What is the Best 70V Speaker Wire Gauge? on Pro Acoustics Tech Talk Episode 88

www.proacousticsusa.com​​
In this video, Nathan talks 70V speaker wire gauge. What does gauge mean when talking about speaker wire, and does the speaker wire gauge matter?
Wire comes in all types, shapes, and sizes. Thick, thin, shielded/unshielded, etc. So what is ideal for a 70-volt system? This is a question we deal with often.
Our primary concern with wire is that we don't want to use too thin of a wire to run long distances. Otherwise, not all of the wattage from your amplifier will make it to the speaker. So what is the best gauge speaker wire?
Typically, in a 70-volt system, 16 gauge is the ideal wire. The reason is that 16 gauge is robust enough to pull through ceilings even in conduit, but it also can be run long distances. In fact, according to a chart from wire manufacturer Belden (linked below), a 16 gauge wire in 70-volt can be run almost 10,000 feet before incurring even 3 decibels of volume loss, which is the slightest change in volume that our ears can perceive. If we step up to 14 gauge, we can run almost 15,000' before a 3db drop in volume, and 12 gauge can run nearly 24,000'.
You generally want to use stranded wire rather than solid core. Stranded wire is easier to manipulate and allows you to trim thickness to fit into the connection terminals of a phoenix connector or Euroblock.
We also recommend twisted pair wire over what I generally refer to as "side by side" wire, as you find in home theater systems. The reason is that the twisted pair wire means the conductors actually wrap over themselves, which prevents electromagnetic interference, which can lead to crosstalk commonly experienced as excess buzz or hum.
Finally, there is the question of whether to use shielded or unshielded wire. For the output section, however, we generally want unshielded wire. That's because there can be what's referred to as the "capacitive effect" from the shield, which also negatively affects the system's wattage and can lead to more issues.
Check out this speaker wire gauge chart: www.proacousticsusa.com/media/wysiwyg/Speaker-Cable-Distance-Chart-by-Belden.jpg
Have additional questions about 70V speaker wire gauge? Let us know by commenting below, emailing [e-mail], or calling [phone].
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[@faeantiks]

Thank you for making this video. I am new to learning about AV and found this to be much more informative then some of the course work I have done so far.

[@adamhardin2278]

Thanks! Excellent video, great info.

[@cloudbase7799]

I like your channel/content! Not overproduced and about the right amount of geek. 🙂 You recommend twisted pair, which doesn't seem to be very common. I'm wondering how important this is. I'm eyeing a 250' pull box on Amazon: Voltive 16/2 stranded plenum OFC, UL listed, for $115. This is for a 70v system, 6 pendant speakers tapped at 30W (maybe 60W if I pick up a sufficiently-capable mixer/amp like the RMA500BT). Penn Wire offers essentially the same but with twisted pair, at 500' (substantially more than I need) for about $221 (plus shipping? / shipping calculator doesn't seem to be working). Oh...if I add that to my cart, it says minimum quantity of 14! 😲 The plan is to install the speakers relatively near some pendant LED fixtures. Do you think the Voltive option is reasonable? Is there a better source of twisted pair for the amount I'm looking for?

[@ProAcoustics]

Thank you so much for your kind words. We're thrilled that you're enjoying it! Twisted pair wiring is preferred to avoid electromagnetic interference from the pendant LED fixtures, routers, or other noisy electrical devices. This interference can manifest as unwanted buzzes or hums in your audio system. For that reason, we strongly recommend twisted pair speaker wire. Although the other wire you mentioned may be more affordable, it lacks the twisted pair configuration. If audio quality is a priority, investing in the added cost of the twisted pair wire may be worthwhile to ensure the best possible sound quality and minimize interference. Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether the additional expense and minimum quantity requirements of the twisted pair wire are justifiable for your specific setup and needs. I hope this helps you make an informed choice! 😊

[@cloudbase7799]

@@ProAcoustics Thank you for the response! I've since found that Performance Audio offers West Penn 25225B plenum rated 16/2 (4 twists per foot) by the foot, at an even better price than the Voltive wire.

[@davidhalpern9804]

Hi I want to install Sonance - SGS 8.1 SYSTEM W/SR 2-125 AMP - Garden Series 8.1-Ch. Outdoor Speaker System with 2-Ch. Amplifier (Each) - Dark Brown/Black My question is what size wire I need for a 500 ft run ?

[@ProAcoustics]

Hi David, The specifications for this amplifier mention that it will support up to 12AWG wire. We would suggest using that for long speaker runs. However, please also reach out to Sonance for the manufacturer-recommended wiring. www.sonance.com/company/contact