 ohm superwoofer so i can get the full 900 watts!:)
    Looks like i'm going to have to upgrade the front now, it is very quiet compared to the back. Maybe i can screw around with the settings and find a happy medium.
     
    electrolytic, Feb 12, 2007
    #6
  7. electrolytic

    electrolytic Full Member

    Dave, i have a little less than half of a big spindle of 8 gauge, if you want i can send you some but i'm in Toronto.
     
    electrolytic, Feb 12, 2007
    #7
  8. aznboi3644

    aznboi3644 Full Member

    Electro what does your system consist of??
     
    aznboi3644, Feb 12, 2007
    #8
  9. electrolytic

    electrolytic Full Member

    Pioneer DEH-P7700MP
    Ford Premium Sound, Only the speakers lol, there are 6 of them, a tweeter up by the window and the mid down in the door and then 5x7's in the back.
    Orion 9002 XTR
    MTX MXS1004 2 10" Subs 400 watts rms each hooked as 4 ohm stereo 225watts rms x2
     
    electrolytic, Feb 12, 2007
    #9
  10. aznboi3644

    aznboi3644 Full Member

    Nice...I have an MTX MZS1204, pretty nice sub
     
    aznboi3644, Feb 12, 2007
    #10
  11. Hautewheeler

    Hautewheeler Full Member

    I use four gauge welding wire from rural king (or farm and barn) - stuff is great and is cheap too... lots of little fine strands so that you can cut it down to whatever size will fit your connections. Just remember to tinze the ends because it is so flexible.:)
     
    Hautewheeler, Feb 12, 2007
    #11
  12. electrolytic

    electrolytic Full Member

    Yes they are nice, i had 2 12's the same in a box also that i ended up selling, Have yet to burn one lol.
     
    electrolytic, Feb 12, 2007
    #12
  13. aznboi3644

    aznboi3644 Full Member

    Welding cable is actually very nice wire...just everyone wants big name audio wire.
     
    aznboi3644, Feb 12, 2007
    #13
  14. DaveDSMer

    DaveDSMer Full Member

    hmm shipping from Canada.. would be expensive.. darn it!
     
    DaveDSMer, Feb 12, 2007
    #14
  15. kustomizingkid

    kustomizingkid Full Member

    I don't understand why people think they need special wire for there speakers. I was helping my friend instal subs in his car and he was telling me how he had to wait an extra week to get the power wire for his amp. I asked him why he needed special wire when he could've gotten wire locally for cheap. He told me that the wire he got was special, and that it was made for amps.
     
    kustomizingkid, Feb 12, 2007
    #15
  16. electrolytic

    electrolytic Full Member

    I don't care about the make, wire is wire..But proper gauge is the main thing. I did hear from a friend of mine though was telling me he saw a system in a car show with some crazy amount of wattage and his speaker wire was like string. He said it did something to the signal which allowed him more wattage? Lol does that make sense to anyone?

    Dave shipping would be like 10.00, it wouldn't be a big package. I can ship you some in a few days when i get paid, i have to ship some ebay stuff anyways same time.
     
    electrolytic, Feb 12, 2007
    #16
  17. electrolytic

    electrolytic Full Member

    electrolytic, Feb 12, 2007
    #17
  18. aznboi3644

    aznboi3644 Full Member

    The new 5500 series looks exactly like mine except for the new dustcap look.

    In competition and very high power setups there can be pretty high current being pushed through the speaker wire...I'm sure Ranger here has 8 gauge or bigger speaker wire in his van
     
    aznboi3644, Feb 12, 2007
    #18
  19. electrolytic

    electrolytic Full Member

    Hey Sup? How about rca wire and the remote wire. The remote is only there to turn the amp on and off i beleive! It's not to supply any extra power for the amp? Also is it worth it to buy a nice thicker set of rcas than the cheap one i got from a parts place.:cool:
     
    electrolytic, Feb 13, 2007
    #19
  20. aznboi3644

    aznboi3644 Full Member

    Yes...some high quality rca cables are 16 gauge.

    But anything is better than the flea market crap using 22 gauge wire
     
    aznboi3644, Feb 13, 2007
    #20
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