Okay, so this isn't strictly essential, but it can make your life easier. If you need your cable to last a while, make sure you look for oxygen-free cable. Over time, these pockets can become larger and cause oxidation, which can make the copper less conductive, and may even destroy the cable. Poor quality wire sometimes has microscopic pockets of oxygen trapped in the copper. When dealing with copper, oxygen is bad news. Pure copper cable might be a little bit more expensive, but it is definitely worth it in the long run. Adding in different alloys can also lead to cable breaks when going around tight corners. Less conductive wire means poor sound quality. While the percentage is relatively low, it still makes the wire significantly less conductive. To cut down on cost, some cables are made with alloys mixed into the copper. Other metals such as aluminum, zinc, and nickel are less conductive, but they are also usually cheaper. Copper is the standard by which other electrical materials are rated. You also want to know what the cable is made of. Gauge isn’t the only thing to consider when you buy speaker cable. Below is a chart to help you match your speaker with the best cable thickness and length. For longer runs or for higher end speakers, you probably want thicker wire. For most average speakers 16 AWG wire will work well for you in lengths of less than 50 ft. For longer lengths of cable, you may consider using a thicker wire. Length is a big factor in deciding what gauge wire to use. Otherwise you risk distorting your sound and possibly damaging your equipment. It’s important to choose a wire that can handle your speaker’s impedance. So if a speaker has an impedance rating of 4 ohms, it may vary between 2 ohms and 8 ohms during use. Most speakers have impedance ratings of 4, 8, or 16 ohms. A speaker’s impedance is measured in ohms. In a speaker setup, the speaker is like the nozzle of the hose, it adds resistance to the electrical current running through the wires. Putting a nozzle on the end of the hose adds resistance to the flow of water. Think of a garden hose with water flowing through it. So what is impedance? Impedance refers to the property the speaker has to add resistance to electrical current. If you choose your cable based on length and your speaker’s impedance, the cable will be able to handle the speaker’s watt output just fine. But when you are looking for speaker cable, what you need to worry about is the speaker’s impedance. When you buy speakers, watts are a big deal.
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