Splices degrade the sound: Audio experts have determined that properly spliced and soldered wires do not change or degrade the sound coming out of speakers. Although an oscilloscope can detect splices by identifying small voltage drops or spikes, the anomalies are too small to hear.

Does speaker wire length affect sound quality?

Quick answers: Does speaker wire affect sound quality? Under normal circumstances, the answer is NO: speaker wire does not affect sound quality.

What is the best way to splice speaker wire?

There are a couple of ways to splice speaker wires. One way is to twist speaker wires together and use electrical tape. But tape wears out over time, and the smallest tug on the wires can easily separate the connection. The better option is an in-line electrical crimp connector (also known as butt connector).

Can you splice two speaker wires together?

To perform the splice, both wires are stripped and slipped inside the sleeve. They dont need to be twisted together first, although thats okay. The cap should be firmly and fully crimped with a correct-sized jaw of the crimping tool, and the connection should be subjected to a pull-test afterwards.

Can I use butt connectors on speaker wire?

Quote: If you are simply extending a speaker cable a butt connector will work but you would be better off replacing the cable with the proper length to avoid the splice all together.

Is it OK to solder speaker wire?

Measure the distance you want your speaker wire to reach then cut the wire to that length. Simply touch the solder wire to the speaker wire and tabs to solder them. DO NOT melt the solder by making direct contact with the soldering iron. Doing so will result in an ineffective joint.

Can I mix 12 gauge and 14 gauge wire?

More specifically, can you connect 14-gauge wire to 12-gauge wire? While this is possible, it is not recommended in order to prevent overloading. For example, if the amp capacity of your breaker is 20 amps, you should only use 12-gauge wire, and if its 15 amps, the entire circuit should be 14-gauge.

What happens if speaker wire is too thin?

If your speaker wire is too thin, it will have a lot of resistance. Resistance is proportional to how thick or thin your speaker wire is. Thin wires have a relatively higher resistance than thick wires. Owning to the fact that thin wires have high resistance, they can melt if a large current is put through them.

Should you solder banana plugs?

I find its permanent, and the plugs are much less expensive than the screw type. Its a good idea to solder bare wire if youre not using any type of termination, to keep the frayed wires from touching the opposite terminal and shorting out your amp. Soldering also prevents oxidation of bare wire.

Does solder affect sound?

As long as the solder is used properly, and makes a solid connection, then the type of solder makes zero impact in audio quality. The flux inside the solder, on the other hand, can make a big impact. But here too, if used properly, it wont matter.