Audio Cables

Summary: Audio Cables

ProAV Low-Voltage Cable Solutions

Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire cable in the United States for professional audiovisual installations in commercial and industrial environments. Our ProAV products are designed for dependable signal delivery, clean terminations, and consistent performance from rack to loudspeaker, day after day. Whether you are running distributed audio, foreground sound, or multi-zone systems, selecting the right pro av cable helps ensure power handling, clarity, and long-term reliability across the entire system.

Built for Demanding Commercial Audio

• Low-voltage construction engineered for professional audio applications, including 70V/100V distributed audio and low-impedance speaker runs.
• SmartWire Glide lubrication is applied during manufacturing to help reduce pulling friction by up to 70%, supporting faster, cleaner installs in conduit and trays.
• Consistent materials and quality control help maintain conductor integrity and jacket flexibility, supporting reliable terminations and repeatable field results.
• Available in standard and custom jacket color/stripe combinations to support clear zone identification and organizational standards.

Important Product Status Update

Discontinued - Please refer to ASM-12. The items previously included in this ProAV sub-category have been discontinued. For current SmartWire speaker cabling options and specifications, please reference ASM-12 or contact our team for guidance on the best construction for your project requirements.

Choosing Gauge and Conductor Count

• Select heavier gauges for longer runs and higher power loudspeakers; lighter gauges fit shorter distances and lower power circuits.
• Use 2-conductor for single channel runs, and 4-conductor to support stereo pairs, bi-amping, or multi-zone pulls in a single jacket.

How SmartWire Supports ProAV Performance

• Signal integrity: Uniform copper stranding and robust insulation help minimize loss and maintain audio fidelity over distance.
• Installation efficiency: Smooth jacket handling and SmartWire Glide lubrication support faster pulls and tidy racks and pathways.
• Project consistency: U.S.-made manufacturing helps deliver predictable results across large rollouts and multi-site standards.

Where These Cables Fit in ProAV Systems

• Distributed audio in offices, retail, hospitality, healthcare, and education.
• Foreground sound in performance spaces, houses of worship, and entertainment venues.
• Multi-zone commercial systems with centralized amplification and long speaker home-runs.

Why ProAV Integrators Choose Windy City Wire

• SmartWire quality: U.S.-made, low-voltage cable built for consistent electrical performance in real-world commercial conditions.
• Install efficiency: Materials and construction designed for smooth handling, reliable terminations, and neat cable management.
• Scalable solutions: A portfolio that supports small retrofits to enterprise rollouts with standardized constructions and color options.
• ProAV focus: Products and solutions tailored to the needs of professional integrators, electrical contractors, and facility teams.

Quick Selection Guidance

• For long, high-power runs: Consider a 12 gauge speaker wire to reduce loss and maintain headroom.
• For versatile mid-length runs: A 14 gauge speaker cable can balance performance, flexibility, and cost.
• For shorter or distributed audio runs: 16 awg speaker wire and 18 awg speaker wire can be appropriate depending on load and distance.

Summary: Value for Your Next Project

Windy City Wire’s SmartWire portfolio delivers dependable, low-voltage ProAV performance with materials and constructions built for commercial environments. From selecting the right gauge to coordinating jacket colors, our products and solutions help integrators complete projects efficiently and confidently—job after job.

Trademark Notice

SmartWire is a registered trademark of Windy City Wire.

Solutions: Audio Cables

Audio Cables for Professional AV Systems
Windy City Wire supplies commercial- and industrial-grade audio cabling engineered for consistent performance across demanding ProAV environments. Our low-voltage audio cables support clear, reliable sound for everything from everyday paging to high-impact foreground music, auditorium reinforcement, and multi-zone distributed systems. Designed for integrators, contractors, and consultants, these solutions help streamline installation and deliver dependable results across new builds, renovations, and ongoing facility upgrades.

