Top 8 speaker wires to buy (2023)

The top 8 speaker wires do not cost much to deliver a million-dollar sound. Even the most cost-effective wire can pump your speakers in the shortest amount of time. However, many speakers do not have wires, which makes shopping a necessity. So, whether you are new to building your system or looking to expand your existing equipment, we will explain some of the terms and guide you in choosing the best speaker wire for clear sound.

Coaxial speaker cable is very common these days and can be found in any home. To transmit audio and video signals, TV antennas, modems, and cable boxes, a coaxial speaker cable is a good choice. A coaxial speaker cable is a type of electrical cable that can transmit RF signals from source devices to input devices.

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What are the best speaker wires to buy?

• AudioQuest Rocket 11Best expensive

  More [easyazon_link identifier=”B07PSJZHMS” locale=”US” tag=”inos03-20″]Buy[/easyazon_link]

• QED Reference XT40i Speaker Cables (6.5 ft | 2M)

  More [easyazon_link identifier=”B07YTYV65F” locale=”US” tag=”inos03-20″]Buy[/easyazon_link]

• k4B-2B Bi-Wire Speaker Cable (2 Banana Plugs – 4 Banana Plugs), 1pair Set (Total 12banana Plugs), k4B-2B (3M(9.8ft))

  More [easyazon_link identifier=”B077HQZP3V” locale=”US” tag=”inos03-20″]Buy[/easyazon_link]

• GearIT Pro Series 12 AWG Gauge Speaker Wire CableBest overall

  More [easyazon_link identifier=”B00HZWYKF2″ locale=”US” tag=”inos03-20″]Buy[/easyazon_link]

• Atlas Equator 2.0

  More [easyazon_link identifier=”B079NKMKTV” locale=”US” tag=”inos03-20″]Buy[/easyazon_link]

• SKW A Pair Audiophile Speaker Cable,Convertible Banana Spade Gold Plated Connector,Nylon Braid,HiFi Quality Cable(4.9ft/1.5M,2 Cables for 2 Speakers)

  More [easyazon_link identifier=”B07KF2DPZM” locale=”US” tag=”inos03-20″]Buy[/easyazon_link]

• QED XT25

  More [easyazon_link identifier=”B07FZK7J99″ locale=”US” tag=”inos03-20″]Buy[/easyazon_link]

• GearIT 12AWG Premium Heavy Duty Braided Speaker Wire Cable (35 Feet) Dual Gold Plated Banana Plug Tips – In-Wall CL2 – Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC) WhiteBest price

  More [easyazon_link identifier=”B071NP2XRW” locale=”US” tag=”inos03-20″]Buy[/easyazon_link]

The best speaker wires cannot make your system sound better than it really is, but they can and should ensure that the last drop of performance from your amplifier reaches your speakers. Conversely, a weak speaker cable can definitely make your system sound much worse than it really is, so it’s worth the budget for proper cabling when you buy or upgrade your system. If you do not do this, you can have cheap and poorly made cables that waste your expensive kit talent. Whatever your opinion on this, it is undeniable that cables make a difference, and these are the top 8 speaker wires to buy that have been tested:

1. AudioQuest Rocket 11

Rocket 11 AudioQuest can only be a hi-fi speaker cable to breathe new life into your system. The winner of this award has been facing new competition to maintain his crown in 2021 for several years now. AudioQuest pays close attention to the configuration and quality of the media used in Rocket 11. It uses real-focus semiconductor conductors and long-grain copper – all to improve performance and reduce any interference that may reduce sound. When the Rocket 11 is plugged in, there is a noticeable improvement in system performance compared to rival speaker cables. The music looks crisp and clean, with a strong sense of dynamism that is enjoyable to listen to and be used as an in-wall speaker wire.

Pros

• Flexible build
• Clean, precise, and fluid sound
• Excellent compatibility

Cons

• A little pricey

2. QED Reference XT40i Speaker Cables (6.5 ft | 2M)

Hi-fi enthusiasts are more aware of the value of good cables than the average person is. When it comes to speaker cables or the interconnects between your source and stereo amplifier, a good pair and those included at no extra cost at the dealership are worlds apart.

To ensure excellent timing and stereo imaging, this pure oxygen-free copper cable employs an evolution of QED’s well-established X-Tube technology. It also adds the brand-new, highly innovative Air Gap dielectric to deliver previously unheard-of rhythmic accuracy and musicality for a cable of this affordable price. The XT40i’s already powerful audio capabilities are enhanced by extremely low DC resistance and unparalleled frequency responsiveness. As a result, the cable improves upon the industry-leading standards established by its predecessor.

