alrite i just put my new system in my car tonite. all i have left is the speaker wiring, but i ran into a problem. i had 12 gauge speaker wire to run from the amp to the subs but its been out of my car for a few months and i can't find it. all i can find is 16 gauge speaker wire. would that be ok to use? or should i go to the store and get something bigger. i'm running a viper audio d1200.1 amp and 2 alpine type r subs.

thanks in advance!!!




5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY FREEBIE GIVEAWAY - CLICK HERE TO ENTER
What you know about Street Racing anyways? Only what Fast & Furious taught us....
SO EVERYTHING!

the wire would be fine. but i dont think it would be giving them full potential. they would probably sound better with a 12 gauge. i know when i switched i could tell a difference. but i would get the 12. its not expensive. but youl be fine. it wont hurt anything

time to go to the store. use it till you get new 12awg. wire



My Myspace Page

Coming from an expert in this. I am a car audio installer as a profession, doing many jobs. If your only running it from your amp to subs. You won't tell a difference between 16 and 12 gauge speaker wire. Now if you were running it from one end of a semi to another, then yes you will hear a difference. In a situation like there you don't want to look at thickness but length. And since your only running a short length you won't notice nor will it damage you speakers.

Double the 16 gauge up to make 8 gauge

Kidding...

2 16's don't make 8... contrary to popular belief, I beleived it until here recently. And bluecavi04 is right, there will be no difference whatsoever. It won't put any extra strain on your amp and there will be no need for you to ever replace it. You could pump 5 times that amount of power through it with no problem.

Skyler Prahl wrote:2 16's don't make 8... contrary to popular belief, I beleived it until here recently. And bluecavi04 is right, there will be no difference whatsoever. It won't put any extra strain on your amp and there will be no need for you to ever replace it. You could pump 5 times that amount of power through it with no problem.

You're right about the 2 16's, it's more like 12 (gauges are not even steps in amount of wire)

Depending on how much power you're running, the wire may not make a difference. However, if you are running a lot of power, it will absolutely make a difference in how much you are getting. It makes more of a difference the longer the run, but even a short distance requires a thicker wire for more power. It will not damage anything to run smaller gauge, but you will not be getting the best performance.

For the type r subs its not going to make a difference. I deal with this on a daily basis. People buying thicker wire than they need. Buying a 4 ga. amp kit with a 200 watt 4 channel amp. This is a really big myth. Especially with the type r's you own't notice a difference. I could set up one with 6 inches of 12 ga. and the other with 6 inches of 18 gauge and i guarentee you won't notice a difference. If you won't for peace of mind go ahead but you won't notice anything.