Where Audio Cables Fit in the AV Signal Chain
Selecting the right pro av cable for speaker-level distribution is critical to preserving headroom, reducing loss over distance, and minimizing noise. Typical applications include:

• Distributed/70V-100V BGM and Paging – Ceiling speakers and pendant speakers in large facilities, retail floors, transportation hubs, and campuses.
• Low-Impedance Foreground Music – 4/8-ohm speakers in restaurants, fitness centers, performance spaces, and hospitality venues.
• Auditoriums and Theaters – Mains, fills, and delay rings where longer cable runs and higher power handling are required.
• Conference and Collaboration Spaces – Boardrooms, divisible meeting rooms, and training centers connecting amplifiers to in-wall or ceiling loudspeakers.
• Sound Masking and Intercom – Consistent coverage and intelligibility in open offices, healthcare suites, and secure facilities.
• Production and Live Event Zones – Temporary or semi-permanent speaker lines for staging, flexible venues, and presentation areas.

Industries That Rely on Professional Audio Cabling

• Corporate and Enterprise – Office floors, executive briefing centers, huddle spaces, training rooms, and all-hands areas.
• Education – K-12 classrooms, lecture halls, auditoriums, gymnasiums, and campus-wide paging.
• Healthcare – Patient areas, nurses’ stations, waiting rooms, and back-of-house operations where clarity and reliability are essential.
• Hospitality and Entertainment – Hotels, casinos, restaurants, theaters, and event venues supporting background and live sound.
• Retail and Mixed-Use – Multi-zone music and paging that align with store layouts and customer traffic patterns.
• Stadiums and Arenas – Bowls, concourses, suites, concessions, and press areas requiring long runs and robust connections.
• Government and Public Sector – Courtrooms, council chambers, command-and-control, and training facilities.
• Industrial and Logistics – Warehouses, manufacturing floors, and distribution centers needing durable, easy-to-service speaker lines.
• Houses of Worship – Main sanctuary systems, overflow spaces, classrooms, and fellowship halls.
• Transportation and Transit – Airports, rail, and bus facilities with extensive paging and safety announcements.

When specifying a pro av cable for speakers, consider the complete signal path: amplifier output power, the number and type of speakers on the line, impedance or 70V/100V topology, and the total round-trip distance. Matching gauge to the environment reduces signal loss, preserves clarity, and supports consistent coverage.

Integration and Installation Considerations

• System Topology – For 70V/100V systems, trunk lines may require heavier gauge to central distribution points, with appropriate gauges to individual zones or taps.
• Termination – Plan for clean, secure terminations at amplifiers, DSP frames, and speaker terminals (euroblock/phoenix, barrier strips, or binding posts). Allow slack for serviceability.
• Cable Routing – Separate speaker lines from high-voltage power and EMI sources where possible. Use structured pathways that facilitate future service and moves, adds, and changes.
• Documentation – Maintain clear zone and rack-to-room schedules so technicians can quickly identify circuits during commissioning and maintenance.

Common System Scenarios Supported by Audio Cables

1. Multi-Zone Retail – Background music and announcements across sales floors, fitting rooms, and stock areas with centralized amplification.
2. Campus and Enterprise – Paging and emergency notifications integrated with everyday BGM across lobbies, corridors, and office floors.
3. Performance and Presentation – Auditorium mains and fills, gymnasium sound, or divisible ballroom systems with scalable amp channels.
4. Hospitality and Dining – Foreground music in bars and event rooms; balanced distributed audio in dining and pre-function spaces.
5. Transportation and Public Spaces – Long-run paging lines with consistent intelligibility across platforms, gates, and concourses.

Why Electrical Contractors and AV Integrators Choose Our Audio Cable
Commercial projects demand predictable results, streamlined install workflows, and dependable serviceability over the life of the system. Our audio cables are built for ProAV environments, helping teams deliver clean terminations, consistent performance, and efficient deployment across large facilities and multi-site rollouts.

Get Specification Support
Not sure which gauge to choose for a mixed 70V and low-impedance design, or how to plan for long runs and multiple speaker loads? Our team can review run lengths, amplifier specs, and coverage requirements to recommend an appropriate cable gauge and topology for your project.

Frequently Asked Questions: Audio Cables

• How is your SmartWire ProAV cable sold on spools or in boxes?

  SmartWire ProAV Wire is packaged in our patented RackPack carton to maximize labor savings and efficiency. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview

Additional Links:

• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
• The RackPack - Our patented cable delivery solution
• Our Transporters - RackPack Transportation Devices
• 19 Stocking Locations Nationwide - Find a Branch near you