QED has developed a low-loss Air Gap dielectric by increasing the distance between the conductors inside the cable and, consequently, the amount of air between them. This method reduces the cable’s dissipation and capacitance by half and yields many auditory advantages, especially in terms of timing and rhythmic accuracy.

XT40i still has the kind of cross-sectional area that makes it perfect for lengthy cable lengths despite this greater separation.

XT40 has an extremely low resistance due to its 4mm2 cross-sectional area, which enables amplifiers to have excellent control over the speakers they are driving. Long cable lines can also be accommodated by its huge cross-sectional area.

Pros

• Gives the system a lot more clarity
• Timing that is precise and exact
• Great value

Cons

• Best helps tie music together better

3. k4B-2B Bi-Wire Speaker Cable (2 Banana Plugs – 4 Banana Plugs), 1pair Set (Total 12banana Plugs), k4B-2B (3M(9.8ft))

Use speaker cables of the highest caliber to enjoy high-fidelity sound with less noise and more clarity.

It all starts with the caliber of the audio speaker cables if you want to make the most of your speaker system. Because of this, we created a cable with high-quality parts to guarantee a quicker, more durable connector, less distortion, clearer highs, and deeper bass.

Canare 4S11 Star Quad 14 Gauge Cable (Japan) is used to make the k4B-2B Bi-Wire Speaker Cable, which is then manually put together at our facilities in the USA. For increased frequency response over extended cable runs, this model’s superior polyethylene dielectric delivers low capacitance and low series resistance. Red and black heat shrink are used to color-code each conductor, making it easy to distinguish between positive and negative terminals.

Pros

• Highly Flexible (Even in Sub-Zero Weather)
• Reduces EMI Noise with Star Quad Design
• Low Capacitance and Resistance
•  Well made cables

Cons

• Delayed gratification
• Too short

4. GearIT Pro Series 12 AWG Gauge Speaker Wire Cable 

This model is a 12 gauge speaker wire that provides innovative HiFi audio equipment for audiophiles and home audio enthusiasts. This brand has sold all over the world from professional producers and musicians to DIYers. The black color looks more professional than that clear stuff. The product has a nice well-made feel to it. This 12 gauge speaker wire is very easy to work with.

Pros

• The red stripe makes it easy to determine the polarity
• Precision and accurate timing
• Good price
• One of the best-buy speaker wires

Cons

• Best helps tie music together better

5. Atlas Equator 2.0

The increase in clarity and punch when using the Atlas Equator 2.0 over budget alternatives should be lauded, especially at this relatively affordable price. If you think your budget/midrange hi-fi system could do with a sonic spring clean, but are not sure what needs upgrading (and don’t want to spend too much), plug this Atlas speaker cable in. You might find it’s just what your system needs.

The cable has a multi-core construction, consisting of a pair of identically matched conductors. Atlas uses oxygen-free copper (OFC) conductors in the 2018 version of these speaker cables. The purity and amount of copper used have been increased from the previous Equator version that we reviewed in 2014, too.

Atlas believes that fewer oxygen results in better sound quality, and while OFC conductors are claimed to improve conductivity, the increased purity of copper should result in a cleaner overall sound.

Pros

• Clean, detailed delivery
• Good weight and balance
• Flexible build

Cons

• Pricier rivals offer more drive

6. SKW A Pair Audiophile Speaker Cable, Convertible Banana Spade Gold Plated Connector, Nylon Braid, HiFi Quality Cable(4.9ft/1.5M,2 Cables for 2 Speakers)

This speaker cable from SKW comes with spade and banana plugs. Excellent connections on both ends provide clearer audio with a more neutral, natural sound at a very reasonable price when compared to competing products of poorer quality and the same gauge.

It is compatible with any terminal post for an amplifier and speakers, A/V receiver, home stereo audio system, or home theater audio system.

Speaker banana plugs are a revelation. If you’ve spent the majority of your life trying to bend wiring so that it can fit into speaker and stereo poles, you know how difficult it can be.

If you install the wires with no plans to ever alter them, that’s fine, but if, you frequently move houses or reorganize your music listening spaces, you’ll never look past those days.

Pros

• Good quality
• Coaxial
• Affordable price

Cons

• Plugs do not screw on tightly

7. QED XT25

For the money, there isn’t much to grumble about as far as the XT25 is concerned. It allows for an extremely insightful and detailed sound, which is up there with the very best at this level. Music is encouraged to display an airy sense of openness with plenty of subtlety and sophistication. It’s the kind of cable that would be a good option for warm-sounding, less spacious set-ups.

