Finding a suitable size red black 16 AWG wire for your audio speakers is not an easy task if you don’t know a lot about the wire size, but familiarising yourself with some basic knowledge about audio speaker wire can help you make an informed decision. This article will introduce you to a typical audio speaker size – 16AWG wire, which I hope you will find helpful.

What is red black 16AWG wire?

The number in front of AWG (e.g., 22AWG, 20AWG) indicates the number of holes the wire has to pass through before forming its final diameter; the larger the number, the more holes the wire has to pass through, and the smaller the diameter of the wire. Red black 16AWG wire is a guide to the number of holes the wire has to pass through before forming its final diameter, which is 16.

What is the importance of the American wire gauge?

AWG (American wire gauge), a standard for distinguishing wire diameters, is also known as the Brown & Sharpe wire gauge. The number in front of AWG (e.g., 18AWG, 20AWG) indicates the number of holes the wire has to pass through before it reaches its final diameter; the larger the number, the more holes the wire has to pass through, and the smaller the diameter of the wire.

Thicker electrical wires have better physical strength and lower resistance, but the thicker the wire, the more bare copper is required to make the cable, which makes it heavier, more challenging to install, and more expensive.

 

The larger the cross-section of the wire, the lower its resistance. In addition, the larger the cross-section, the greater the amount of current (amperage) the wire can safely carry before it overheats. Larger gauge wire carries less power than smaller gauge wire. Generally, a lower AWG number is preferred to a higher AWG.

 

AWG is essential for electric wires that carry power – domestic or commercial wires, extension cords, or high-power wires for automotive or audio use. If too small a wire (high AWG) is used, then the wire may overheat, melt or catch fire. It is, therefore, vital to consider the current carrying capacity of the wire or circuit.

 

For signal transmission lines, such as audio connections or video interconnects, the AWG of the wire is less important than power lines. As these electrical signals are usually low power, smaller AWG (larger wires) are not required. In these cases, proper shielding and cable pair stranding is more vital for signal integrity than the AWG of the stranded wire.

Important data for 16 AWG wire

According to the comparison table, different sizes of wire have different diameters and cross-sectional areas.

 

12AWG wire is a wire with a diameter of 2.05 mm and a cross-sectional area of 3.332 sq. ms. 14AWG wire is a wire with a diameter of 1.63 mm and a cross-sectional area of 2.075 sq. ms. 16AWG wire is a wire with a diameter of 1.29 mm and a cross-sectional area of 1.318 square milliseconds.

The AWG standard also specifies that the rated current and the maximum current through which the conductor can be operated are different for different AWG values, which can be referred to utilizing the AWG comparison table.

AWG comparison table

What is the uses of 16AWG wire?

The thickness of a wire is expressed in its gauge or by reference to the American Wire Gauge (AWG). 12AWG wire is thicker than 16AWG wire. Wires 12, 14, 16, and 18 are the most common audio speaker wires.

Stranded wire is more flexible and more accessible to wire than solid core wire and can withstand vibration and bending; therefore, it is more commonly used for audio speaker wiring. The manufacturing process for stranded wire is much more complex, so it will cost more to manufacture. The thickness of the wire you choose is vital as it affects the overall resistance of the speaker circuit. As a result, it involves the power transfer between the amplifier and the speakers. Resistance is a measure of current resistance. 16AWG wire has less power loss and is, therefore, more suitable for speaker or extension cables unless the load is small and the cable needs to be hidden.

 

Audio cable length and distance

The length of the cable and the impedance or power requirements of the speaker should also be considered when selecting speaker wire. The distance from the amplifier to each speaker in the system is important; you must measure and capture this figure and ensure that you include approximately 4 to 6 feet of additional cable slack at each end.

Having determined the audio cable length, now select the wire gauge size. If your speakers have a nominal impedance of 4 ohms or less and require a lot of power, then it is best to choose 14 or 12 gauge wire, albeit over longer distances. For most 8-ohm speaker circuits less than 50 feet in length, 16 gauge wire would be ideal. For wires over 75 feet, choose at least 16 gauge wire, if not 14 or 12 gauge. Distance affects resistance; the longer the distance, the greater the resistance. So you will need to use a thicker gauge to keep the resistance of the wire as low as possible.

Where to buy red black 16 AWG wire?

Delightfire has maintained its wire and cable niche for over a decade, insisting on excellent quality based on the market and using it to provide customers with high-quality electrical wire and cable, including 16AWG wire. If you are busy with a wire and cable project, please contact us or submit a quote request.