Can The Coaxial Cable Be Used For Speaker Wire?
Coaxial cable is a versatile communication wire that can even be used as a speaker wire. Or can it? Is it worth it to convert coax wire into coaxial speaker cable? Read this blog to find out.
Common Applications Of A Coaxial Cable
A coax cable is used for the transmission of radio frequency signals. In practice, it implies a whole range of very different applications.
Coaxial cables are commonly used:
- For Carrying Audio And Video Signals
- In Cable Television CATV
- In CCTV
- For Wired Internet
- In Modems
- For Broadcasting
- In HDTV
- As A Speaker Cable for Audio Transmission
- In Test Equipment
Using Coaxial Cable As A Speaker Wire
As the list of coax cable applications demonstrates, a coax cable is perfect for a wide range of broadband, audio, and video frequency applications. A coaxial cable can also be used as a speaker cable, though it might not seem obvious to everyone. In fact, a coax cable is used as in speakers quite often, though a regular speaker cable is a way more popular and obvious choice.
Pros of Coaxial Speaker Cable
- A coaxial cable has thicker insulation and conductor that demonstrate less signal loss. You can carry a coax speaker wire for longer distances than a regular speaker wire, and it generally carries more power.
- A coaxial cable provides a high quality of sound, higher than regular speaker wire laid in parallel.
Cons Of A Coax Cable In Speakers
- Typical coaxial cables have a capacitance of 50 ohms or 75 ohms, which does not fit well with regular speakers, which have a capacitance of 14-16 ohms.
- Coaxial cables are much more expensive compared to regular speaker wires.
- Coaxial cables are of higher weight and are less flexible as a result.
- Coaxial cables take longer to install compared to regular speaker wires. DIY guides available online might be inconsistent.
Which Types Of Coaxial Cables Work Best For Speakers?
Choosing the best coax speaker boils down to the gauge. Currently, RG11 is the best option for speakers as it has the optimal size of 14 AWG. This size does not compromise the quality of the sound at typical lengths of using speaker cables in the house.
Other cables are not the optimal option. RG58 and RG59 will not work because of their small gauge that makes it impossible to run the sound at long distances. RG-6 cables are not recommended to use because of its metal shielding. Shielded design is to be avoided with speakers.
Afterword
All in all, it is perfectly fine to use a coaxial cable as a speaker wire unless a few disadvantages are not critical for you. However, with the abundance of high-quality speaker wires on the market, it might not be necessary to convert your coaxial cable to a speaker wire.
The decision whether to convert the coaxial cable to speaker wire is entirely up to you. If you decide to use a coaxial cable as a speaker cord, go for variations with improved flexibility, the so-called flexible coax cables. There are plenty of options for that variation on the market.
While a coaxial cable might not be the orthodox choice for the speaker wire and choosing a regular speaker wire is the all-around safest option, a coaxial wire is an excellent choice when it comes to the Internet, carrying audio and video signals, and TV. Nassau National Cable carries an extensive range of high-quality coaxial wire and cable at excellent prices.
