10 Best AMP Wiring Kits – Reviews & Buying Guide
Nothing beats a good quality sound system in your car and if you are looking forward to getting a powerful music output, then you need to fit in an amplifier. This installation process also requires you to connect the amp using a wiring kit.
It is important to get the right amplifier wiring kit for the job and this means looking at the wire quality, gauge, length, terminals, etc. With that in mind, these are the best Amp wiring kits to consider buying.
10 Best AMP Wiring Kits – Reviews
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. KnuKonceptz KCA-K4 (Good Amp Wiring Kit) | ||
 | 2. BOSS Audio Systems KIT-2 (Cheapest Amp Wiring Kit) | ||
 | 3. InstallGear IG4AKR (Amp Wiring Kit with an ANL Fuse Holder) | ||
 | 4. SoundBox Connected ECK4 (Amp Wiring Kit with a 2300-Watt Peak Rating) | ||
 | 5. Rockford Fosgate RFK4D (Amp Wiring Kit with 100% Oxygen Free Copper Cables) | ||
 | 6. New England Providore PR000091 (Amp Wiring Kit with Pre-Crimped Copper Lugs) | ||
 | 7. Stinger SK6681 (Best 8-Gauge Amp Wiring Kit) | ||
 | 8. NVX XKIT42 (Rugged Amp Wiring Kit) | ||
 | 9. Rockville RWK0CU (Best 0 Gauge Amp Wiring Kit) | ||
 | 10. Pyle PLAM40 (Subwoofer and Amp Wiring Kit) |
PRODUCT |
|---|
1. KnuKonceptz KCA-K4 – Good Amp Wiring Kit
- Gauges: 4
- Wire Length: 3, 17, 18, 20 feet
This Amp wiring kit consists of a 4 gauge 3-foot and 18-foot ultra-flex black and blue wire, in which the former is a ground wire while the latter is a power wire.
All these feature a KCA cable (Kolossus Copper Aluminum) core, which is KnuKonceptz next generation of Copper Clad Aluminum (CCA). This wire basically consists of 90% aluminum and 10% copper, and this results in better current transfer from the battery to the amp.
The 4-gauge width of the cables in this kit provides good flexibility and they are covered in a rugged PVC jacket that is resistant to grease and oil and can withstand extreme temperatures of -40 to 105˚C.
Other items in the kit include an inline fuse holder with an 80-amp fuse, a 20-foot 14-gauge CCA speaker wire, a 5-meter remote turn-on wire, a 5-meter RCA twisted-pair OFC cable, grommets, wire ties, and 4 gold plated 4-gauge terminals (2 spade and 2 ring terminals).
On the downside, this kit cannot handle a load of more than 100 amps and the CCA used is less conductive than Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC). However, CCA is cheaper than OFC.
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2. BOSS Audio Systems KIT-2 – Cheapest Amp Wiring Kit
- Gauges: 8
- Wire Length: 3, 16, 20 feet
If you are tight on cash, Boss Audio Systems’ Kit-2 is an affordable amp wiring kit that you should consider. However, with this price, you get an 8-gauge wiring kit, which is thin and cannot handle large amounts of electric current.
There is a much thinner 10-gauge option that is cheaper while a 4-gauge kit enables you to power up a stronger sound system, but is much more expensive.
Regardless of the gauge size, the kits contain a long 20-foot red power cable with a high-quality competition fuse holder, a 3-foot ground wire, a 16-foot turn-on wire, a 30-foot speaker wire, a 20-foot RCA cable, multiple rubber grommets and wire ties, and multiple terminals.
On the downside, the copper core used in the cables is not Oxygen-Free, which reduces its conductivity.
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3. InstallGear IG4AKR – Amp Wiring Kit with an ANL Fuse Holder
- Gauges: 4
- Wire Length: 3, 17 feet
InstallGear’s IG4AKR amp wiring kit features an ANL fuse holder, which is a particularly important electrical tool that is designed to protect the main power wire from the battery to the amp because this cable is very difficult to replace.
This fuse holder comes with a 100-amp fuse for the 4-gauge kit but the 1/0 gauge features a 150-amp fuse for high load systems while the thinner 10-gauge set comes with a 50-amp fuse for light load systems.
Regardless of the gauge, each set is equipped with a 17-foot CCA power cable, 3-foot CCA ground cable, 17-foot 2-channel RCA cable, and a 17-foot CCA speaker wire.
