what is the best way to hook up speakers
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What are assistant plugs, spades, binding posts & leap clips? Learn how to connect speaker wire to your system & identify the different types of connections.
If you are wondering how to connect speaker wire to your stereo or home theater system, then you've come to the correct place.
Information technology'due south not the most exciting function of setting up your equipment – merely without speaker wire, you won't hear annihilation!
Before you begin it may seem like a tricky business. Merely, once you give information technology some idea, it is quite straightforward.
First, you need to understand the unlike connectedness types that you might have on your gear.
So, you tin can think about the all-time manner to connect the wire.
Table of Contents
- How Practise I Connect My Speakers with Speaker Wire?
- What Happens if I Reverse Speaker Wire?
- Connect Stereo Speakers to the Incorrect Channels
- Connect the Negative to the Positive Terminals
- What Are the Different Types of Speaker Wire Connections?
- Bounden Posts
- Spring Clips
- Speaker Wire Termination Types
- Connecting Speakers with Bare Wire
- Terminating Speaker Wire with Banana Plugs
- Using Spade Connectors with Speaker Wire
- Terminating Speaker Wire with Pin Connectors
- Connecting the Wires to Your Amplifier and Speakers
- Conclusion
How Do I Connect My Speakers with Speaker Wire?
Speaker wire is made of two separate cables that demand to be connected to the positive and negative connectors on the amplifier and speaker.
It doesn't matter which way round you connect the wires – even if the wire is marked with a plus and minus.
Just brand certain that the same slice of wire is connecting the positive and negative terminals on the amplifier and speaker.
Below yous can see the bounden posts on the rear of an AV receiver.
There are two posts for each speaker. They are conspicuously labeled as positive and negative. The convention is to colour the positive side red and the negative side black. But they may not always be color-coded.
One wire, like the ane pictured above, will connect to the positive and negative post for a single speaker output. The other finish of the wire will connect to the speaker.
Remember, the positive connectedness on the amplifier must be connected to the positive connection on the speaker. The aforementioned with the negative connections.
What Happens if I Contrary Speaker Wire?
First, it depends on what y'all mean by reverse. There are a couple of ways yous might do this.
one. Connect Stereo Speakers to the Incorrect Channels
If you connect the left speaker to the terminals marked right on the amplifier – and the right speaker to the terminals marked left on the amplifier.
What would happen?
Null. Except, the sound engineer who mixed the album would be bellyaching.
Because the drum kit would be the 'wrong way round'. Annihilation which was designed to be heard on the left would appear on the right – and vice versa.
Nobody would care apart from the artist who spent 6 months getting everything just correct.
2. Connect the Negative to the Positive Terminals
If, for a single speaker channel, yous connect the amplifier'southward negative last to the positive connection on the speaker – and the amplifier's positive terminal to the negative connection on the speaker. What would happen?
For a single speaker, nothing would happen. It would work just fine.
If y'all had ii speakers, and they were both wired the same – again, information technology would be fine.
If there were 2 speakers, and they were wired differently, and then this is what is known equally wiring the speakers out of phase.
The diaphragm in 1 speaker would movement out, while in the other speaker it would be moving in.
It'due south hard to explain what this sounds like. Only it just sounds odd. It will announced thin and lacking in body.
What is happening is that some of the lower frequencies volition cancel each other out equally the audio waves move away from the speaker.
So, you won't break anything, only it merely won't sound right. You lot'll probably observe it if you've done information technology. But, it'due south always good to double-check your wiring.
Some AV receivers will try and detect whatsoever speakers that are wired out of phase when you run the automated room setup. Although, they don't always become it correct.
If yous are interested, this is an splendid video demonstrating why you need to connect your speakers in phase:
What Are the Different Types of Speaker Wire Connections?
The first matter yous want to do is look at the connections on your speakers and amplifier. This will decide how yous tin connect the speaker wire.
In that location are two main types of connections that you will encounter.
Just be aware that yous may have one type on the amplifier and a different 1 on the speaker.
1. Binding Posts
Bounden posts are institute on all kinds of amplifiers and speakers – from budget models to high-stop equipment. They are the nearly mutual type that you will come across.
There are often 2 ways of connecting the speaker wire to these:
- Unscrew the reddish or blackness cap – insert the bare speaker wire into the hole in the mail (or insert a spade connector around the post) – tighten the cap over again
- Insert the wire into the opening at the finish of each postal service. For this, yous volition need to attach assistant plugs (meet below). Some receivers will accept a plastic cap over the end which will need to be removed first (every bit in the picture).
