Quality audio cable will last for years. However, exposed cables can be more prone to damage and there are some simple steps that you can follow to prevent any damage to the cable wire and extend its life for as long as possible.

Proper Coiling

One of the most common ways to cause damage to a cable is to incorrectly coil it. The more tangled your cable wire gets, the more prone it is to damage that can increase resistance and decrease sound quality. To protect your cables and coil them neatly and correctly, use the Over and Under Loop. This means grasping the cable with your left hand, coiling the cable in a clockwise motion to form a loop, then coiling the speaker cable in an anti clockwise direction to form another loop. Carry on alternating like this between these two kinds of loops until you reach the end of the audio cable.

Jacketing

If your speaker cable is likely to be exposed, then you might want to consider audio cable that comes with thicker jacketing. This thicker, tougher protective outer layer will protect the inner wire cable from damage through incorrect coiling, from being trod on, and will help protect the wire from spillages too. Another plus side to thicker jacketing is that it tends to help prevent tangling and the cable can be easier to manipulate as a result.

Consider the cable gauge

If you want to prevent damage not only to your cable but to your hi fi amp too, then selecting the correct cable gauge is essential. Using cable that is too thin for your system requirements can lead to amplifier damage and will result in more resistance being encountered by the cable, which can lead to reduced sound quality. Thicker audio cable not only decreases resistance but this type of cable is less liable to damage too. The perfect speaker cable gauge range for most stereo systems is between 12 g and 16 g, depending on the length of cable required and the resistance load capacity of your amplifier.

Cable Storage

Ensure that cables are completely dry when store them away. Also ensure that they are stored out of strong sunlight as UV rays can cause damage. Remove any tape, residue, dust and dirt from cables before putting them into storage as these can damage cable jacketing in the long term too.

This guide to taking care of your audio cable wire brought to you by journalist and self confessed audiophile Taylor Mathers. He recommends RS Components for affordable speaker cable wire.