All these are covered in a soft-touch PVC jacket, with the RCA and speaker wires having black and blue jackets for easy polarity identification. On the downside, the CCA core used is not as conductive as Oxygen Free Copper wires.
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4. SoundBox Connected ECK4 – Amp Wiring Kit with a 2300-Watt Peak Rating
- Gauges: 4
- Wire Length: 3, 17 feet
This amp wiring kit is designed to handle a maximum of 2300 watts of peak power, and this is made possible by its 4-gauge power cable, which can comfortably accommodate such a load.
Additionally, this power cable is fitted with an inline AGU fuse holder that has an 80-amp fuse, and these protect it against burnouts or overloading, which might result in a lot of work when doing the replacement.
You also get a 3-foot 4-gauge CCA ground wire, a black and white color-coded RCA audio cable, a 17-foot 16-gauge speaker wire, an 18-foot 18-gauge remote wire, multiple terminals, wire ties, wire looms and installation accessories.
On the downside, this kit is only available for a 4-gauge size and its load rating is limited to only 80 amps.
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5. Rockford Fosgate RFK4D – Amp Wiring Kit with 100% Oxygen Free Copper Cables
- Gauges: 4
- Wire Length: 16, 17, 30 feet
Though very costly, Rockford Fosgate’s RFK4D is quite unique because its cables are made of 100% OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) cores, which translates to better current transfer from the battery to the amplifier.
Additionally, the kit’s power cable has a true 4-gauge wire with 1,862 copper strands and no filler on its jacket, resulting in improved conductivity and more power.
Included in the kit is a maxi fuse holder with a 100-amp fuse, a 16-foot twisted pair cable that enhances the sound quality, a long 30-foot 16-gauge speaker wire and other installation accessories such as wire ties.
This set is actually built for dual amplifier systems and it has all the brass parts made of the highest quality standards while all the kits have the appropriate wire termination hardware.
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6. New England Providore PR000091 – Amp Wiring Kit with Pre-Crimped Copper Lugs
- Gauges: 4
- Wire Length: 4, 13, 18, 20 feet
A solid battery connection is important for any amplifier kit and this one from New England is equipped with pre-crimped, tinned copper lugs so as to provide the best connection for easy current-draw while also preventing arcing.
From the battery point, a premium NEP mini-ANL fuse holder is included and it has sold metal blocks that secure both the fuse and cable, resulting in a steady, lossless connection for improved conductivity.
New England also ensured that the power and ground cables are built for high performance because they are 20% oversized as compared to other 4-gauge kits, which further improves on conductivity. These features make this PR000091 one of the best wiring kit for car audio.
However, the wires are made of Copper Clad Aluminum, which is not as conductive as OFC. On the bright side, there is a thicker 2-gauge option with better conductivity and also an 8-gauge kit, which is ideal for light load sound systems.
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7. Stinger SK6681 – Best 8-Gauge Amp Wiring Kit
- Gauges: 8
- Wire Length: 3, 17, 18 feet
Though this is an 8-gauge wiring kit, Stinger’s SK6681 has its cables made of a 100% Oxygen Free Copper cores, making them highly conductive and thus, the best 8-gauge kit in this review.
This construction effectively gives the kit the ability to handle audio systems with a maximum load of 400 watts.
The included parts in the set are an 18-foot power wire, a 3-foot ground wire, a 17-foot twisted RCA audio cable, a 17-foot remote turn-on wire, a water-resistant mini ANL fuse holder with a 70-amp fuse and several mounting accessories.
However, being an 8-gauge kit, this SK6681 is not suitable for extremely powerful amplifiers with a large current load.
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8. NVX XKIT42 – Rugged Amp Wiring Kit
- Gauges: 4
- Wire Length: 3, 20, 40 feet
A vehicle’s internal environment is not always conducive for cables but NVX’s amp wiring kit is designed to handle the harshest environment because the components inside are fitted with a durable EnvyFlex jacket that is also very flexible.
On top of this, the cables in the set are terminated using 6-feet of nylon braided jacketing, which protects against chafing.
The wire core itself is made using silver-tinned 100% Oxygen Free Copper for high conductivity and maximum power transfer while the included fuse holder and distribution blocks are made of satin chrome-plated brass, which is highly tolerant to heat and vibrations.
