Monoprice

Monoprice 113722 16 AWG 2-Conductor CMP Speaker Wire

4.5 (465 reviews)

CMP-rated 16 AWG oxygen-free copper speaker wire delivers reliable, low-resistance signal runs for permanent in-wall installations in residential and commercial builds.

$36.54*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jun 27, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Monoprice 113722 is 16 AWG, two-conductor, CMP-rated speaker wire built for permanent in-wall installation where fire code compliance and long-term signal integrity are non-negotiable. The CMP Plenum rating is the cable's defining specification: it qualifies for use in air-handling plenum spaces — the drop ceilings and raised floors that HVAC air circulates through — where standard PVC-jacketed cable is prohibited by building code. For AV integrators and custom installers, specifying a plenum-rated cable from the outset eliminates the risk of a failed inspection and a costly wall re-open. The 100% oxygen-free bare copper conductors keep resistivity low across the cable's service life, which matters in a run that will be sealed in a wall for a decade or more.

At 16 AWG, the 113722 is well-suited to standard 8-ohm residential speaker loads at run lengths up to roughly 80 feet — covering the majority of in-room and multi-room residential installations and light commercial deployments. The red and black conductor identification makes polarity management straightforward across multiple runs, and the softer-than-typical plenum jacket reduces the friction that makes long pulls through conduit or tight wall cavities laborious. The 50-foot spool is sized for single-room and shorter commercial runs; larger projects will require multiple spools or a step up to bulk packaging. Monoprice's lifetime warranty backs the cable against manufacturing defects — a meaningful assurance for a product that's meant to live permanently inside a structure.

Key Features

Lifetime Warranty on ALL Cables: With Monoprice's Lifetime Warranty you can rest assured we stand behind our products and our customers.

The Plenum (CMP) rating indicates that the cable complies with fire safety and insurance requirements, making it safe for use inside the walls of residential and enterprise class buildings.

This speaker Wire | features conductors made of high purity oxygen-free bare copper.

Monoprice Plenum Speaker Wire | uses a high quality material that is soft -er and more flexible than on traditional plenum rated jackets.

Easily identifiable Red and Black conductors.

Specifications

Wire Gauge
16 AWG
Conductors
2
Rating
Plenum (CMP)
Conductor Material
High purity oxygen-free bare copper
Jacket Material
High quality, soft, and flexible plenum rated material
Conductor Identification
Red and Black
Warranty
Lifetime

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • CMP Plenum rating meets fire code requirements for in-wall and plenum-space installations in residential and commercial buildings, eliminating the need to source a separate code-compliant cable
  • 100% oxygen-free bare copper conductors maintain low resistivity over the long service life of a permanent installation
  • Red and black conductor coding ensures consistent polarity across all runs, preventing phase errors that degrade stereo imaging and bass response
  • Monoprice lifetime warranty backs the cable against manufacturing defects
  • Jacket material is softer and more flexible than traditional plenum jackets, making it easier to pull through conduit or wall cavities

👎 Cons

  • 50-foot length may be insufficient for larger commercial installations or multi-room residential systems requiring longer continuous runs without splices
  • 16 AWG limits usable run length to approximately 80 feet at 8-ohm loads before resistive losses become measurable — longer runs or low-impedance systems should use 14 AWG
  • CMP-rated cable commands a price premium over standard jacket speaker wire, which may be overkill for surface-mount or open-air installations where plenum rating isn't required

Frequently Asked Questions

CMP is the highest UL fire safety rating for cable jacket material. Plenum-rated cable is required by code in air-handling spaces — drop ceilings, raised floors, and HVAC ducts — because the jacket material resists flame spread and produces lower smoke toxicity than standard PVC jackets. In most residential and commercial buildings, any in-wall run that passes through a plenum space requires CMP-rated cable to meet fire code and insurance requirements.
16 AWG is appropriate for most residential and light commercial speaker installations at moderate run lengths. As a general rule, 16 AWG handles runs up to approximately 80 feet at 8-ohm loads before resistance losses become audible. For longer runs or lower-impedance speaker systems, stepping up to 14 AWG reduces resistive loss and preserves more high-frequency detail at the listening position.
Oxygen-free copper has a higher purity level than standard bare copper, with reduced oxidation that maintains lower resistivity over the life of the cable. In a permanent in-wall installation where the wire won't be replaced for years, OFC construction reduces the risk of signal degradation from oxidation at splice points and terminations.
The red and black conductor identification allows you to maintain consistent polarity across all speaker runs — red to positive, black to negative — without guessing or using a continuity tester. Consistent polarity prevents out-of-phase cancellation, which collapses the stereo image and reduces bass output at the listening position.
Monoprice's lifetime warranty covers the cable itself — the conductors, insulation, and jacket. It applies to manufacturing defects, not installation damage. For in-wall runs, the practical value is in knowing the cable meets spec on delivery; once it's in the wall, the CMP jacket and OFC construction are your long-term reliability assurance.