Type E wire is a MIL-SPEC high temp wire with silver plated copper conductor wrapped with a high temp teflon insulator. The silver plating means that the wire will not oxidize like plain copper and makes it super easy to solder. Also, the durable high temp Teflon jacket won't burn or melt away when soldering. Type E wire has many uses in the electronics industry, but it's physical properties make it ideal for speaker cabinet wiring. Ideal for making neat and tidy twisted pairs (see the picture to the right).

Why is it thinner than standard hook up wire?

     If you're new to using Type E wire one of the first things you'll notice is that the wire is substantially smaller in diameter than standard 16g copper hook up wire. Type E 16awg wire is made up of 19 strands of 28awg silver plated copper wire and conducts electricity far better than standard copper and therefore will be smaller in diameter (wire guage is determined by it's ability to conduct electricity, not by it's physical size) . Also the Teflon insulater material is much tougher than standard vinyl or PVC so, while being a superior insulating material is physically thinner.Thus the overall diameter of the wire is about 20% less than standard vinyl wrapped copper hook up wire.