 Cable Impedance
The extra resistance from speaker wire can have a very negative effect on the
sound quality of the speakers. The sound can be less dynamic, definition of base
frequencies can be reduced, and in extreme cases, the high frequencies can be attenuated.
Power is also wasted in the wire, reducing the maximum output of the system
In order to avoid it becoming significant
in the system a rule of thumb is that the impedance should not exceed 10% of the speaker impedence.
This is the basis of the run of cable figures shown for each type cable.
Speaker cable is often referred to in AWG (American Wire Gauge) or in sq mm.
Assuming that the speakers are rated at the normal 8 Ohms, then the maximum run of cable
to keep below this 10% figure is shown below
| AWG |
sq mm
|
max cable run in metres
|
| 20 |
0.5
|
12
|
| 18 |
0.8 |
15 |
| 16 |
1 |
30 |
| 15 |
1.5 |
40 |
| 14 |
2 |
45 |
| 12 |
3 |
60 |
| 10 |
5 |
90 |
|
|
|
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