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Can I use 24 gauge speaker cable?

I’ve been trying to google this but I only get vague answers.
I want to know if I can use 24 gauge cable as speaker cable. And if not: why not?
Usual answers are “no, you should use xx gauge”, but I’m looking for why is that? Will the speakers of the amp go off in flames if the resistance is too high? I don’t even get that because the resistance isn’t even that much of a difference between speaker cable sizes, compared to the speakers resistance.

I’m talking about ca 16ft / 5m distance between amp and speaker. By the way should that measure 16 ft or double (32ft because one cable is plus and the other minus)?
sjeesjie

Showing 1 response by davidclarke

davidclarke
43 posts
 
It is a function of length and current.  So it should be great to run a tweeter two feet away.

Seriously,  How far away do you want to put the amp from the speakers?  How big is your power amp in watts?  What speakers?

A simple answer is a smaller gage is better.  When I hook up even small built in wall speakers we run 14 gage in the walls.

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