• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Speaker Wire

TheHook

TheHook

Oct 15, 2021
24
38
#1
Looking to make a few speaker cables with SpeakOn connectors for my cabinets. Anyone have a solid recommendation for 12ga speaker wiring? I see a bunch on Amazon however only a few have an outer sleeve.
 
#3
Exterior grade (outer jacket) extension cable, 2 conductor 16 or 14ga from big lots or dollar store

Edit
Really depending on the cab, it's probably got 16 ga inside it. Anything larger on your cable grade is (likely) pointless.

Don't the Neutriks work better for 16ga than 14ga anyway?

Edit Edit

Bright orange cables don't disappear easily either.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Ggaa, fig, Jayne M-B and 2 others
#4
Whatever you do, be sure to use genuine Neutrik plugs, the after-market knock-offs are the cause of many problems and can damage the jacks on amps and cabinets as well.

14 gauge is plenty fine, way more than you need, but is also much easier to work with and terminate. Do NOT solder or tin the wires.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rich Fiscus, LP Custom, gcb and 20 others
#7
TheHook said:
Looking to make a few speaker cables with SpeakOn connectors for my cabinets. Anyone have a solid recommendation for 12ga speaker wiring? I see a bunch on Amazon however only a few have an outer sleeve.
Click to expand...
14 is more than good enough. You can buy 2 /14 trailer cable which is relatively cheap, very flexible, robust and with fine copper strands from any trailer repair shop; probably cheaper than any cable marketed for musical instrument purposes.
 
#8
4Mal said:
Audiopile.com has nice bulk cable. The stuff is really nice and flexible. Also a good source for connectors. You'll pay a bit more than amazon but you'll get better product (cable anyway) and are supporting a family run small business.
Click to expand...
Agreed, I’ve known Mark and Liz for over 20 years from the touring pro audio world. Good, solid, fair folks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SoulReflection, CryingBass, BlueTalon and 10 others
#11
  • Like
Reactions: 31HZ, DJ Bebop and MrKpawz
#12
Actually you need 2 guage, oxygen free, molecularly oriented, cryogenically treated, subatomic particle infused, low flux capacitance, cold-welded, dialectically biased, inverse square law compensated, reverse wound, torroidially transformed, four-barrel, twin turbocharged, gold-plated speaker cable from the highest priced vendors available.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Patrice B, allen_m, Lo-E and 10 others
#17
TheHook said:
Looking to make a few speaker cables with SpeakOn connectors for my cabinets. Anyone have a solid recommendation for 12ga speaker wiring? I see a bunch on Amazon however only a few have an outer sleeve.
Click to expand...

go to your local hardware store and give them some business.

I had an old extension cord that was 2 prong instead of 3 prong and I turned that into speaker cables.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dbase, fig, Haroldo and 2 others
#18
sawzalot said:
Actually you need 2 guage, oxygen free, molecularly oriented, cryogenically treated, subatomic particle infused, low flux capacitance, cold-welded, dialectically biased, inverse square law compensated, reverse wound, torroidially transformed, four-barrel, twin turbocharged, gold-plated speaker cable from the highest priced vendors available.
Click to expand...
You forgot "ethically acquired, free range copper", you animal! :mad:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Microbass, Rich Fiscus, agedhorse and 9 others
#19
Don't waste your time and money!! You can buy pro-grade speaker cables from MonoPrice for less than making them yourself. YES they come from China, but it is their own factory and the quality is tip-top. We have several with never an issue.

Check 'em out. A 10 footer, 12 GA with NL4 connectors - $10! You can't beat that.

Invalid Link Removed

87691.jpg
 
Last edited:
#20
agedhorse said:
Whatever you do, be sure to use genuine Neutrik plugs, the after-market knock-offs are the cause of many problems and can damage the jacks on amps and cabinets as well.

14 gauge is plenty fine, way more than you need, but is also much easier to work with and terminate. Do NOT solder or tin the wires.
Click to expand...

My first attempt at making Neutrik speaker cables I was using heavy gauge speaker wire and it was difficult to get the untinned wire into the screw mounts in the speaker cable without a stray wire poking out somewhere, so I thought tinning would be a good idea so there isn't an inadvertent short somewhere. Well, I threw those two cables out when I learned better.
 
  • Like
Reactions: agedhorse

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back