Hey Guys,
I'm installing an aftermarket system in a '95 Buick Regal.. Would the speaker wire need to be replaced after 14 years of use? I would imagine the wires wear out after time.
If you are just powering the speakers with the headunit, it's absolutely pointless IMO to replace the wire if it's not physically broken or chaffed. You have many other bigger factors that are deteriorating the sound quality in your vehicle than the wiring you are using.
If you are powering them with an amp however, I do recommend you run new larger wire for the speakers.
1995 Chevrolet C1500 Silverado
Kenwood eXcelon | Diamond Audio | Kicker | RAAMaudio
I have done it both ways many times and if you got the time I'd run new speaker wire 18ga or 16ga if your thinking of going to amps in the future. With the modern HUs you can definately pick up a bit more midbass and more clarity with larger wire.
05 Silverado xtra cab, Eclipse 3200 HU, MTX 150/2 bluethunder frt., 75/2 bluethunder rear, 800/1 subs, Alpine SPX 6.5 seperates frt& rear, 2-12" Infinity reference subs in down firing sealed box, 2 farad cap, copius dynamat.
its a budget question really.... auto industries put bare minimum wire not suitable for upgraded speakers... its all a question of what you want and what your budget is... what are you putting in??? and speaker wire is not too expensive nor is it hard to re run
5-1/4" and 6"x9" Kenwood KFC's with a Kenwood Excelon Receiver, 2 Kenwood Subs & an Amp. I'd imagine with the subs running heavier low end, I wouldn't want the highs to be drowned out because of deteriorated speaker wire.. Budget isn't a huge issue especially since speaker wire is generally inexpensive. I'm assuming you would recomend replacing it?? Thanks for your reply!
Excellent advice guys! I think I'll just go the whole 9 yards and replace it. If I'm going to do it, may as well do it right! Thanks!
Is it also important to have larger/higher quality speaker wire from the head unit to the amp, or just from the amp to the speakers ?
Thanks.
Definitely important to have your wire from the HU to the amp to be higher quality. I have 8 guage RCAs I believe.
Well I am using a stock headunit without low level outputs, so it's speaker wire to the amp high level inputs. Alpine MRP-F300 I think. I have really clean and clear sound tho, but I might redo all the wiring when the weather cools in the fall. 100's here.