ToolsElectronics, cables & data
Wire gauge & speaker cable loss
Convert mm², diameter and AWG, and work out speaker-cable resistance, loss and damping factor.
Cross-section ↔ diameter ↔ AWG
mm²
mm
AWG
Speaker cable loss and damping factor
m
mm²
Ω
- Cable resistance (both conductors)
- 0.206892Ω
- Level loss at the speaker
- -0.221775dB
- Power lost in the cable
- 2.52095%
- Damping factor at the speaker
- 32.4028
Copper at 20 °C (1.724 × 10⁻⁸ Ω·m). A common rule: keep the cable resistance below 5 % of the speaker impedance (about −0.4 dB). Stranded cable has a slightly larger diameter for the same cross-section.
How it works
Thicker cable has less resistance. For loudspeakers the cable resistance costs level and reduces the amplifier's control over the cone (damping factor). Longer runs and lower impedances need thicker cable.
Formulas
- A = π d² / 4
- d_AWG = 0.127 mm · 92^((36 − n) / 39)
- R = ρ · 2ℓ / A
- DF = Z / (Z_amp + R_cable)
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