On the downside, this kit is only available in a 4-gauge option and is rated for sound systems that do not exceed 1000 watts RMS, which is quite low if you have extremely high-output amplifiers.
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9. Rockville RWK0CU – Best 0 Gauge Amp Wiring Kit
- Gauges: 0
- Wire Length: 3, 17 feet
Rockville’s RWK0CU is the top-rated amp wiring kit in this review, and this can be attributed to the fact that it is a 0-gauge set that is designed for powerful 1000 – 3000-watt RMS car sound systems.
Additionally, the cables in the set contain a massive 4704 strands of wire and are made of 100% virgin copper, which provides better conductivity for uninterrupted power and signal transfer.
Also included is an ANL fuse holder with solid brass blocks that are gold-plated for heat and vibration resistance.
However, the included fuse is rated only at 60 amps and the kit is quite expensive. However, there are 2, 4, 8 and 10-gauge kit options, which allow you to choose the best fit for your car’s sound system.
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10. Pyle PLAM40 – Subwoofer and Amp Wiring Kit
- Gauges: 4
- Wire Length: 4, 20 feet
As opposed to just powering an amplifier, Pyle’s PLAM40 is designed to also power a subwoofer because it contains a split loom cable conduit that is 6 feet long for connecting to the two.
Also included is a long 20-foot, 4-gauge red power cable, 4-foot ground cable, a 20-foot, 16-gauge remote turn on and a 20-foot, 12-gauge speaker wire.
The kit also contains a water-resistant in-line fuse holder, which makes it suitable for car and boat audio system use, but it is fitted with a 60-amp gold-plated fuse that is relatively lowly rated.
Other features include 20 cable ties, 3 butt connectors, two 4-gauge spade terminals, 1 black grommet, and many others. However, the set is only available as a 4-gauge wiring set.
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How to Buy the Best Amp Wiring Kit
1. Included Items
Most amp wiring kits come with multiple accessories and installation hardware as part of the package, but it is still important to check the included components.
Generally, the best kit should have at least long RCA cables (minimum 16-17 feet) that are of good quality, a long power cable that is at least 17 feet in length, remote, speaker and ground wires, a fuse and its holder and terminals.
Other additional components are advantageous to have and the more they are, the better.
2. Gauges
This is a very important factor to consider because it determines the current load that the kit can handle. Gauge basically defines the width or thickness of the wire and the smaller the value, the thicker the wire. For instance, a 0-gauge kit contains thicker wires than a 4-gauge kit.
Thicker wires are ideal for powerful sound systems because they contain multiple strands inside that can carry a higher electrical current without burning out. Therefore, if your car’s sound system required more than 1000 watts RMS, the best option is a 0-gauge kit.
Most 4-gauge kits are good for 400-1000 watts RMS systems while 8-gauge sets are ideal for the ones that operate below 400 watts RMS.
3. Wire Length
This is a no brainer. The longer the wires, the better. You should avoid kits with power, speaker, remote and RCA wires that are shorter than 17 feet because these might be too short, creating tension once installed.
4. Fuse Holder
You should always select a kit with a good quality fuse holder such as ANL or AGU because they are easy to install, are water and heat resistant and usually show if the fuse element is blown. For this component, never compromise on quality.
5. Copper or Copper Coated Aluminum Wire
Pure copper or Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC) is generally considered as the best conductor of electricity as compared to aluminum. It is also very flexible but on the downside, can cost 4 times as much as aluminum.
On the other hand, Copper Coated Aluminum (CCA) is very affordable but has a higher resistance to current flow. This means that for extremely powerful sound systems, some of the power might be lost during transmission, thereby reducing sound quality.
Therefore, for such systems, it is recommended to use copper wiring kits for the best results.
6. Ring Terminal
Also known as lug terminals, these are included in some kits and are ideal for making a solid connection with the battery so as to prevent arcing and for easy drawing of current. Therefore, a kit with such components should be highly considered.
7. Installation
Installing an amp wiring kit is not always easy. As such, ensure that the one you buy comes with clear installation instructions so that you do not mess up
Conclusion
In summary, you must have an amp wiring kit for you to set up your amplifier and aside from the main wires and cables that are required and contained in most kits (power, RCA, speaker and ground wires, etc.), ensure that the set you buy has as many components as possible.
Another crucial factor that you need to get right is the gauge and that said, all these are clearly laid out in the article above so that you can easily pick the best amp wiring kit that befits your car’s audio system.