The 10 Best Gauge Speaker Wire For Surround Sound, Tested And Researched

Nicolas Ward By, Nicolas Ward
Updated
Best Gauge Speaker Wire For Surround Sound
Best Gauge Speaker Wire For Surround Sound

The Rundown

1. Best of the Best: Amazon Basics 16-Gauge Speaker Wire

Amazon Basics 16-Gauge Speaker Wire is a high-quality wire with a user-friendly design that makes it easy to attach audio speakers to your A/V receiver or amplifier. Wrapped around a hard plastic spool for simple dispensing, this wire is flexible and durable, so you don't have to worry about your speaker wires breaking. Read Review

2. Best Bang For The Buck: InstallGear 14 Gauge AWG 100ft Speaker Wire

InstallGear 14 Gauge AWG 100ft Speaker Wire is designed for easy installation and provides efficient, clean, and safe wiring. This wire features a two-color jacket allowing easy polarity identification while the cable is installed. The jacket on our wire is designed with the installer in mind, giving them maximum flexibility and ease of use when working with this wire. Read Review

3. Best Affordable: GearIT 14AWG Speaker Wire

GearIT 14AWG Speaker Wire is the finest quality speaker wire available. This wire has a pure copper conductor wrapped in zinc-plated steel, to provide corrosion resistance to pure copper wire and the highest quality material. Read Review

4. Best Easy To Assemble: InstallGear 100ft14 Gauge Speaker Wire

Installing a speaker wire is easy with InstallGear 100ft14 Gauge Speaker Wire. Its rugged PVC jacket withstands the rigors of daily use and the two-color jacket makes it easy to identify the correct polarity. It also installs easily into most crimp terminals and its jacket strips can be easily removed for quick installations. Read Review

5. Best Adjustable: Pyramid 100ft 14 Gauge Speaker Zip Wire

This very long 100ft speaker wire is neatly wrapped around a hard plastic spool for easy and convenient dispensing. This speaker wire can be cut as desired for specific installation needs, or it can be left to coil up for easy storage or carrying about. Read Review

The type of speakers in your system will dictate the gauge of speaker wire you use. The higher the gauge number, the better it will transmit sound. However, not all speaker wires are equal. Choose the right speaker cable and wire gauge to get the best surround sound from your setup. There are many different types of speaker wire on the market, and it can be challenging to know which is suitable for your particular design.

The good news is that there are only a few essential things to consider when choosing speaker wire: how much audio bandwidth do you need? What is noise performance like? How much power should be able to go through each wire? Here we explain what they all mean so you can make an informed purchasing decision.

After hours of research on customer feedback & product specifications, We've come up with the idea that the best gauge speaker wire for surround sound is a Amazon Basics 16-Gauge Speaker Wire. If you desire extra features not included in this model, you might look into another one: InstallGear 14 Gauge AWG 100ft Speaker Wire. Our products are selected for good performance and easy installation and will give you a great product experience. It could better suit your needs.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 Amazon Basics 16-Gauge Speaker Wire
Our Score:
9.9
Amazon Basics

CONVENIENT: Connects audio speakers to an A/V receiver or amplifier

CLEAR AUDIO: Plastic jacket helps ensure high-quality undistorted signals to and from audio equipment

USER FRIENDLY DESIGN: White line on one side of wire indicates the polarity for a proper audio system set up

EASY DISPENSING: Comes wrapped around a hard plastic spool for simple dispensing

IN THE BOX: 100-foot 16 gauge speaker wire cable

TOP Choice #2 InstallGear 14 Gauge AWG 100ft Speaker Wire
Our Score:
9.7
InstallGear

100-FEET (30.5m) [FROSTED BLUE/BLACK 14 GAUGE SPEAKER WIRE ] - The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. Thicker wire presents less resistance to current flow.

EASY POLARITY IDENTIFICATION - This two color jacket allows for easy polarity identification. Making a polarity mistake could be damaging to your audio equipment.

SOFT TOUCH JACKET - The jacket on our cable is designed with the installer in mind. The flexibility of this jacket allows for easy routing and has a low memory.

COPPER CLAD ALUMINUM (CCA) - CCA wiring provides a good conductor for transmitting audio. This is the most economical option when choosing speaker wire.

RUGGED PVC JACKET - Allows free, wide and seamless adjustment of the required physical properties of this wire such as flexibility, elasticity, and impact resistance.

