• possibly a cat@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    4 days ago

    Are you talking specifically about powered speakers? Certainly, resistance is a lesser concern when you’re passing almost no current.

    But it’s important to have a heavy enough gauge cable between amplifiers and passive speakers so that there is not too much resistance, as this will cause it to overheat and potentially start a fire.

    Generally speaking, I think a coat hanger’s gauge is too small for common amplifiers. Plus, if it’s iron then it’s going to have a higher resistance compared to standard materials, meaning more voltage drop and more heating.

    • ianovic69@feddit.uk
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      4 days ago

      Powered, as in active? No, those are connected internally. Cabling is then between the internal amp and a preamplifier, which is line level.

      I would point you to the overwhelming lack of any reported incidents of speakers or amplifiers catching fire because the wires were too thin. This is simply fiction.

      Coat hangers are generally much wider than any speaker wire, and the metal used makes little to no difference to the sound or the load. It is of no importance, you can do this safely.

      As I’ve said, there are a few scenarios where you could run into problems, but these are very much outside of home hifi.