The XT25 is another beneficiary of QED’s X-Tube technology, which first came to light in the company’s Award-winning Silver Anniversary XT cables more than a decade ago. Along with low DC resistance, low-loss dielectric, and its nearly entirely oxygen-free copper make-up, QED says its cables measure better with audible sonic improvements when compared with other hi-fi speaker cables.

Pros

• Clarity and space in abundance
• Allows for loads of detail
• Encourages dynamics

Cons

• Not tough enough to be used as an in-wall speaker wire

8. GearIT 12AWG Premium Heavy Duty Braided Speaker Wire Cable (35 Feet) Dual Gold Plated Banana Plug Tips – In-Wall CL2 – Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC) White

When connecting a speaker to an amplifier or A/V receiver with banana plug-style ports, gold-plated banana plug tips offer quick and simple installation. A secure connection is made by precisely fastening inside banana plug terminations.

It retains the highest audio quality and crystal-clear sound thanks to its dual conductor 12 AWG pure copper (OFC). It has high-strand count wires in a non-slip PVC Y-Boot, a robust braided jacket, and a color-coding banana plug to enable matching polarity.

High-end appearance with a braided jacket wrapped around the speaker wire, providing additional protection for the finish of your speakers while maintaining the flexibility of regular speaker wire.

It offers a ton of high-end features that provide the illusion of a professional installation without the expense or effort, such as color-coded, brushed aluminum connectors, gold-plated banana plugs, and a braided fabric jacket.

Pros

• Affordable price
• Good quality cables
• Significant in sound clarity

Cons

• Cheap connectors
• Too short

What are the best speaker wire types?

Many of the best buy speaker wires like Home depot speaker wires are made of copper because copper is extremely conductive. For the best quality wire, it is highly recommended to look for something made of 100% copper. However, if you are looking for a bit of savings, copper or copper-clad aluminum wire is a good alternative and there is no significant difference in sound quality.

Car speaker wire

When choosing parts that need to be upgraded, several factors must be considered to upgrade the standard or even upgrade the advanced mobile sound. Reliability and predictable performance should be primarily in the mind of the product expert when designing the system including car speaker wire. The car is not a house or an apartment. It moves and shakes. Car speaker wires get hot and cold. It’s hard for any track that turns on the road at 60 mph.

Many high-end home cables use solid conductors to eliminate the “sound” caused by electronic jumps from one strand to another. Even if this is an audible phenomenon, using a solid conductor in a vehicle is a disaster. The car speaker wire in a car or truck should be flexible so that it does not harden due to vibration or bending when opening and closing the door.

A diverse range of shops across the world inserts new car speaker wires into doors every time they install a new set of speakers. Aside from the reliability benefits mentioned above, the implementation of new wiring ensures that the system operates as intended. There is no chance of changing the color of the wire to affect the polarity of the speaker. There is no possibility that the doorbell or Bluetooth module will interfere with system performance. Having a 12 gauge speaker wire that goes directly from the amp to the speaker is a guarantee that you will get exactly what you expect from the speaker.

In-wall speaker wire

In-wall speaker wires are a great way to improve your home audio system without having to run new cables through walls or ceilings. They are also a great option if you want to hide the wires that attach your speakers to the wall. In-wall speaker wires are not exposed, so they should be installed accurately.

Home depot speaker wire

Never let low-quality speaker wires suffocate your amplifier. Home depot speaker wires are oxygen-free copper wires, get every ounce from your amps to your speakers. Positive signs and a ribbed jacket help keep your speakers polarized. The lower the gauge, the thicker the wire – if you connect your speakers to a small or relatively powerful amplifier with a 1-year Warranty. Home depot speaker wire also comes at an affordable price.

How to select the best speaker wire?

The speaker wire consists of two or more electrical conductors insulated with plastic (usually PVC, PE, or Teflon). Electrically, the two wires are the same but have different markings to ensure correct polarity in the installation. Wires are often characterized by a bulge on the insulation of a wire or the color of the wires (usually black and red). For extra protection, some speaker wires have a second plastic jacket to fully protect against twisting and cuts. It also makes it easier to pull wires from behind walls and ceilings.

