[For PA Equipment] Recommended Speaker Cables! A thorough explanation of how to choose them and the differences in sound quality

Speaker cables are essential when setting up a sound system (PA) for both professionals and amateurs, at live music venues, event venues, school festivals, and other venues.

However, many people may have questions such as, "Is thicker better?", "There are too many types of connectors," and "Is there any difference in sound quality?"

In this article, we'll thoroughly explain how to choose speaker cables for your PA equipment, recommend products, and how they affect sound quality . Find the perfect cable for your PA system!

Four points to consider when choosing PA speaker cables

There are four important points to consider when choosing speaker cables for PA systems:

Cable thickness (AWG/sq) and length

The thickness of the speaker cable is directly related to sound quality and power loss.

• Unit of thickness (cross-sectional area):

  • AWG (American Wire Gauge): The smaller the number, the thicker the cable (e.g., 12AWG is thicker than 16AWG).

  • sq (Square Millimeter): The larger the number, the thicker the cable. (Example: 3.5sq is thicker than 2.0sq.)

• How to choose:

  • For short distances (within 5m): 1.5sq to 2.0sq (approximately 16AWG) is sufficient.

  • For long distances (over 10m) or high output: Choose a thicker cable, 2.5sq to 3.5sq (14AWG to 12AWG) or thicker.

Thin cables have high resistance, which causes the power from the amplifier to be lost as heat (power loss), reducing the power supplied to the speakers. When using long cables in particular, paying particular attention to cable thickness will help maintain the power and response of the sound .

Connector type (terminal)

The two main types of connectors used in PA situations are:

Connector Name	Features	Purpose
SpeakON	Developed by Neutrik, this is the most popular connector used in PA applications. It features a locking mechanism, is not easily disconnected, and is highly reliable, withstanding large currents. .	Mainly used to connect powered mixers or power amplifiers to large PA speakers .
Phone (standard plug)	A common connector also used for guitar shields. It has a simple structure and is inexpensive, but it has no locking mechanism and is easily disconnected.	Connecting to a small powered speaker or simple PA system .

In professional settings, Speakon is the mainstream due to its high safety and reliability. We recommend choosing cables with Speakon terminals whenever possible.

Important points regarding the number of Speakon channels and cable cores

1. [Important information regarding Speakon connections]

The number of channels and cores in a speaker cable do not necessarily match, as shown below.

Relationship between the number of channels and the number of cable cores

Speakon connectors come in two types: "1ch (2-pole)" and "2ch (4-pole)".

⚠️Request to customers (common misunderstandings)

• It is not possible to make a general judgment that "because the cable has two cores, it is for 1 channel" or "because the cable has four cores, it is for 2 channels. "

• In particular, with high-end audio-grade cables, many products use 4-core cables in a "1ch connection" (2 cores connected to the positive pole and 2 cores connected to the negative pole) in order to improve sound quality and handle large currents.

• This "4-core to 1-channel" connection method is a design innovation that reduces electrical resistance and achieves clearer, more powerful sound.

Conductor material

The material of the conductor (the wire through which the signal travels) is also important.

material	Features
OFC (Oxygen Free Copper)	Oxygen-free copper. Widely used in general cables, it has few impurities, making it faithful to the original sound and offering excellent acoustic characteristics.
PC-Triple C/6N, 7N copper	Extremely high purity copper. It is chosen when aiming for a clearer, more highly resolved sound, but OFC is often sufficient for PA applications.

For PA systems, you can't go wrong with OFC cables . Choose cables with a sturdy sheath (outer jacket) that also offers durability.

Durability and flexibility

PA cables are frequently wound, dragged, stepped on, and exposed to harsh environments.

• Durability: Make sure the sheath is thick and made of a material that can withstand wear and tear .

• Flexibility: If the cable is too stiff, it will be difficult to wind up and wire when dismantling. Choosing a product with the right amount of flexibility will improve work efficiency on site.

Is there really a difference in sound quality?

You may have heard that speaker cables can change sound quality, but what about in a PA environment?

Influencing factors

The difference in sound quality comes from two main factors:

1. Electrical properties (resistance and capacitance):

   • Most important: A low resistance cable (i.e., a thick cable) prevents power loss and delivers the maximum amount of amplifier power to the speakers, directly resulting in powerful, responsive sound .

   • The thickness of the cable has the greatest effect on sound quality.

2. Physical materials (conductors and structure):

   • High-purity copper (such as OFC) and special braided structures can make signal transmission more accurate, improving resolution and the expressiveness of certain frequency ranges (such as high frequencies) .

Conclusion: PA on-site thinking

In professional PA environments, reliability and power loss prevention are given top priority over changes in sound quality .

• The difference in resistance due to thickness has a significant effect on the power of the sound, especially over long distances.

• While extremely expensive cables may be effective at the studio level, in PA situations it is best practice to prioritize durability and cost performance and choose thicker OFC cables from a trusted manufacturer.

Recommended PA speaker cables

We will introduce recommended cables that are highly reliable for PA use.

CANARE 4S6 Speaker Cable (Phone to Phone)

CANARE 4S8 Speaker Cable (Speakon to Speakon)

summary

Choosing the right speaker cable will maximize the potential of your PA system and ensure stable, trouble-free operation. Use this article to find the best cable for your environment!

All speaker cables available here