Wiring speakers for Home Audio is straight forward.  Before we start, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about speakers, wire and amps.

1. Stereo Pair – you have two speakers, one for each channel left and right
2. Dual Voice Coil (DVC) – a single speaker that creates a stereo sound

1. 16/2 –  is the common speaker wire used for Home Audio Speakers
2. 16/4 – two 16/2 bundled into a single same cable
3. 14/2 and 12/2 – is a higher gauge speaker wire used for Theater Surround, Hi-Fi Audio, Listening Rooms, and landscape speakers.

Amps send power and signal to speakers.  There are a variety of ways to setup Amplifiers and Music Servers for your speakers.

For this article, we’ll assume the Amp simply means the ‘Head End’ or where your wire run starts.

There are two methods for wiring your Home Audio Speakers:

• Run two 16/2 to any stereo speaker, or two16/2 to any DVC Speaker.
• Run one 16/4 to the first speaker, and one16/2 jumper to the second. If it’s a DVC speaker, you just run the single 16/4 to the speaker.

Running a single 16/4 wire, or two 16/2 is the same thing.  It’s really a matter of preference.

Most find it’s cleaner and easier to manage wire on the Amp side with a 16/4, especially if the amps are in a Media Rack.  

On the flip side, some installers don’t love running the 16/2 jumper from the first to second speaker.  Take your pick.  It’s the same thing, and both approaches work.

If you’re thinking about wiring your own home, or just want to understand it better to check the contractor who does, be sure to check out our Free Wiring Guide!