How important is that wire anyway?
Designing your car audio system involves many choices and some important decisions- some of which need to be made before you remove the first screw.
Yeah- you’ve made the numerous treks to half a dozen stereo shops, digested the multitude of opinions, got the price for the gear you want and stand ready to fork over the cash. Before you “seal the deal”, you need to make that last crucial investment in the “transmission grid” of your car system. The signal cables, speaker wire and power cables.
Just like equipment manufacturers, there are hundreds of cable brands to choose from, but we’re going to cover the importance over what type and grade of cables you’ll want to invest in for the optimum performance of your car system.
Your audio system- whether home or car- is only as good as its weakest link, so having the appropriate cables can make a world of difference.
The Power Grid:
Upgrading your car audio system can involve the addition of power amplifiers, subwoofers and high performance speaker components, which demand a reliable source of power from your vehicle’s charging system. Amplifiers can draw minimal amounts of current or large amounts, depending on the job they are installed to perform. Typically, main speaker amplifiers draw less current than their subwoofer counterparts- although multiple amplifier configurations require higher current draw.
Current operates within a wire pretty much the same way water operates within a garden hose. The smaller the hose, the less water flows through it- while more volume of water can pass through a larger hose. The same is true for power wire. Always make sure you plan accordingly for the amplifier capacity you have, as this will affect the performance and sound quality of the system. Your main power lead should always consist of at least an 8 gauge cable and can be 4, 2 or even 1 gauge, complete with proper connectors and the equivalent size in a ground cable.
I have come across one installation after another where a large amplifier had been installed and “choked” it with too small of a power cable. Let me stress that 10 gauge or smaller power cable IS NOT good by any means! In fact, your amplifier will cut off or go into protection if it can’t get enough current! Bigger IS better in this case, so don’t cut any corners when it comes to power wire. Remember, always invest in a quality fuse holder and proper fuses!
Signal Cables and Speaker Wire:
Now that you’ve laid the groundwork for your power, your next big step will involve installing good signal cables and upgrading your vehicle’s existing speaker wiring. Signal cables are probably the most crucial element you can purchase- as they get the information from your head unit to the amplifiers. Inexpensive or cheaply made cables can induce noise into your audio system because they are poorly shielded and cheaply constructed.
I have been asked if home audio signal cables work as car audio signal cables and I generally try to recommend that you stay with cables designed for the car environment, as they offer increased noise-rejection characteristics that are more crucial in your Honda than in your living room.
Remember, your car is full of electrical interference and signal cables can essentially become antennas- channeling that interference right into your music. Always spend a few extra bucks here and the benefits will be immediately noticeable!
Lastly, make sure to upgrade your vehicle’s speaker wiring whenever you upgrade the speaker system and install an amplifier. Most car manufacturers use 18-22 gauge speaker wire, which is insufficient. Upgrading to either 16 or 12 gauge size speaker cable with solidify the final link in your car audio chain and provide you with increased speaker performance.
If possible, the best suggestion is to have your system professionally installed. A professional installation technician will properly run all the cables, maximize amplifier location to save space, provide a stealthy install and do a complete “tuning” if your system so it performs at its best.
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