[For Audio Equipment] Recommended Speaker Cables! A Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Cable and the Sound Quality

Speaker cables are often overlooked in audio systems, but they play a very important role in delivering the amplified signal to the speakers, their final destination, without any degradation in quality.

It is no exaggeration to say that the true capabilities of your system will be brought out depending on the cable you choose.

In this article, we'll thoroughly explain everything from the basics of choosing speaker cables to recommended models by price range and the sound quality trends of each cable. Find the one that will dramatically change your listening experience.

Four important points for choosing speaker cables

Here are four basic points you should check first when choosing a speaker cable.

Conductor (core) material and purity

The conductor material is the most important factor that determines sound quality.

material	Features	Sound quality trends	Recommended users
OFC (oxygen-free copper)	High-purity copper that does not contain impurities (oxygen).	High resolution, clear and natural sound	Well-balanced and excellent value for money. The foundation of audio.
PC-Triple C/6N, 7N copper	Even more highly purified copper wire.	Well-balanced, relatively inexpensive and high performance	High resolution, wide sound field, and more natural and detailed sound.
Silver (or silver-plated copper)	It has lower electrical resistance than copper.	A sound with a sense of speed and a smooth high range	The high frequencies are extended, there is a sense of speed, and the sound is clear and brilliant.

Cable thickness (cross-sectional area/AWG)

The thickness of the cable is related to "conductor resistance." The thicker the cable, the lower the resistance, and the more efficiently the amplifier's power is transmitted to the speaker.

Guidelines for appropriate cable thickness (low impedance systems)

For low-impedance speakers, such as 8 Ω or 4 Ω, typically used in home audio systems, it is important to choose a cable thickness that ensures that the cable's resistance is not too high compared to the speaker's impedance .

Cable resistance is inversely proportional to its thickness and proportional to its length. Lower impedances (e.g., 4 ohms) require thicker cables, as the effect of cable resistance on losses becomes more significant.

Speaker Impedance	Cable length guide	Recommended cable thickness (cross-sectional area)	AWG gauge guide
8 ohms	Less than 3m	1.25mm ² or more	16 AWG or larger
8 ohms	Approximately 3m to 10m	2.0mm ² or more	14 AWG or larger
4 ohms	Less than 3m	2.0mm ² or more	14 AWG or larger
4 ohms	Approximately 3m to 10m	3.5mm ² or more	12 AWG or larger

* The smaller the AWG (American Wire Gauge) number, the thicker the cable.

Key Takeaways

1. Low impedance (e.g. 4 ohms) : The lower the impedance, the more current will flow, so a thicker cable is recommended to prevent power loss due to resistance.

2. Long-distance wiring : The longer the cable, the greater the resistance, so a good guideline is to choose a thicker cable and ensure that the cable resistance is within 10% of the speaker impedance.

3. High-output systems : When using a high-power amplifier, thicker cables are also advantageous in terms of allowable current (however, the above guidelines are usually sufficient for home use).

Typical home theater and audio systems use 1.25mm ² (16AWG) to 2.0mm ² (14 AWG) cables are often used.

Cable Construction and Shielding

• Twisting method (structure): Single wire, multi-core twisted, Litz wire, etc.

  • Litz wire: A structure in which thin wires are insulated and twisted together. It is said to be effective in suppressing the skin effect (the phenomenon in which high-frequency signals flow along the surface of the conductor) and preventing attenuation of high frequencies.

• Shielding: Speaker cables are not easily affected by noise, but if you are running them alongside power lines or other signal lines, it is safer to choose a model with strong shielding (external coating).

Terminal type (terminal processing)

How you handle the ends of your cables (the parts that connect to the speakers and amplifier) ​​also affects sound quality and convenience.

• Banana plugs: Simply insert them into the terminals of your speaker or amplifier to connect, making them easy to replace or remove.

• Y-lug (spade plug): Can be firmly fixed with screws and increases the contact area. It is often considered to be advantageous in terms of sound quality.

• Direct cable: A method of connecting by exposing the core wire without attaching a terminal. This is simple, but there is a risk that the cable is prone to oxidation and the connection may become unstable.

The tendency of "differences in sound quality" depending on the speaker cable

Some people say that cables don't change the sound, but speaker cables in particular are directly related to impedance matching between the amplifier and speaker, so it's said that the change is easy to feel.

Low-frequency resolution and driving power

If the cable is thin or has high conductor resistance, the bass power will be lost and the sound will tend to become muddy.

• High-quality cable: Low resistance transmits the amplifier's power without loss, tightening the low range and improving the sense of speed and volume .

High-frequency extension and information content

If the conductor quality or twisting structure is poor, high-frequency signals will be attenuated or drowned in noise.

• High-quality cable: The high frequencies extend clearly , and delicate information such as the reverberation of cymbals and the airiness of the sound are reproduced vividly.

Sound field width and positioning

If the cable has good transmission characteristics, the phase information recorded on the sound source will be accurately preserved.

• High-quality cable: The position (localization) of instruments and vocals becomes clearer, and the sound field (stage expansion) feels more three-dimensional .

