Most people never think about the wire behind their stereo. It is exactly where a lot of cheap installs cut corners. Here is the difference between real copper and CCA, and why it changes how your system performs and how safe it is.
What CCA is. CCA stands for copper-clad aluminum. It is an aluminum wire with a thin copper coating. The ends look like copper, so it is easy to sell as copper, but the core is aluminum.
Why that is a problem
- Higher resistance. Aluminum carries less current than copper for the same wire size. That means voltage drop, less power reaching your amp and speakers, and a system that does not hit as hard as it should, especially on the low end.
- Heat. Higher resistance means the wire runs hotter. On a power wire feeding an amplifier, an undersized run is a real fire risk, and CCA is effectively undersized for its label.
- Corrosion. Aluminum corrodes faster than copper, especially at the connections. Over time the resistance climbs and the connection can fail.
- Gauge games. Because CCA carries less current, a "4 gauge" CCA wire does not perform like 4 gauge copper. You are getting less than the label suggests.
Why copper. Pure copper carries more current, runs cooler, resists corrosion, and holds a solid connection for the life of the vehicle. It costs more up front. It also means your system performs the way it was designed to, and it never becomes a hazard.
How we do it. We run pure copper, sized correctly for the amplifier's draw, with soldered or properly crimped connections. It is the kind of thing you never see and never have to think about, which is the whole point.
Building a system and want it done right down to the wire? Call 618.222.2234 or see our car audio services.