Amp and sub is rated at 300W RMS. Will there be an audible difference from using 16AWG to 12AWG speaker wire to the sub?

 

For your reference here are some car audio cable recommendations

This info in from rec.audio.car FAQ (orognally from IASCA handbook). To determine the correct wire size for your application, you should first determine the maximum current flow through the cable (looking at the amplifier's fuse is a relatively simple and conservative way to do this). Then determine the length of the cable that your will use, and consult the following chart:

Length of run
(in Feet)...........0-4 | 4-7 | 7-10 | 10-13 | 13-16 | 16-19 | 19-22 | 22-28
Current
0-20A..... #14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8
20-35A.... #12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4
35-50A.... #10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4
50-65A.... #8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2
65-85A.... #6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0
85-105A... #6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0
105-125A.. #4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0
125-150A.. #2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 00

 

What this table (if you can read it) tells you is that it is the current that you are required to pass that determines the wire size. Generally it is best to size the wiring about 25% higher than the amp can push. For example a amp that has its output fused at 30Amp should have speaker wiring capable of 30 + 25% = 38Amp or 40A. So in this example if you need 10ft of sub wire, you go to the table and you would see that #8 wire is recommended. If your sub wiring is less than 4ft then you can use #10 wire.

It should be noted that according to ohms law... W=I2R... a 300W RMS 4ohm sub would peak at about 10amps. Obviously the sub would never see this much current if the amp can't push that much.

 

I think he is asking if he will be able to hear the difference, and the answer to the question is no.

 

good post though.. I would use the larger gauge personally, just in case you decide to run more power or a larger sub in the future. The cost difference is minimal compared to the effort of disassembling the interior a second time to pull wires.

 

The real answer is that if he tries to push too much current through the gauge wire he is suggesting... he probably won't hear a difference... but he might smell one.

 

Ummm i think he is refering to Speaker wire size between the speaker and amp. Not the power wire size from the battery and the amp.

 

For that watt range i would go with the 12awg wire. 16awg would be to small for the sub(s) Its better to be safe then sorry. Im running 8awg driving 1000watt sub.

For that watt range on the power from your amp to battery use the chart that 240Zplus110 posted above.

 

Thanks man. 12awg it is. Yeah I'm aware of that chart. But I always thought it only referred to power cable not speaker wire.

 

Your welcome,
That chat is just for power cabling, not speaker wire.