16 ga is 16 ga. The thing about speaker wire is that as a rule it is stiffer because they use fewer strands of copper wire to get the 16 ga rating. Lamp wire uses more strands and there by is more flexible. The lower the gage the better, i.e. 14 ga would be better than 16 ga. The wire is larger and will handle more power with less loss. Also make sure that the wire is copper and not aluminum. Copper is a better conductor of the signal that you want to get to your speakers from the amplifier. The fact that one is made for speaker ( has a really cool jacket, clear,red,green, etc.) does not make it work better for that application. The zip (lamp) cable will work just as well if not better IMHO. Again the size of the wire ( 16 ga is good, 14 ga is better, 12 ga damn good) along with the kind of conductor (copper is best) is what will give you the max performance.
The plugs should be gold plated for best results but the standard shiny metal will work for you as well. If money is a factor then look at all choices and then decide. One thing that you want to watch is that the plugs you get will work well with 16 ga, if you go with 14 or 12 ga then you will have problems getting the wire to fit onto the plug for physical reasons. If you are going to be under 100' for the length of wire per speaker then the 16 ga will work just fine....... Again make sure it is copper wire and that it is stranded not solid wire.
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