TOP Choice #3 GearIT 14AWG Speaker Wire
Our Score:
9.5
GearIT

Preminum Speaker Wire – Use This Gearit Pro Series Speaker Wire Cable That’S Build Quality Stranded Conductors To Build This Professional Grade Speaker Wire Audio Cable

Advantage Of Cca (Copper Clad Aluminum) – Here Are The Facts About Cca Vs Oxygen Free Copper. Cca Wire Offers The Same Signal Frequency And Reliability In Terms Of Corrosion Resistance To Copper Wire. The Advantage Of The Cca Speaker Wire Is Lighter And More Flexible Than Copper Wire. The Cost Of Cca Vs Oxygen Free Copper Is Much Lower And You Can Enjoy The Same Functions And Reliability As Copper Wire Without Paying The Extra Cost For The Installation

Highest Quality Material And Tier 1 Manufacture Process - The Cable Is Made Of Cca Copper Clad Aluminum, Ensuring High Fidelity Sound Quality And Providing Maximum'S Conductivity And Durability Without Paying The Additional Cost. The Product Go Through Many States Of Testing To Ensure The Highest Performance And Reliability Of The Products

Custom Installations – You Can Use This Speaker Wire To Pair With Banana Plugs, Spade Tips, Or Bent Pin Connectors To Connect Your Speakers To Your A/V Receiver Or Amplifier With This Gearit Pro Series Speaker Wire

4 InstallGear 100ft14 Gauge Speaker Wire
Our Score:
9.3
InstallGear

100-FEET (30.5m) [RUGGED RED/BLACK 14 GAUGE SPEAKER WIRE] - The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. Thicker wire presents less resistance to current flow.

SOFT TOUCH JACKET - The jacket on our cable is designed with the installer in mind. The flexibility of this jacket allows for easy routing and has a low memory.

COPPER CLAD ALUMINUM (CCA) - CCA wiring provides a good conductor for transmitting audio. This is the most economical option when choosing speaker wire.

EASY POLARITY IDENTIFICATION - This two color jacket allows for easy polarity identification. Making a polarity mistake could be damaging to your audio equipment.

RUGGED PVC JACKET - Allows free, wide and seamless adjustment of the required physical properties of this wire such as flexibility, elasticity, and impact resistance.

5 Pyramid 100ft 14 Gauge Speaker Zip Wire
Our Score:
9.1
Pyramid

14 Gauge 100 ft. Spool of High Quality Speaker Zip Wire(Colors may vary)

6 InstallGear 16 Gauge AWG Speaker Wire
Our Score:
8.9
InstallGear

100-FEET (30.5m) [ RED/BLACK 16 GAUGE SPEAKER WIRE ] - The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. Thicker wire presents less resistance to current flow.

RUGGED PVC JACKET - Allows free, wide and seamless adjustment of the required physical properties of this wire such as flexibility, elasticity, and impact resistance.

SOFT TOUCH JACKET - The jacket on our cable is designed with the installer in mind. The flexibility of this jacket allows for easy routing and has a low memory.

EASY POLARITY IDENTIFICATION - This two color jacket allows for easy polarity identification. Making a polarity mistake could be damaging to your audio equipment.

COPPER CLAD ALUMINUM (CCA) - CCA wiring provides a good conductor for transmitting audio. This is the most economical option when choosing speaker wire.

Connector type: Component

12 gauge 50 ft. spool of high quality speaker zip wire

50ft convenient dispense: this very long 50ft speaker wire is neatly wrapped around a hard plastic spool for easy and convenient dispensing. it can be used without hassle and instantly too

cut as desired: the wire can be cut as desired for specific installation needs. if the plastic jacket is removed, the wire can be left bare or use wire crimp accessories to connect to stereo and speakers

12 gauge thickness: this 12 gauge copper speaker wire offers very easily connection for speakers to amplifiers or receivers. the thickness is just enough for resistance and electrical flow without the risk of overheating

undistorted signal: made with plastic jacket surrounding the speaker wire to help deliver high-quality undistorted signals to and from all of connected audio equipment. this also helps with insulation

polarity mark: there’s a red mark outlined on one side of the cable wire. its purpose is to easily distinguish the polarity and help properly set up any audio stereo, surround sound system, tv home theater and even a car

12 Gauge 50 ft. Spool of High Quality Speaker Zip Wire

8 InstallGear 16 Gauge Wire
Our Score:
8.5
InstallGear

RUGGED PVC JACKET - Allows free, wide and seamless adjustment of the required physical properties of this wire such as flexibility, elasticity, and impact resistance.

