Replace speaker wires?

[Andrew Hess]

I've just ordered some Boston Acoustic speakers to replace the stock
speakers on our new '04 Forester X. Question: Do you recommend
replacing the speaker wires as well? Would heavier gauge wires improve
stereo performance?

While I'm at it, does anyone have tips and tricks in upgrading the
Forester stereo? I'm planning to just replace the speakers for now,
then maybe later put in a Clarion subwoofer. I'd like to avoid buying
an amp. What am I forgetting?

Andrew

 

[Andrew Morris]

a heavier gauge will improve performance a little... I'm still running the
factory loom, and have 40 watts per channel, and no noticeable problems...

 

[BBB]

Upgrading the speakers will make a big improvement. I did an A-B
comparison for a week or so with upgrades on one side and stock on the
other. Stock sounded really lousy.

Unless you're really into this, I think that upgrading the wiring won't
really buy you much, and it will be a lot more work. This is the inside
of a moving car we're talking about, not a concert hall.

I posted a blow-by-blow of what I had to do to replace the speakers in
my 03 XS a while ago. E-mail me if you'd like a copy.

 

[Alan Peterman]

The wires are the BEST part of the stock system. The speakers are the worst,
and replacing them will result in much better sound. However the next step is
to replace the head unit, the stock one puts out about 8-10 watts RMS per
channel and that just is not enough for decent sound. For under $200 you can
get something with a 200 watt rating that plays MP3 or has ability for satellite
radio and the sound will be a lot better. You're other choice is a powered
subwoofer, the Subaru one is NOT a good idea. For less money you can get a
decent 100-200 watt amp and a 8 inch tube sub and have real bass.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Heaver wire is not the answer but heaver wire with more fine strands is
better. High frequency like lots of surface area as the hi frequencies only
use the outer surface of the wire. I don't know what type of audio wire is
standard in the Subaru but I think their top dollar upgrade used the std
factory wire. You may want to check a late model Subaru with the up graded
audio system to see if it sounds good enough. eddie.

 

[Mike B.]

You would spend a fortune and then some wiggling wires through your doors. I
did DJ work for 13 years. Ran a few hundred watts through standard speaker
wires. When teenagers came to me and said "gee your system is loud, what do
you have" I tell them a Radio Shack 100W RMS stereo and lots of big speakers
(2 -15" and 4- 12" plus midrange and tweeters). Speakers are the thing. Not
big wires.

 

[-rick-]

Heaver wire is not the answer but heaver wire with more fine strands is
better. High frequency like lots of surface area as the hi frequencies only
use the outer surface of the wire.

That is correct but insignificant at audio frequencies. At 20 KHz the skin
depth for copper is about 10mm.

-rick-

 

[Lance B]

You would spend a fortune and then some wiggling wires through your doors. I
did DJ work for 13 years. Ran a few hundred watts through standard speaker
wires. When teenagers came to me and said "gee your system is loud, what do
you have" I tell them a Radio Shack 100W RMS stereo and lots of big speakers
(2 -15" and 4- 12" plus midrange and tweeters). Speakers are the thing. Not
big wires.

Speaker wires are important to good sound. The bigger the better to a
point. Bass requires a good amount of cross sectional area and high
frequencies require many strands.

As the previous poster pointed out, when the teenagers say "gee your
system is loud, what do you have?" it can mean that there is a lot of
distortion and small speaker wires may have in impact on this.
Distortion can make a system sound loud as the distortion component is
being heard as well as the sound component. Some people don't even
realise that the sound is distorted until they hear the same system
next to a high powered low distortion system.

I've studied and tested many sound systems in my time. Have you ever
noticed that a good system with lots of power and good speakers and
cables sound effortless and only as loud as say a lesser powered
system. The reason for this is that distortion creeps into the lesser
powered system and makes it SOUND as loud but not as pure or clean. I
have demonstrated this to many. It is hard to explain and space is too
short in this forum but suffice to say, generally, the more well
designed power, better components and bigger the leads the better. I
would consider a minimum for your speaker leads to be about 2.5 square
mm or about 13 awg.

 

[Jon]

LB,

I would like to know more about this topic as I'm kind of an audiophile
myself. I own two Bose systems the Lifestyle 12 and the Wave Radio. But I am
unaware of the technicalities that goes with it. Feel free to email me if
this too OT.

-Jon