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This thread was saved without dates. "Around Aug 2004" is estimated from neighbouring threads.
okay, so here's the big debate. which is better. Welding Wire? or Audio Wire?
finding 2 gauge welding wire is a hell of a lot easier than finding 2 gauge audio wire. it's also a LOT cheaper. it's just not as nice looking
but there's arguments to Welding Wire's quality against Audio wire. like the fact that Audio Wire is usually more bendable than Welding wire and stuff.
what do you guys think?
welding wire uses thicker stands and I don't think the copper is as pure as Audio cable.
then braid the wire and bam..you're set..ehhehe
For the most part, wire is wire ... High-end audio wire doesn't use pure copper either, they use a tinned copper for improved resistance to rusting (greater durability) ...
I'd just stick with the welding wire if you can get it cheap and it's flexible enough to get through your car with little hassle :)
with audio wiring the sound/voltage is on the outside of the copper strands so the more strands you have in the cable the more surface area there is, so there for more strands = better sound output and better sound quality (well that is what I was taught at work)
You really need to actually listen to the difference different wires of the same gauge make ... which is none ...
I could see speaker wire making a slight difference because it actually delivers the signal to the speaker, but to say that a higher strand count with power wire is going to improve sound is just rediculous ... Also, I've yet to hear a difference in speaker wire, but it's a lot more plausible ...
Wire is wire regardless of where you get it. The shop i work in has got 6 welders and two plasma cutters and I asked the guys who supply the wire for us and they tell me that audio power cable is the exact same thing, it just cost more. I switched to welding wire after I cooked my audio power wire (both 4 gauge) due to a short and I can't tell any difference, except for the price. Hope that helps.
The main difference is strand count ( the more strands the more pliable in a certain guage) But if you can bend it to go around the places you want then go with the cheap stuff. And to use 2guage, seems like a bit of overkill...
Just for the record, 4 gauge is overkill and 2 gauge is never going to fit ;)
the welding wire i bought was a lil more expensive but it was double sheilded wire and its more flexible than the red stereo wire stuff of the same guage... hope that helps