CL3 Direct Burial · Black

Black Direct Burial Speaker Wire

CL3-rated OFC and CCA direct burial wire with black UV-stable jacket. 100–500 ft spools in 10–16 AWG.

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  • ★ Lifetime warranty
  • ★ Free shipping over $25
  • ★ ETL listed · UL standards

Overview

The contractor pick for outdoor installs

For outdoor speaker installations, black is the contractor's default: it's invisible against dark fencing, dark siding, and the soil before it goes underground. GEARit's black direct burial speaker wire combines the CL3 rating required for underground installation with a UV-stable black jacket that holds up on the surface portions of the run.

The construction starts with the conductor. OFC options use 99.9% oxygen-free copper for long runs and high-current applications; CCA options are available for shorter runs on budget installs. Both conductor types use the same CL3-rated UV-stable PVC jacket compound.

Spool sizes from 100 to 500 ft cover single-zone patio installs through multi-zone whole-yard distributed audio systems. The 4-conductor builds (12/4 and 14/4) allow a single cable run to service two speaker pairs — half the trenching for multi-zone installs.

Two-step picker

Two questions decide the right speaker wire.

How long is the run and how much power the amp pushes. Use the picker, then choose the conductor that fits the budget and the room.

1 Pick the gauge 2 Pick the conductor
1 Step 1 · Pick the gauge

Thicker wire = lower resistance = cleaner power.

Every foot of speaker wire adds a tiny amount of resistance between the amp and the driver. The longer the run and the higher the wattage, the thicker the conductor needs to be to keep voltage drop under 5%.

  • Short runs (<50 ft): 16 AWG is plenty.
  • Most home theaters: 14 AWG sweet spot.
  • Long / high-power runs: step up to 12 or 10 AWG.
Interactive · gauge picker

Tell us the run. We'll size the wire.

5 ft
5 ft50100150200+ ft
Amplifier power per channel
Recommended
14 AWG OFC OFC speaker wire

Short home-theater run — 14 AWG OFC is the sweet spot for 5.1 / 7.1.

Shop 14 AWG OFC
2 Step 2 · Pick the conductor

OFC vs CCA — the single biggest sound-quality decision.

Copper-clad aluminum looks like copper but is mostly aluminum, with roughly 60% more resistance. Over a 50 ft run pushing real wattage, you can measure (and hear) the difference.

Interactive · conductor picker

What are you wiring up?

Pick the scenario that fits and we'll tell you which conductor wins.

Recommended · OFC
OFC — the home-theater standard.

5.1 / 7.1 receivers and longer runs to surrounds reward pure copper. Lower resistance means cleaner dialogue, tighter bass, and full headroom on dynamic scenes.

Shop OFC speaker wire
SPEC
OFC PICK
Oxygen-Free Copper
CCA PICK BUDGET
Copper-Clad Aluminum
Conductor
99.9% pure copper
Aluminum core, copper skin
Resistance vs OFC
Baseline (lowest)
≈ 60% higher
Best run length
Up to 200+ ft
Under 50 ft
Power handling
Any amp, any speaker
Low to mid power
In-wall code
CL2 / CL3 available
Indoor short runs
Recommended for
Home theater · pro · outdoor
Budget DIY · cars

Top picks

Black Direct Burial Speaker Wire — top picks.

See all speaker wire →

FAQ

Questions buyers actually ask.

Can I bury black CL3 speaker wire without any conduit or protection?
Yes. Direct burial rated cable is designed to go straight into the ground. The CL3 jacket resists moisture, soil acids, and UV on the above-ground portions. Bury at least 6 inches deep in standard landscaping areas.
How long will direct burial speaker wire last underground?
When properly installed at the right depth with secure waterproof terminations, direct burial speaker wire typically lasts 20 years or more. The main failure points are termination connections exposed to moisture, not the cable itself. Use waterproof connectors at both ends.
What is the best way to run the wire from underground back up to the speaker?
Use a short section of rigid conduit or weatherproof flex conduit for the above-ground transition from the soil to the speaker or junction box. This protects the cable from physical damage at the point where it surfaces and keeps water from wicking down the cable path.
Can I use this wire for landscape lighting runs too?
No. Speaker wire is designed for low-voltage audio signals, not power delivery. Landscape lighting requires wire rated for the current load of the fixtures. Do not substitute speaker wire for low-voltage lighting cable.
What tools do I need to strip and terminate this wire in the field?
A wire stripper set for the gauge you are using, needle-nose pliers, and waterproof wire connectors rated for direct burial. For the speaker end, the standard setup is a weatherproof junction box with spring-clip or set-screw speaker terminals. Email support@gearit.com if you have questions about a specific installation.