100-FEET (30.5m) / 16 GAUGE SPEAKER WIRE - The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. Thicker wire presents less resistance to current flow.

SOFT TOUCH JACKET - The jacket on our cable is designed with the installer in mind. The flexibility of this jacket allows for easy routing and has a low memory.

EASY POLARITY IDENTIFICATION - This two color jacket allows for easy polarity identification. Making a polarity mistake could be damaging to your audio equipment.

OXYGEN-FREE COPPER (OFC) - Oxygen Free Copper wiring provides a superior electrical conductor to aluminum because it does not expand or contract with heat and can carry a higher current load.

MARINE GRADE CABLE: Very convenient to use indoors or outdoors because it is marine grade. Offers a waterproof feature so it can be used by the pool, on water base vehicles and more

50ft Length Spool

POLARITY MARK: There’s a white mark outlined on one side of the cable wire. Its purpose is to easily distinguish the polarity and help properly set up any audio stereo, surround sound system, TV home theater and even a car

18 AWG Stereo Wire

Blue White Marine Grade Insulation

UNDISTORTED SIGNAL: Made with plastic jacket surrounding the speaker wire to help deliver high-quality undistorted signals to and from all of connected audio equipment. This also helps with insulation

18 GAUGE THICKNESS: This 18-gauge waterproof speaker wire offers very easily connection for speakers to amplifiers or receivers. The thickness is just enough for resistance and electrical flow without the risk of overheating

50FT CONVENIENT DISPENSE: This very long 50ft speaker wire is neatly wrapped around a hard plastic spool for easy and convenient dispensing. It can be used without hassle and instantly too

Ideal for new Marine Installation

Copper Clad Aluminum Conductor (CCA)

Rugged Black Jacket with White Polarity Stripe

Easy Polarity Identification

14 Gauge Wire

100ft (30.5m) Speaker Wire

Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What Does Our Expert Advice You To Consider For Selecting best gauge speaker wire for surround sound?

best gauge speaker wire for surround sound is chosen based on a number of parameters. Depending on the product category, the learning process differs. And so, we're here to consult, guide, and address your product-related problems.

Please keep in mind the following points before selecting best gauge speaker wire for surround sound:

Resistance

Before you purchase any speaker wire, you must first look at its resistance. A speaker wire with a lower resistance means that the amplifier is able to send more power through the coil. Because speaker wires of this type have low resistance, they are shorter in length and thicker. It can cause a dangerous audible effect if the resistance exceeds 5% of the loud speaker's impedance.

Wire Material

Any speaker wire's wire material is made up of the conductor metal contained within its wire cover. Copper is a common choice for speaker wires due to its low cost and high conductivity. Copper can oxidize if it is exposed to oxygen, which can cause higher resistance. Copper is still the most efficient conductor of speaker wires. Although gold can conduct well, it's quite expensive so most people don't consider buying speaker wires with this metal.

Gauge

It is also known as the cross sectional area of the wire. The wire gauge is often also known as its thickness. You should be aware that speaker wire is generally thicker if it has a lower gauge than the other. Two acceptable gauge standards exist: the American Wire Gauge and the Standard Wire Guage. You should purchase a lower gauge speaker wire if you plan to place your speakers more than 50 feet from the amplifier. This will allow you to keep your resistance low.

Capacitance

Capacitance is the capacity of conductors for retaining very little electricity. When electricity travels through conductors, small amounts of electricity are retained along the length of each wire. It can cause adverse reactions if there is an excessive buildup of electricity in these conductors. This can lead to an increase in resistance and damage to your speaker. You can reduce the likelihood of excess capacitance by using shorter speaker wires.

Price

It is a matter of debate whether higher-priced speaker wires are better than those at lower prices. There is general agreement that speaker wires of higher quality will perform better than lower-priced models. This conclusion comes from extensive listening tests, as well as research by audio professionals. The best speaker cables are those that fall in the middle price range. While the least expensive may be more durable, they will not have a greater impact on the audio quality. You should save some money on more important gear, like amps and receivers or interfaces.

