CL3 Rated · Direct Burial

Direct Burial Speaker Wire CL3

OFC conductors, UV-stable jacket, rated for direct burial without conduit. Black and brown available in 100–500 ft spools.

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

Overview

Built to stay underground for decades

Direct burial means exactly what it says: you dig a trench, drop the cable in, and cover it up. No conduit. No additional waterproofing. GEARit's CL3 direct burial speaker wire is rated to handle what's underground — moisture, soil chemistry, freeze-thaw cycles, and UV exposure during the run from the house to the first termination point.

The jacket compound is key. We use a UV-stabilized PVC formulation that resists both sunlight (for the portion running along siding or across a deck before going underground) and the long-term moisture environment of a buried installation. Bury at least 6 inches deep in general landscaping areas; go 12 inches in high-traffic zones.

Inside: both OFC (oxygen-free copper) and CCA (copper-clad aluminum) options are available depending on run length and budget. For runs over 75 ft or systems using high-power amplifiers, OFC is the right call. CCA works for shorter runs to patio speakers at modest power levels.

Black and brown jacket colors are available — black for standard installs, brown for mulch beds and garden paths where the wire surface-routes before going underground.

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

Direct Burial Speaker Wire CL3 — top picks.

See all speaker wire →

FAQ

Questions buyers actually ask.

How deep should I bury the cable?
A minimum of 6 inches is recommended for standard landscaping areas. For zones that see foot traffic, lawn mowing, or occasional digging like garden beds, go 12 inches. Deeper burial protects against accidental cuts and insulates against temperature swings.
Do I need to use conduit with direct burial speaker wire?
No. Direct burial rated cable is designed to go straight into the ground without conduit. The CL3 jacket resists moisture, soil chemicals, and UV. If you ever want the option to pull and replace the cable without digging, running it through conduit makes that possible, but it is not required.
What is the best way to make a waterproof connection at the speaker end?
Use a gel-filled wire nut or a waterproof direct-bury connector rated for outdoor use. Avoid standard twist-on wire nuts for any connection that will be exposed to moisture or buried. Wrap the connection with self-fusing silicone tape as an additional layer of protection.
Can I splice two lengths together if my run comes up short?
You can, but it is not ideal. If you need to splice, use a waterproof direct-bury connector and bury the splice at least 6 inches deep. A continuous run is always better because each splice point is a potential failure and resistance increase over time.
My order has not arrived yet. How do I check the status?
Email support@gearit.com with your order number and we will check on it for you right away.