About our product plugs

The speaker cable plugs we sell (banana plugs, tip plugs, Y plugs, etc.) are made with plugs that have been developed exclusively by Onkodo. We are particular about the materials we use, and use high-purity materials with excellent conductivity to maximize signal transmission efficiency.

[Price Range] Recommended Speaker Cables for Audio Equipment

We have picked out some recommended speaker cables for audio equipment based on your budget and the sound quality you are aiming for.

The speaker cable is They are divided into three types: for audio equipment, for PA equipment, and for musical instruments. We will narrow our search to "speaker cables for audio equipment " and carefully select our recommendations.

Entry to middle class (priority on cost performance)

CANARE 4S6G OFC Oxygen-Free Copper Wire, Unplated BFA Speaker Cable with Banana Plugs, Set of 2

Mid to high-end class (pursuing high sound quality)

MOGAMI 3104 2-Piece 24K Gold-Plated Beryllium Copper Speaker Cable with Banana Plugs

Features: The professional-grade 12AWG 4-core construction and oxygen-free copper conductors deliver flat, high-resolution, and powerful sound quality. The 24K gold-plated beryllium copper banana plugs ensure durability and excellent signal transmission quality.

recommendation: It is ideal for genres that require delicate spatial impression and resolution, such as classical and jazz, and its powerful characteristics also make it suitable for music that emphasizes dynamic expression, such as rock and EDM.

Cable : MOGAMI 3104
plug : ONKODO BP-208BG Beryllium Copper BFA Type
Cable outer diameter : 14.5mm
Number of cores / Conductor cross-sectional area : 4 cores / 4.0mm ²(12AWG)

Price: From 16,400 yen

To product page >>

ZONOTONE 6NSP-Granster 2200α (Set of 2) Beryllium Copper Rhodium-Plated Speaker Cable with Banana Plugs

Features: The conductor is a hybrid of four materials, including ultra-high purity 6NCu. It delivers clear high frequencies, rich midrange, and weighty low frequencies, delivering a beautiful sound field and realistic sound. The rhodium-plated plug ensures high conductivity.

recommendation: Taking advantage of its high resolution and rich musicality, it is ideal for genres that require delicate sound and emotion, such as classical and jazz. You can also experience the artistry of music regardless of genre, such as pop music and movie soundtracks.

cable : ZONOTONE 6NSP-Granster 2200α
plug : ONKODO BP-208BR Beryllium Copper Rhodium Plated BFA Type
Cable outer diameter : 8.0mm
Number of cores / Conductor cross-sectional area : 2 cores / 2.0mm ²(14AWG)

Price: From 19,500 yen

To product page >>

SAEC SPC-650 [PC-Triple C Conductor] Two-Piece Beryllium Copper Rhodium-Plated Speaker Cable with Banana Plugs

Features: The PC-Triple C conductors provide extremely high conductivity and transmission characteristics, while the rhodium-plated banana plugs made of beryllium copper provide clear, wide-range sound quality across the entire frequency range and excellent durability.

recommendation: It has neutral characteristics that are suitable for any genre, but is particularly ideal for classical and jazz music, which are rich in information, as well as rock and fusion, which require fast sound attack.

cable : SAEC SPC-650
plug : ONKODO BP-208BR Beryllium Copper Rhodium Plated BFA Type
Cable outer diameter : 7.5mm
Number of cores / Conductor cross-sectional area : 2 cores / 1.4mm ²(16AWG)

Price: From 19,500 yen

To product page >>

High-end class (for ultimate sound quality)

ZONOTONE 6NSP-Granster 5500α Beryllium Copper Rhodium-Plated Speaker Cable with Banana Plugs, Set of 2

Features: The cable features a diverse wire structure that combines four materials, including ultra-high purity 6N, to deliver overwhelming information volume and dynamics. The rhodium-plated beryllium copper banana plugs improve the clarity and tightness of the high frequencies.

recommendation: These speakers are ideal for wide-range, energetic genres such as rock and orchestra, where the attack and damping power of the sound are important. They are also especially recommended for listeners who prefer a large-scale sound field representation.

cable : ZONOTONE 6NSP-Granster 5500α
plug : ONKODO BP-208BR Beryllium Copper Rhodium Plated BFA Type
Cable outer diameter : 10.0mm
Number of cores / Conductor cross-sectional area : 4 cores / 2.0mm ²(14AWG)

Price: From 24,500 yen

To product page >>

SAEC SPC-850 [PC-Triple C Conductor] Two-Piece Beryllium Copper Rhodium-Plated Speaker Cable with Banana Plugs

Summary: Cables are part of the system

Speaker cables are an important part of your audio system, just like your amplifier and speakers.

1. First, check the thickness (cross-sectional area) and choose one that matches the power of your amplifier.

2. Select the conductor material based on the sound quality you want (flat, powerful, vibrant, etc.).

3. Decide the type of terminal and whether or not to use shielding based on your budget and installation environment .

Use this explanation to find the perfect product to get the most out of your audio system.

>>All speaker cables available here