The quality of speaker wire varies greatly from brand to brand. From the purity of metal wire (usually copper) to the quality of the coating. The purer the copper wire, the more stable the conductivity properties along the wire. Some jackets are less responsive to internal conductors, are easier to pull between walls and ceilings in industrial applications, and may have multiple jackets for better protection against torsion and cuts.

Above all other features of the speaker wire, the most important feature to consider is the resistance of the wire. If the resistance of a wire is too high, it can have an audible effect on the sound being transmitted. Look for thicker wire gauges to ensure less resistance. Speaker wire connectors are another important factor so be careful in choosing them.

Things to remember before buying speaker wire

When deciding what type of cable to use to adjust the speaker, one of the first things to consider is the AWG (American Wire Gauge) cable. AWG or speaker wire gauge refers to the thickness of the copper wire in the cable. The lower the number of speaker wire gauges is, the thicker the wire. Most speaker wire gauges are between 12 AWG to 16 AWG. Using the correct speaker wire gauges to adjust the speaker is very important.

Watts are very important when buying a speaker. But when it comes to speaker cables, one thing to worry about is speaker impedance. If you choose your cable based on the length and impedance of the speaker, the cable will be able to manage the output power of the speaker well. So what is impedance? Impedance refers to the property of a speaker to increase resistance to electric current. Consider a garden hose with running water. Placing a nozzle at the end of the hose increases the resistance to water flow.

In speaker operation, the speaker is like a hose nozzle and resists the electric current that passes through the wires. Speaker impedance is measured in ohms. Most speakers have 4, 8, or 16-ohm impedance. But this number is more like an average. Therefore, if the speaker impedance is 4 ohms, it may change between 2 ohms and 8 ohms during use. It is important to choose a wire that can control the impedance of your speaker. Otherwise, you run the risk of sound distortion and possible damage to your equipment.

AWG is the most important thing to consider when buying a speaker cable, but it is also important what the cable is made of. The pure oxygen-free copper wire gives you better sound and will last longer than a cheaper speaker cable. Speaker wire connectors are important too, so use good quality.

How to connect the speaker wire to the receiver?

Most standard stereo receivers, amplifiers, and speakers have terminals for connecting speaker wires. These terminals are either of the spring clamp type or of the binding post type.

They also almost always have a color code for easy identification: the positive (+) terminal is usually red, while the negative (-) terminal is usually black. Note that some speakers have two wires, meaning that the red and black terminals are paired with a total of four connections.

The speaker base wires have only two parts on each side: positive (+) and negative (-). Although there are only two sections, if you are not careful, there is still a 50-50 chance of making a mistake. Swapping positive and negative signals can seriously affect system performance, so it’s a good idea to double check that these wires are connected properly before turning on and testing the speakers.

While the terminals behind the stereo equipment are easily identifiable, the same cannot be said for the speaker wires. This is often where confusion can occur because labeling is not always clear.

If the speaker wire does not have a two-tone color scheme, look for a bar or broken lines (these usually indicate a positive end) along either side. If your wire has light-colored insulation, this strip or dashed line may be dark. If the insulation color is dark, the strip or dashed line is most likely white.

If the speaker wire is clear or transparent, check the printed markings. You should see positive (+) or negative (-) symbols and sometimes text to indicate polarity. If this tag is difficult to read or identify, use the tape to tag the end after you know which one it is for faster identification in the future. If you are unsure and need to check again, you can quickly test the speaker wire connection using an AA or AAA battery.

The positive (red) speaker terminal on the receiver or amplifier must be connected via speaker wire connectors to the positive terminal of the speakers, and the same applies to the negative terminals of all equipment. Technically, the color or label of the wires does not matter as long as all the terminals match. However, it is usually best to follow the indicators to avoid possible confusion later and ask the seller for proper speaker wire connectors.

When done correctly, the speakers are said to be “in phase”, meaning that both speakers work the same. However, if one of these connections is reversed, the speakers will be considered “out of phase”. This condition can cause serious sound quality problems. It may not damage any components, but you will probably hear a difference in output, such as:

•  Very thin bass with low noise, poor subwoofer performance, or both.
•  There is no recognizable central image.
•  A general feeling that the system does not look right.

Of course, other things can cause similar audio problems, but incorrect speaker phase is one of the most common mistakes when setting up a stereo system. Unfortunately, speaker phase adjustment is easily overlooked, especially if you are dealing with a set of audio and video cables.

So, take your time and make sure all the speakers are in phase: positive to positive (red to red) and negative to negative (black to black). This was how to connect the speaker wire to the receiver.