Inductance

Inductance is the resistance that results from a change of electrical current. Inductance is a property of all conductors, including speaker wires. You might encounter resistance more frequently if your speaker wire is used in an area where electricity voltage fluctuates. To minimize resistance, it is best to use speaker wires of a lower gauge.

Connectors And Wire Type

You can get speaker wires with or without connectors. It's your choice whether to buy a bundle or a raw wire package and choose your termination. If you do that, make sure to purchase a wire stripper/cutter. If your speaker uses circular sockets, a banana plug will work best. However, a pin connector is required for spring clip terminals (square-shaped clips that clamp onto the wire and slide up). Although you can use either bare or plated wires, they are difficult to manage.
You don't have to be concerned about the wire type if you run speaker wire between desk speakers or monitors on bookshelves. You should look for units rated CL2 and CL3 if you plan to run wire within your walls. You should only use wire that is rated for direct burial if you plan to run wire outdoors and/or underground.

Length

The measurement of the system is an important part in selecting speaker wire. However, this step has far greater impact than just visual appearances. The length of the wire will affect how resistant it is. Even though the effect isn't usually noticeable at long distances, it can significantly reduce sound quality. The longer wires can pick up interference from radios and static, which could affect a listener's enjoyment.

FAQs

What Happens If You Wire A Speaker Backward?

Don't worry. You won't damage your speakers. You can only reverse the speaker's polarity if you connect your speakers backward. The speaker will pull when it is supposed to push, and vice versa. You may not notice any difference in the sound quality if you flip the polarity of both speakers. You will hear a difference in sound quality if you only reverse the polarity of one speaker.

What Type Of Wire Do You Need?

A copper, silver or copper-clad aluminium wire must conduct and carry electric current. You will need a wire that has a CL2 or CL3 rating if you plan to use your wire underground or inside walls. You can make installation super simple by purchasing wire with pre-installed connectors. However, bare wire will still work just as well.

Are High-end Speaker Cables Worth It?

It is not worth spending a lot on high-end speakers cables, particularly if there are areas in your system that would benefit from an upgrade. It's not likely that your music will be affected by expensive cables as long as it is low-resistance. This is an important topic that's being heatedly debated and some audiophiles have different opinions. It doesn't matter what your cable sounds like to you. If that happens, then go for it.

How Do I Know Which Speaker Wire Length To Buy?

There are many benefits to using shorter speaker wires. To use smaller wires, you need to minimize space between the amplifier and speakers. You should also ensure that your speaker wires are the same length.

How Much Wire Do You Need?

As far as distance between speakers and amplifiers, you need the same amount of speaker wire. To get the best accuracy, run a string along the intended route of each wire and measure it. For those occasions when you might need some slack, we recommend that you add a few inches to either side. You can trim speaker wires with a wire cutter but cannot add any wire to an unbalanced unit. If your cable runs over 50 feet you will need to buy a 12 or 14 AWG thicker wire.

Is Thicker Speaker Wire Better?

For long distances, we recommend thicker wire. Use the thickest possible wire for your application. A 12 AWG instead of 16 AWG is not going to make a significant difference in sound quality over short distances. If you have an existing 16 AWG wire you do not need to purchase a thicker one. Although the improvements in short distances can be measured, they cannot be heard.

Are High-end Speaker Cables Worth It?

A moderately priced speaker cable of 12 to 10 gauge with a copper conductor is not much different from a high-end, expensive speaker cable. You don't need to purchase high-end speakers cables unless your goal is to be an audiophile.

Which Wire Is Best For Speakers?

High-end cables made with silver conductors have lower resistance, and therefore will result in lower power losses. What is the real issue? Can you tell the difference between an inexpensive pure copper speaker cable or a more expensive audiophile speaker speaker cable? The difference will be hard to hear for most people. You can make a difference by buying a speaker wire with a smaller gauge (10 or 12 AWG), and a copper conductor.

Because we are product consulting professionals with much expertise, we believe the data is credible. Aside from that, the best gauge speaker wire for surround sound data is kept up to date, and you may feel confident that the information is up to date and correct.

We can help you in addition to best gauge speaker wire for surround sound. If you want to support, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thanks for reading!


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About Nicolas Ward

Nicolas Ward

Nicolas Ward is an elite author with many years of experience in the music field and the owner of many engaging articles at TheAudioInsights. He studies music production and has many years of passionate research into sound systems. Appearing in many popular newspapers, Nicolas Ward provides useful knowledge and the latest information on music and sound.