The Best Speaker Wire For Car Audio In 2024

Nicolas Ward By, Nicolas Ward
Updated
InstallGear 14 Gauge AWG 100ft Speaker Wire True Spec Cable for Car
Image credit: Amazon.com

The Rundown

1. Best Of The Best: InstallGear 14 Gauge AWG 100ft Speaker Wire True Spec Cable for Car

The InstallGear 14 Gauge speaker wire is perfect for any audio project. With a 100-foot length, the wire has more than enough length to reach from your amplifier to your speakers. This two-color jacket allows for easy polarity identification and it provides a good conductor for transmitting audio. Read Review

2. Runner Up: 14AWG Speaker Wire, GearIT Pro Series Gauge Speaker Wire Cable for Car

This Gearit Pro Series Speaker Wire Cable is designed to deliver the highest-quality sound - with the superior build quality, a professional grade stranded conductor, and a durable aluminum sheathing. The Gearit Pro Series Speaker Wire Cable is made of cca copper clad aluminum, ensuring high fidelity sound quality. Read Review

3. Best Easy To Use: GS Power 100% Copper 10 AWG OFC Wire Cable for Car Audio

GS Power 10AWG OFC Copper Wire Cable is a pure copper wire cable that provides excellent sound quality. It's designed with a combination of a PVC and zinc coating that provides optimal durability while remaining flexible and soft to the touch. This wire is ideal for use in automotive or home audio applications, as well as any other application where durability and flexibility are needed. Read Review

4. Best Style: 16 Gauge Stranded Copper Clad Aluminum Wire for Car Audio

16G CCA Stranded Copper-Clad Aluminum Wire is a cost-friendly alternative to OFC copper wire. This cable has a 10% copper coating with an aluminum core wire that achieves 80% conductivity at 1/3 the cost. Designed for automotive hookups and powering car audio systems, this wire is also ideal for indoor and interior use. Read Review

Buying speaker wire for your car can be a challenge. There are so many options and it can be difficult to know what to buy. If you have never bought speaker wire before, don’t worry, because you’re probably not the only one who is confused by all of the different types of wire and their uses. After all, there are dozens of different types of speaker cables in production at any given time, with many more on the market waiting to be released.

Even if you have dealt with this type of thing before, it is still a good idea to educate yourself on what options are available and why. In this article, we will discuss the different factors you should consider when choosing the best speaker wire for a car audio system.

Our team had to focus on researching and sifting through many hours to get such results for readers. These studies are based on customer star reviews and interviews about their feelings when using the product. When it comes to finding the best speaker wire for car audio, we believe InstallGear 14 Gauge AWG 100ft Speaker Wire True Spec Cable for Car is worth product to buy. If you're looking for additional options and more in-depth advice, you may check out the following.

Our Top Picks

  • 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.
  • EASY POLARITY IDENTIFICATION - This two color jacket allows for easy polarity identification. Making a polarity mistake could be damaging to your audio equipment.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
TOP Choice #3 GS Power 100% Copper 10 AWG OFC Wire Cable for Car Audio
Our Score:
9.6
GS Power
  • Perfect for Car Audio Radio, Home Theater, 12V Automotive, Amplifier Remote, Model Train, low voltage LED light
  • 30 AWG (0.25 mm) strands | 109 strands | PVC Rated to 105 C | 6-80VDC
  • 10 Gauge Pure Copper 25 ft Red & 25 ft Black Bonded (50' total) Dual Conductor Zip Cable
  • IMPORTANT: DO NOT use for building/household 110/220 V ac wiring
  • Flexible PVC, PVC Rated to 105°C, 6-80VDC
  • Ideal for 12V automotive hookup, Car Audio, indoor, interior use
  • 16 Gauge Copper-Clad aluminum(CCA) 100 FT red & black bonded Zip Cord Wire
  • Low-cost alternative to OFC copper wire. Achieves 80% conductivity at 1/3 of the cost.
  • Aluminum core wire, 10% copper coating
  • Perfect for Radio, Home Theater, Audio Video, Robotics and R/C
  • True 12 Gauge wire | 2 conductors, 67 Strands per conductor. 0.25 mm diameter per strand
  • Automotive Grade "GPT" PVC insulation. Oil & gas resistant. Temperature Range: -40 deg F to +176 deg F
  • Unmarked PVC walls for a clean sharp Red / Black look
  • Pure Copper stranded zip cable | 25' red and 25' black wires bonded together | Pulls apart easily
  • Ultra Flexible and high current
  • Oxygen Free Cable for maximum signal transfer
  • Bullz Audio Professional Platinum Edition Speaker Cable
  • Comes in Spool of 25 ft.
  • 10 Gauge AWG
  • Multi-strand Wire Design - 0.15mm x 119 Strands - Delivering the Best Current Transfer for Exceptional Performance
  • 14 Gauge (AWG) True-to-Spec Elite Series Car Audio Speaker Wire
  • Length: 100 Feet | 99.9% Pure Oxygen-Free Copper
  • Ultra Flexible and True to Spec Color Coded (Blue/White) Soft Touch Jacket with Matte Finish
  • Tinned Outer Coating for Ultimate Corrosion Resistance
  • 20 Feet 18 Gauge(American Wire Gauge) Color Coded Car Speaker Wire
  • Can be Used for Wiring 4 Speakers to an Amplifier with Ease and also Many Other Applications
  • Heavy and Flexible Insulation Jacket,Easy installation Run 1 Wire not 9,Makes Quick Easy and Clean Installation
  • Use for 4 Pairs of Speaker Wire+1 Amp Remote Turn-on Lead
  • It Contains Nine 18 Gauge Wires Inside of One Larger Wire Casing,100% Pure OFC Tinned to Prevent Corrosion
  • Enclosed in an Outer PVC Blue Jacket, Ultra Flex
  • Contains Enough Wire strands for 4 Speakers and an Amplifier Turn-On Wire
  • Color Coded to Match the Standard Aftermarket Wires
  • Used Primarily for OEM Integration
  • 9 Stranded OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) Conductors in 18 Gauge
  • 2 CONDUCTOR - 8/2 Bonded Red/Black Zip-Cord, 100 feet Spool/Roll
  • PREMIUM CCA SPEAKER WIRE – Use Audiopipe's Copper Clad Aluminum Speaker Wire Cable, stranded 2 conductor to build professional grade speaker wire audio systems.
  • RUGGED PVC JACKET - Allows free, wide and seamless adjustment of the required physical properties of this wire such as flexibility, elasticity, and impact resistance.
  • EASY POLARITY IDENTIFICATION - This two color jacket allows for easy polarity identification. Making a polarity mistake could be damaging to your audio equipment.
  • 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 Audiopipe speaker wire.
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What to Look For in a best speaker wire for car audio?

The best speaker wire for car audio is assessed based on many factors. best speaker wire for car audio research varies depending on the type, feature, and quality of this product. It is not too complex to cover, yet we will give you some buying guide and solutions to these problems.

Please take a closer look at best speaker wire for car audio characteristics below would be beneficial for you. Let’s look through and keep in mind:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

FAQs

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.