Hey guys, I just bought a new system for my car and needed help on a few things.


Rockford Fosgate P300-1
JL 10W3V3-2
Monster 8 Gauge Amp Kit

I wasn't really planning on anything crazy audio wise, so a 10" should be plenty for me. I picked up some speaker wire today at Home Depot, I couldn't find anything under 16 gauge, so I got 5-6ft for $1.50. My question is do you think 16 gauge would be fine for a 300RMS sub or do you think I should look for 12-14 gauge instead? I read it can affect the sound of the system, is that true?

Any help would be appreciated, TIA.
John

Also, are there any good car audio shops in the South Bay? I rarely ever see any audio shops, if there is one, please let me know.

 

Is this for your 350Z?

 

Yup.

 

You might want to try asking here then www.my350z.com

 

Thanks for the tip man. I'll be sure to post there.

 

No problem. You do that.

 

If you decide you want heftier wire check out johnswireshop.com. I've bought 100's of feet of wire from this guy for re-cabling headphones and other hi-fi projects. I don't know what gauge you should use, or any other specifics, but once you get that sorted out look at his inventory. I use him because he has silver plated copper for cheap which I prefer for headphone cables.

On a side note to other members: I hope you guys can respectfully answer his thread regardless of his previous seemingly-douchebad thread. I'm a little familiar with him outside of i-club, and hes a decent guy.

 

u should be fine w/ ur 8gauge power wire... u should use 8 ga for the ground as well. as far as wire thickness think of it as an artery; a skinnier wire is a clogged artery less flow and a thicker wire is a healthy artery w/ better flow.

u should be fine w/ 16 ga but 12 ga would be slightly better.

beware of some shops that sell 4/8/10 ga wire but really it's only 8/10/12 wire w/ thicker insulation and less wire strands.

 

I'll look into that website, appreciate it man.
John

I looked at his ebay listings and I don't think he has speaker wire, just regular wire.

Yeah, the amp kit is all 8 gauge. The power and ground are both 8 gauge and allow up to 325RMS, so I am covered. I'll make sure, I don't really need anything under 12, I was told 16 is fine, and it would work, I just want to double check because I don't want to run a speaker wire that is too thin.

Are there any local hardware shops that sell 12 gauge by the foot? Home Depot only had 16, and I don't need 20,50,100 feet of this wire, 4-6 ft is fine.
John

 

Also, the sub is 2ohm, from what I read it makes a difference between 2,4,8 ohm subs. 2ohm + 300w RMS. I think I might get 12 gauge just to be safe, I have no idea where I can buy it by the foot though? Any ideas?

 

Got the 350 huh? Lol jk

That bose system is junk, good call on replacing it.










Great for general wire info:

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm



I believe these would work even for car speakers??
http://www.monoprice.com/products/se...r+wire&x=0&y=0

 

Lol, yup got a 350. It's a fun car guys lol.

Anyways, thanks for the link on wire info, I'll read up on it.

Those wires would work great, but they are 50-100 ft, I really don't need that much and I need to get the wire cause I'm installing the system this weekend. I don't want to get it shipped from an online store and then not get it and have to wait another week lol.

Any stores that sell by the foot? I'll see if Osh/Lowes/Etc. might have it. I mean, if Home Depot doesn't have under 16, I don't know how the smaller stores would have it. Hmm....I might just end up doing 16. It is only 300w Rms. I hope someone with a lot of experience would chime in and let me know what I should do.
John

 

I say go to your local car audio shop. They should have rolls of that stuff on hand for the in house installations they do anyway. Just tell them you want a few feet of a specific gauge and they'll likely sell some to you.

 

True, but I have no idea where the audio shops in south bay are, I tried searching and thinking, but they are pretty rare unless I'm completely mistaken.

If anyone knows any hardware store or audio shop in south bay that might have it, please don't hesitate to post or PM me. Thanks guys.

 

http://www.yelp.com/biz/guru-electronics-san-jose

I"m pretty sure they still have wire.

A lot of car audio shops took a dump because they weren't making money.