CL3 Rated · Direct Burial · UV-Stable

Outdoor Speaker Wire

CL3-rated wire built for patios, decks, eave-mounts, and direct burial. UV-stable jacket, 99.9% OFC, available in 2- and 4-conductor builds.

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

Overview

Why CL3 matters for outdoor audio

The moment you take speaker wire outside, the rules change. Standard jacketing cracks under UV, soaks up moisture, and corrodes at the connections. GEARit's CL3-rated outdoor speaker wire is built to survive all of that.

The CL3 designation means two things: the jacket is approved for direct burial in soil without conduit, and it meets the outdoor wet-location standard required by US electrical code. Our UV-stable PVC compound holds up against sunlight year after year — no brittleness, no jacket cracking, no surprise failures during a backyard party.

Inside the jacket: 99.9% oxygen-free copper conductors. OFC runs cooler under load, delivers cleaner bass transients, and won't corrode at the terminal like the copper-clad aluminum used in cheaper cable.

Available in 2-conductor (one speaker pair) and 4-conductor (two pairs or bi-amp) builds. Spool sizes from 100 ft to 500 ft cover everything from a single patio speaker to a whole-yard distributed system.

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

Outdoor Speaker Wire — top picks.

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FAQ

Questions buyers actually ask.

What makes this speaker wire safe for outdoor use?
The CL3 rating means the jacket has been tested and listed for outdoor wet-location exposure and direct burial without conduit. It handles UV, rain, humidity, and temperature swings that would crack a standard indoor jacket within a season.
Can I run this wire across a deck and then bury the rest?
Yes, that is one of the most common install patterns. The same CL3 jacket handles both the exposed deck run and the buried portion, so you do not need to transition to a different cable mid-run.
How far apart should I space outdoor speakers from the amp?
Most patio setups run 50 to 150 feet from the amplifier to the speaker. For runs under 100 feet, 14 AWG OFC is the standard choice. Beyond 100 feet or for high-power amps, step up to 12 AWG to keep voltage drop under 5 percent.
Will the jacket hold up in freezing temperatures?
Yes. The UV-stable PVC jacket is rated for a wide temperature range and will not become brittle in normal seasonal cold. For installations in extreme northern climates, bury the cable below the frost line to prevent freeze-thaw movement from stressing the jacket.
I have a question about my order. Who should I contact?
Reach out to our support team at support@gearit.com and we will get back to you within one business day.