How to Buy In-Wall Speaker Wire
In-wall speakers are an elegant and stylish solution to fitting a quality sound system into a small budget or a confined space. To get the most out of your in-wall speakers, it's important to use quality wiring and to install it correctly. Here's how to buy in-wall speaker wire when you're setting up your home entertainment center.
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Instructions
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Note the type of in-wall speakers you're using. Depending on the quality, type and power of the speakers, you'll need to get connectors of a particular gauge to fit your wire. If you get a wire that is too small, you may lose audio signal or even cause a fire.
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Measure the length that you'll be running the wire, since this distance will affect the gauge of wire you'll need to buy. In-wall speaker wire must meet be CL-2 or higher to meet NEC guidelines in residential homes.
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Choose thicker wire for better sound quality or to offer lower resistance over longer runs. This is important if your amp isn't very powerful.
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Get price quotes from local stores over the phone, and then check these costs against what online retailers have to offer. Visit a local electronics store like Radio Shack and check online at Web sites such as Crutchfield and Cables to Go (see Resources below).
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Buy connectors and clamps for the gauge and type of wire that you've purchased.
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Tips & Warnings
To minimize the amount of dry wall repair you'll need to do, run the speaker wire behind baseboard or under carpet until you're as close as possible to the site of the in-wall speaker.
When buying wire, always add about 15% to the length you'll need in case you make a mistake.
Although you don't need to use connectors to hook up your speakers, they are a safer alternative since they protect against shorts.
Never handle raw wire when your system is plugged in.
