Re: What's the smallest wire AWG that you feel confident using for speakers?

From my experience 22 gauge won't be enough on a 95db speaker. It didn't even work that well on my ~99 db bass drivers.

I've used 22.5 gauge on a 108db Oris Horn and now 112db Orphean Horn, and that works well enough :).

Dennis Boyle at Chimera Labs has done extensive testing of appropriate gauges for various efficiency drivers, at least for his copper litz magnet wire cables. Results may vary with other wire metal types and geometries. Still, it might help you figure out what you need for your situation.

Check out: http://www.chimeralabs.com/spkr_intrl_full.html

This will give you some idea on his recommendations.

In some other literature I have from Dennis which I don't think is on his website anymore, his general recommendation starting point for speakers 95db and lower is about 16 gauge.

http://www.chimeralabs.com/spkr_intrl_full.html (Open in New Window)

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - What's the smallest wire AWG that you feel confident using for speakers? - Quiet Earth 09:11:36 04/01/07 (21)

I used one strand of a CAT5 cable to drive a sub. - GTF 16:43:46 04/02/07 (0)

It depends on how many amperes the cable handles. - cheap-Jack 13:16:34 04/02/07 (0)

Well Then - Cappy 21:57:24 04/01/07 (1)

That's OK. Par for the course. - Quiet Earth 22:47:29 04/01/07 (0)

Re: What's the smallest wire AWG that you feel confident using for speakers? - rwiley 17:31:39 04/01/07 (2)

That's a good idea - Quiet Earth 22:26:18 04/01/07 (1)

Re: That's a good idea - rwiley 10:44:32 04/02/07 (0)

14. Also the largest gauge. - Al Sekela 16:17:25 04/01/07 (3)

Re: 14. Also the largest gauge. - JimBop 16:47:41 04/01/07 (2)

Also, try stores that sell military surplus electronics. - Al Sekela 11:26:26 04/02/07 (0)

Here - Cpk 11:05:30 04/02/07 (0)

Don't know its "gauge" but the Mapleshade... - EBerlin 15:55:13 04/01/07 (0)

Re: What's the smallest wire AWG that you feel confident using for speakers? - Dawnrazor 15:23:59 04/01/07 (1)

Another vote to experiment first. - Quiet Earth 22:58:28 04/01/07 (0)

There's a school of thought that small-gage wire is better-sounding overall; I've linked the thread. - jeffreybehr 12:00:45 04/01/07 (3)

Thank you for that link. It was helpful. - Quiet Earth 22:43:48 04/01/07 (2)

Well, it may LOOK complicated, but from an amp's perspective, it's not. - jeffreybehr 09:50:31 04/02/07 (1)

less complicated without a crossover and bandwidth limited too - Quiet Earth 11:29:45 04/02/07 (0)

Re: What's the smallest wire AWG that you feel confident using for speakers? - Cappy 11:02:20 04/01/07 (0)

Small gauge wire for speaker cables - Metralla 10:55:19 04/01/07 (1)

Re: Small gauge wire for speaker cables - some young guy 14:23:08 04/02/07 (0)

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Re: What's the smallest wire AWG that you feel confident using for speakers? - Cappy 11:02:20 04/01/07 (0)

Re: What's the smallest wire AWG that you feel confident using for speakers?

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