Do you replace OEM speaker wires when upgrading speakers????

[kuhan]

I'm planning to push 170 W rms to each speaker (mid/high). My Z got like a 20 awg speaker wires

I couldn't get 14 awg speaker wires through the front doors so I'm planning to tap the 14awg speaker wires to the 20 awg wires going to the doors.

Will this be ok????

Mods,

Please leave this here for at least a day before moving or deleting it. Thanks

[Ferguson]

Run larger wire wherever you can. 20 AWG wire is not adequate for 170W, but if it is used in a very short run, it will be okay. The problem with thin wire is resistance. Resistance compounds with length, so using smaller wire for a short length is not so bad. Can you fit something a bit bigger though, like 16 or 18?

[kuhan]

I say about 2 ft of 20 awg from the body to the doors. It's such a PITA to remove the doors in order to drill through a plastic plug in order to run any wires to the doors.

[Rolling Estonian]

woah no removing the door or drilling required. just pull your new wire through the long rubber grommit that connects the door to the frame. the wire taped to a piece coathanger worked for me

[sonicbliss]

ALWAYS run larger wires. i used to be quite the audiophile(imo), and whenever i did a system, i always upgraded the whole system, and that included ALL the wires. itll make you feel better too! always made me feel better, anyway. oh, and what he said, use a coat hanger, best idea anyone had ever given me, lol.

[kuhan]

woah no removing the door or drilling required. just pull your new wire through the long rubber grommit that connects the door to the frame. the wire taped to a piece coathanger worked for me

Well, this is for my Z. It has a plastic plug which requires drilling which I have to remove the door in order to do so...

[Rolling Estonian]

ok... maybe I'm wrong.

but are you telling me that there are no wires that go in the door from the car? because you should be able to route the wires through the same spot.

[kuhan]

of course there are wires going to the doors. There is a plastic plug that connects the wires going to the door and the wires from the body. That is the plug I need to drill.

[Viper5000]

hmmm, don't think you need to drill anything, maybe you should throw up some pics before you go drilling anything.

edit: yes, definitely upgrade to at least 16 gauge, preferably 14.

edit again: it looks like you do have to do some snipping or clever stuff to get the wires through the spot for the loom.
Modified by Viper5000 at 10:39 PM 2/18/2009

[rjdmmfl1]

sorry to tell you this Kuhan, but you definately need to run new wires for those Diamond Hex's... they need power in order to shine. Running 14 gauge up to the door, and then connecting them to two feet of factory 20 gauge wires will be cutting your feet from underneath you! Sorry , but you definately need larger wires! That's alot of power RMS going to those speakers!

[kuhan]

thanks everyone. I have to run the wires to the doors then.