September 3, 2025 Kieran Gunessee

Speaker Cable Guide: Choosing the Right Cable for Your Setup

When setting up a sound system, the choice of speaker cable can make a big difference. The right cable ensures you get reliable performance and a safe installation. In certain cases, a specific speaker cable is required to adhere to building regulations, so it’s important to choose the correct type for your environment.

In this guide, we’ll look at the types of cable available, where they’re best used, and what you should consider before buying.

If you need help wiring an audio system, you can view our other guides here:

Contents

Cable Thickness

AWG - mm2 Conversion

Resistance and Long Cable Runs

Cable Materials

Connectors and Colours

2-core vs 4-core

Cable thickness (gauge)

Speaker cable thickness is measured in AWG (American Wire Gauge) or mm2. Thickness is also referred to as CSA (cross-sectional area).

The lower the number, the thicker the cable. Please view the table below for a conversion between AWG and mm2 , or use our conversion tool.

An AWG between 14-18 covers almost all of our systems (depending on the system), and this is usually the most common range for speaker cable.

How does this affect my setup?

As cable runs get longer, resistance increases. Thicker cable keeps that resistance low and ensures your speakers get the power they need. See below for further information.

AWG - mm2 Conversion

AWG

mm²

0.05

0.08

0.13

0.20

0.33

0.41

0.52

0.82

1.04

1.31

2.08

3.31

5.26

8.37

13.3

21.1

33.6

42.4

AWG ⇄ mm² Converter

AWG mm²

Values are approximate. AWG is rounded to nearest size.

Resistance and long runs

Resistance

All metals resist the flow of electricity. The thinner the wire, the higher the resistance. This is because there’s less metal for the current to move through.

Over short distances, the difference is small, but as the cable gets longer, the resistance builds up. This is why you need thicker cable for longer runs & lower impedances. This is due to a few reasons:

More metal to carry current: A thicker cable has a larger cross-sectional area, so there’s more metal for the electrons to travel through. Think of it like a wider motorway carrying more cars without slowing down.
Lower resistance per metre: Resistance is measured in ohms per metre. If the cable is twice as thick, the resistance per metre drops because the current doesn’t have to squeeze through a narrow path.
Less heat loss: With lower resistance, less energy is wasted as heat. More of the amplifier’s power reaches the speaker.

For these reasons, we recommend lower AWG (thicker cable) for longer runs. It’s why we supply and quote on good-quality cable for our systems, such as our Audiokraft Apollo range.

100V Line vs Low Impedance

100V line (high-impedance) systems work differently from standard low-impedance (2-8 ohm) speakers. The basic principles are similar, but the numbers change because the load draws much less current.

In a 100V line system, each speaker usually has an impedance of 100–500 ohms. The high impedance reduces current, so cable gauge matters less.

For example, in our most common 100V Line systems, we provide cable between 1.15mm and 1.5mm (17-16 AWG), and this can handle speaker runs well into the 100’s of metres without any noticeable signal or quality loss.

What thickness should I use?

Please see the tables below for a guide on the ideal max distance for each thickness of cable. Bear in mind this is a guide, and the audio system will still work if the cable is too thin; the sound quality will simply be of lesser quality compared to a cable within the ideal length.

Low Impedance

100V Line

Cable Gauge

Ideal Max Run (m)

22 AWG (0.6 mm²)

3.6m

20 AWG (0.9 mm²)

18 AWG (1.2 mm²)

12m

16 AWG (1.3 mm²)

15m

14 AWG (1.6 mm²)

24m

12 AWG (2.0 mm²)

36m

10 AWG (2.6 mm²)

60m

Cable Gauge

Ideal Max Run (m)

24 AWG (0.5 mm²)

20m

22 AWG (0.6 mm²)

30m

20 AWG (0.9 mm²)

50m

18 AWG (1.2 mm²)

80m

16 AWG (1.3 mm²)

120m

14 AWG (2.1 mm²)

150m+

Cable materials

Metal Cores

The material the cable is made of affects signal transfer and durability, and certain cables are required in order to comply with building regulations.

There are two main types of metal used in speaker cable.

Solid copper: Higher purity copper with better conductivity. It reduces signal loss and lasts longer, but is more expensive than CCA..
Copper-clad aluminium (CCA): Cheaper alternative, lighter in weight, but less efficient and less durable. This cable has an aluminium core and copper outer cladding.

Hybrid cables combine CCA and solid copper. Our Audiokraft Apollo cable uses this mix, offering the conductivity of copper at a lower cost. Its performance sits between standard CCA and full solid copper cables.

For professional setups, solid copper or hybrid cable is always recommended. CCA may be suitable for budget systems or short-term use.

Outer Sheath

The outer sheath of the cable is very important and determines what cable can be used in certain environments.

- Standard (view here)

Cables with no certifications or a standard PVC/rubber sheath are great for domestic and commercial indoor installations, and in certain cases outdoor installations depending on the thickness of the sheath. Our Audiokraft Apollo cable has a thick outer sheath making it suitable for installing outdoors.

This type of cable is the most common and is used in most homes.

- LSHF / LSZH (Low Smoke Halogen-Free), view here

Low Smoke Halogen-Free (LSHF) cables produce very little smoke and no toxic gases if they catch fire, making them a safer choice. Many buildings, such as apartments or pubs with dwellings above, require LSHF cables under building regulations.

If you’re unsure about the rules, using LSHF will usually meet the standard, but it’s best to check first.

- Fire resistant (view here)

Fire-resistant cables are designed to maintain circuit integrity even at high temperatures. They are essential for safety-critical systems and emergency circuits, and many building codes require them for commercial or multi-storey buildings as an alternative to LSHF.

- Outdoor (view here)

Outdoor-rated cable is ideal when installing in the open air as it is resistant to moisture and UV. This means it won’t discolour to degrade over time when exposed to the elements.

Connectors & colours

Most installed audio systems allow for speaker cable to be terminated with no plugs or connectors. The majority of our 100V Line amps and speakers have screw or spring terminals that you insert the bare wire into.

In some circumstances, however, you may want or need to add a plug to the cable.

The most common are Speakon Connectors. These are typically found on PA speaker and power amps. There are also banana plugs, which allow you to plug the cable into compatible screw terminals for easy setup and disassembly. These are commonly found on domestic amplifiers.

It’s also worth noting that speaker cable is coloured black and red, instead of blue and brown as is common on electrical cable.

2-Core vs 4-Core

Speaker cables are usually provided in 2 & 4-core configurations. Both have their benefits, but by far the most common is 2-core. This is what we usually quote and provide, as a 4-core isn’t needed with the configuration of our audio systems.

The main differences are:

2-core cables

Contain two conductors: positive and negative
Commonly used in 100V Line & Low Impedance systems
Easier to install and generally cheaper

4-core cables

Contain four conductors: two pairs of positive and negative
Often used for bi-amping, stereo speaker runs, or long distances where two separate circuits are needed
Provide flexibility for future expansion or complex setups

Choose 4-core if you plan to bi-amp a speaker system or have a stereo speaker, and choose 2-core for everything else.

If you require any further assistance regarding purchasing a Lithe Audio product please contact us on 02476 369890 and one of our experts will be happy to help. Or use our Request a Call Back page for a FREE no obligation system design & consultation service.