Speaker wire colors

In general, wires are zip cords that have two insulation sections that are connected by a thin connection section. Each section has a conductor. You can cut the sections by cutting them 1/4 inch or 6 mm with scissors or an exact knife, then zip them apart. Common methods for identifying these two sections are Speaker wire colors:

• One has a gold conductor and one a silver, usually, the insulator is clear so you can see them. Usually, use the gold one for + and the silver for –

• One has a raised rib or multiple ribs running longitudinally or writing or other marks down the wire and the other is smooth and clear. Usually use the ribbed or marked-on for + and the plain one for –
• One has a colored stripe, red or white or black, or other colors. Use the color striped one for +, the plan for –
• two different colored sections – if one is black it is used for – and the red is used for +

How to hide speaker wire?

The following are the best ways how to hide speaker wire:

1. Use the existing room decoration. If you have a poster or other artwork on the wall, you can direct the speaker cables to the surrounding speakers behind them. One of our SVS partners uses the foam fingers of sporting events for this purpose.

2. Use cable clips with integrated nails to attach the speaker cables to the base of the room. The cables are not completely out of sight in this case, but they are completely out of the way. If the room has a wall-to-wall carpet, you can place the cables between the carpet and the baseboards, making them more or less invisible.

3. Use light strips. If you have light strips in your room, you can place the speaker cables next to them and cover them completely.

4. Place the cables under the throwing rugs or even the room rugs. Flat cables like Sewell Ghost Wire are best for this.

5. Attach the speaker wire to the wall. Talking about the Sewell ghost wire, it includes glue on one side that allows you to attach it to the baseboards or even to the wall. Also, you can paint it with any color to blend with it and make it basically invisible.

6. Use painted corridors or ducts. Several companies build long cable ducts, ducts, and racing tracks that hide cables in hollow structures that run along the baseboards or in the corners where walls meet. They can even be mounted from the middle of the wall to the surround speakers, and you can paint them according to the wall color. Examples include the CableOrganizer level race tracks and the Wiremold CornerMate wire organizer.

7. Use crown molding or architectural features. If you plan to install a crown or baseboard in the room, you can make hollow molds that allow the cables to pass through and make the cables completely invisible. Orak Decor offers a variety of hollow polyurethane crown moldings and base molding styles with hollow channels. Some of the company’s crown moldings are also designed for indirect LED lighting, which gives a beautiful effect to any room.

8. Explore alternative panel molding. The seat-rail formwork is mounted horizontally at the middle height on the walls and can also be used to hide speaker cables. Orac Decor offers a variety of panel molding styles with hollow channels.

9. Hide speaker cables and wires in the wall. For the final invisibility of the cable, you can direct the speaker and other cables into the walls of the room. You can even install wall panels with terminals for a variety of connections alongside speakers and other equipment. Of course, this requires the most work, and unless you are a serious DIYer, it is often best to hire a professional installer to do it.

10. Go to Wireless (if possible). With wireless, you can avoid some cables altogether. SVS provides the SoundPath Wireless Audio Adapter, which transmits 16/48 uncompressed sound wirelessly from a source device to a subwoofer or a pair of electric speakers. The SoundPath Wireless Audio Adapter consists of a transmitter that connects to a line-level audio output on an AVR or other source device, and a receiver that connects to the audio input of a subwoofer or pair of electrical speakers, removing the cable altogether.

As you can see, there are many ways to hide speaker cables from all audio systems. Some are easy and cheap, while others are difficult and expensive.

How to Connect Speakers to TV with Speaker Wire

After learning how to hide speaker wire and in order to connect speakers to the TV with Speaker wire, just find the color-coded audio output jacks on the back of the TV or cable box. RCA audio output jacks are usually red and white. Connect the red RCA audio cable to the red RCA audio jack on your TV and the white RCA cable to your white RCA audio jack. To improve the sound quality of the speakers, make sure that the jacks and plugs with the color code match correctly. Turn on your TV and check each speaker.

When two or all speakers are working at the same time, it is difficult to hear the function of one speaker. Disconnect all speakers except the speaker you are examining to hear its output. For all other speakers, repeat this process and check the connections for the speakers that are having problems. For more information about how to connect speakers to tv with speaker wire, you can read the TV instructions carefully.

In conclusion

In this article, we introduced the best speaker wires as well as coaxial speaker cables showing you how to connect speaker wire to receiver, how to connect speaker wire, how to hide speaker wire and how to connect speakers to TV with speaker wire. If your questions have not been answered yet, you should call an expert or a service center.