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8 – CLA37
CLA37– 9
Loudspeaker Cables
• Use loudspeaker cables with a minimum
conductor size for the length you need, as
listed in these tables. This will minimize
power losses to less than 0.5 dB. The
cable lengths listed are “up to” lengths.
For in-between lengths, use the next larger
conductor gauge. Using larger than the
recommended conductor size is always
permissible. Using smaller than recommended
conductor size will result in higher power
losses.
• The recommended conductor gauges are
listed for AWG (American Wire Gauge) and
Metric WG (Metric Wire Gauge). Note that
smaller AWG numbers = larger conductors
and smaller Metric WG numbers = smaller
conductors. The Metric WG is equal to ten
times the nominal conductor diameter in millimeters.
• For cable lengths over 200 feet / 60 m at 8 ohms, and over 100 feet / 30 m at 4 ohms,
the conductor sizes needed for less than 0.5 dB power losses are rarely practical
for physical and cost reasons. As a practical compromise for these situations the
recommended conductor gauge is 10 AWG or 25 metric.
Precautions
• To prevent inductive phenomena causing humming or distortion, the speaker cables
should not be run together with electrical energy conductors, microphone cables, or
line-level audio lines.
• Use speaker cables that have markings to distinguish the polarity, such as insulation
or conductors of different colors.
• Before using the loudspeaker, carefully check that all the connections have been
made correctly to make sure there are no accidental short circuits that could cause
electrical sparks.
• Verify that the polarity of the connections to all of your loudspeakers are correct.
When more than one loudspeaker reproduces the same frequencies, but with
opposite polarity, there will be sound cancellations. Therefore, if any of the
loudspeakers are wired so that the +/- connection polarity is reversed with respect
to the others, incorrect reproduction will result. Most notably, the bass response will
suffer. This is especially true when loudspeakers are situated in adjacent positions
where the sound waves readily interact with each other.
Minimum AWG 4 ohm 8 ohm
18 10 ft 25 ft
16 25 50
14 25 75
12 50 125
10 100 200
Min Metric WG 4 ohm 8 ohm
12 3 m 8 m
14 8 15
16 8 25
20 15 40
25 30 60