Lamp Wire VS Speaker Wire | Is There a Difference?

Lamp wire and speaker wire both are electrical wires. They both work for electric devices. They both have 18-gauge which makes the lamp wire distinctive from other electrical wires. From their name you can know their respective devices, but are they actually different from each other, or it’s just a marketing policy?

Lamp Wire Vs Speaker Wire – Difference Between them

There are many names for wires like cables and cords. Though the work of all the electric wires is the same, safe passage of the electrons. That’s why the cords are made of conductors such as copper, steel, aluminum, and silver. Then they are covered with a non-conductor as rubber. All the electric wires are the same inbuilt. So if you think the speaker wire and lamp wires are simply electric wires they aren’t different.

Yet they are sold in different names and why? If you really are interested you can get the two wires in your hands to see the difference. You’ll see that the lamp wire is covered in a colored insulator while the speaker wire has a clear one. This is the only difference you’ll find.

The other difference you can find out if you look for is that the lamp wire is made of copper. Speaker wires are also made of copper, but you can find steel or aluminum ones too. Thus the differences between the two wires aren’t so basic and they function the same.

Can You Use Lamp Wire Instead Of Speaker Wire?

Now you can ask if there is no difference between a lamp wire and a speaker wire then why speaker wires are expensive? That’s because the speaker wires are made for speakers only. They are more flexible and lengthy, and also claim to provide better audio. But if you want to use lamp wires in place of the expensive speaker wires you can do it.

The speaker wires are easy to set to the speaker or sound box, but you can save money by doing a little labor. Though if you find that the audio quality is better with the speaker wire you can go for it. There are a lot of arguments about the audio quality however, it’s not proven that using the lamp wire compromises the quality.

As the wire gauge of the lamp and speaker wire are the same many uses the lamp wire instead of the speaker wire safely. There is no risk in using lamp wire, the only issue that rises is the sound quality. So if you want to save a little cash you can use the lamp cord, yet if you’re an audiophile you should go for the speaker wire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lamp Wire The Same As Speaker Wire?

All the materials of a lamp wire are as same as a speaker wire. But speaker wire is more flexible and easily usable, so they cost more. You can use lamp wires instead of speaker wires while compromising sound quality. But it’s up to you which wire you want to use.

Will Lamp Wire Work For Speakers?

Yes, the lamp wire will work perfectly for speakers without any risks. A lamp wire and speaker wire have the same gauge of 18, and the job of the wires is to pass electrons. So, you can use lamp wire for speakers and save money.

Is There A Difference Between Wire And Speaker Wire?

A speaker wire is made of copper, has 18 gauge, and the insulator is colorless. Not all electric wires are made of copper and have 18 gauges. As the color of the insulator doesn’t matter for working so the lamp wires are the same as the speaker wires. Therefore all electric wires aren’t replaceable for speaker wires only the lamp ones are.

Conclusion

Some say speaker wire is just a big scam while others argue that some advanced speaker wires enhance the quality of audio. Though at the end of the day it’s your choice which one you want to use.

You can see that lamp wires are out of controversy, unlike speaker wires. You can use lamp wires for both lamps and speakers. But using speaker wires for lamps will be a waste of money.