Speaker wiring. The sole connection between hundreds of dollars in audio equipment, and most people barely give it a thought. Wire is wire, and for the most part as long as the wire works to an adequate level, they’re happy. However, not all wiring is necessarily created equally. Before you go ahead and hook up those new speakers, read on to make sure you get the most out of them.

In this article I’ll be answering some of the most common questions relating to speaker wire by referring to the pros and cons of the (probably overkill) Mediabridge 12 AWG Ultra Series Speaker Cable, which I use in my setup at home. To be clear, one cable per speaker is required if you’re going for a conventional setup, while for each speaker that is going to be making use of bi-amping you’ll need two speaker cables.

What Gauge Wire is Best?

Starting with the obvious, the Mediabridge cables I own are rated at 12 AWG. This places them firmly on the thicker end of the recommended spectrum, which in general runs from 12-16 AWG for most speakers (lower numbers are thicker). Thick wires allow for more efficient power transmission and let the highest fidelity signals reach your speaker unimpeded. Large diameter wiring (12-14 AWG) is really only important for long cable runs of 25-50+ feet. In most scenarios significantly cheaper 16 AWG wire will get the job done with no downsides.

The wiring within the Mediabridge cable is claimed as 99.9% oxygen-free copper, an excellent conductor that will provide minimal resistance, and is a minor step above the low-cost copper-clad aluminum(CCA) wire options (I have never tested this product) that are optimal for budget setups.

Can I Run My Wiring Through Walls?

The PVC insulation jacket of the Mediabridge cables has been given the standardized CL2 rating, meaning it is fire-resistant and suitable to be run through walls. CL3 rated cables also exist, but unless you are worried about huge surges in voltage either one is fine for in-wall applications. Each end of the cable is supported by a PVC Y-boot for added durability, an item that can be purchased separately if desired for patching together a homemade cable.

What Looks the Best?

When wiring is going to be out in the open I find the Mediabridge cable’s smooth black insulation can be more cosmetically appealing than traditional wiring’s translucent insulation which lets the bare copper shine through. The downside is that they are harder to hide if that’s what you’re trying to do, especially at this thickness. The insulation of the cable does seem to have a slight oily feel to it upon arrival, so I would recommend washing your hands after handling it.

If your speakers and surrounding décor like the TV and TV stand are dark or black in color these cables can be used to match the theme, which is what I did with my setup. Just be warned that if the back-drop behind your speakers is a light color these will stand out starkly.

Do I Need To Use Banana Plugs?

The Mediabridge cable includes gold-plated banana plug terminations to ease the task of hooking up the speakers to the receiver. The banana plugs easily insert fully for a firm connection with both my speakers (Klipsch RP-600M Review) and receiver (Yamaha RX-V483 and 683), and maintain a solid connection even after being plugged in and out repeatedly.

If cosmetic appeal is a major concern you can achieve good results by buying a roll of speaker wire and hiding it in raceways or in the walls. Terminating the ends of the wire with banana plugs can be cosmetically appealing, but they aren’t strictly necessary. However if you have any plans to change up your system the banana plugs are highly convenient.

Other Options

If you decide to go for plain-old speaker wire, the offerings from Monoprice tend to be highly reviewed (I have never tested this product). Whichever way you decide to go I wish you the best of luck, it’s in your hands now. You might also thank yourself for picking up a pack of cable ties, regardless of what wiring you decide to use.