And so, for this type of connection, you can apply bare wire – or connect spades or banana plugs to the cease of the speaker wire.
Speakers that have binding posts might not have an opening at the finish to insert a banana plug. Some do, but it's more common on amplifiers.
A binding mail on a speaker will oftentimes look similar this:
And then, with his connection, you lot can either insert bare wire into the pigsty – and so tighten the screw.
Or, use a spade connection and place it around the post before tightening it up.
2. Jump Clips
Spring clips are more common on budget amplifiers and speakers – and all-in-i systems. Although they tin can exist found in all types of equipment.
All you need to practise is push the bottom role of the clip and push the speaker wire into the hole above.
Y'all tin use bare wire or pivot connectors with this type of connection.
Speaker Wire Termination Types
Now that yous know what type of connections you accept for your speaker wire; y'all can make the final selection on how to finish the ends.
Past the way, have a expect at my speaker wire 101 if you want to figure out which is the best estimate speaker wire for your system.
Attaching a connector to the finish of a length of speaker wire is known as terminating the wire.
However, the offset option doesn't crave any connector at all.
Connecting Speakers with Blank Wire
All connection types will have bare speaker wire. This is the easiest method as y'all don't need any actress accessories.
All you need to do is:
- Pull the positive and negative wires apart – past nearly 1 or 2-inches – and then that you have some separation to work with. You might demand a precipitous knife to carve up the central insulation – or it will just pull autonomously if you lot use plenty force per unit area. Just make sure you lot don't cutting into the insulation and expose blank wire farther down the cable. You but desire exposed wire at the end.
- Remove about ½ inch of insulation from each wire. This tin be done with a sharp knife or a dedicated wire stripper.
- Twist the exposed wire together so that in that location are no loose strands of copper
- Insert the copper wire into the speaker/amplifier connectors – again, making certain in that location are no loose strands of copper sticking out
- Gently pull the wire to brand sure it is firmly held by the connector
If using bare wire is the easiest way for you to achieve your goal, then get with it. I wouldn't lose any slumber over this. However, attaching connectors can accept advantages.
Terminating Speaker Wire with Banana Plugs
Banana plugs are my favorite way of connecting speaker wires. You will need to buy these as a separate accessory to your wire.
You will need iv banana plugs per wire – 2 for each cease of the cable.
Of class, that is bold that you volition be using assistant plugs for both the amplifier and speaker. Y'all might not want to – or be able to.
Assistant plugs may attach to the cable in different ways.
Many come with screw-in connections that just need to be secured to the cable with a minor screwdriver. This is one of the easiest methods.
Some are self-crimping which but means that they will clamp the cablevision when yous tighten the cap of the plug.
Others may demand soldering. So just choose this type if you are prepared to break out a soldering iron.
The general process for connecting screw clamp banana plugs to speaker wire is:
- Strip virtually ½-inch of insulation from the cease of each wire and twist it tight to remove loose strands
- Unscrew the cap from each assistant plug and thread it onto the wire
- Push the bare wire into the pigsty in the plug and tighten the spiral to secure it
- Screw the cap back on
Each plug tin so be inserted into the cease of each binding mail.
I oft forget to thread the cap onto the cable earlier securing the plug to the wire. Which means I have to disengage it all again!
I know y'all're not every bit foolish as I am.
You may notice some banana plugs that connect to the wire in a slightly different style to this. Just the general idea is the same.
You won't appreciate how much easier assistant plugs are to work with until yous are crawling around the back of an amplifier trying to attach the bare wire to a binding post.
Image Credit: Mediabridge
Some people like to solder the wire to the plug to create a more robust connection – fifty-fifty if information technology is a screw-in model. You can if you lot wish, just you don't take to.
Banana plugs that come up with screw-in connections piece of work perfectly well without soldering as long every bit you are conscientious when you join them together.
However, there is a hazard that they might loosen over time, so you might need to check the connection if yous reconnect them regularly.
Many banana plugs will have a female person connectedness on the lesser end – like the ones pictured above. This allows you lot to plug another banana plug into it.
This is useful if you need to connect multiple speakers to the same concluding. You won't frequently need to practise this, merely sometimes it can be helpful.
For instance, if you lot demand to feed a loftier-level subwoofer input from the front left and correct speaker terminals.
Banana plugs pins are a standard 4mm in bore which is merely right to fit into the stop of a binding postal service.
Using Spade Connectors with Speaker Wire
Spades are an alternative way to terminate your speaker wire.
Equally with banana plugs, if you are using spades at both ends, you volition need four spade connectors for each wire.
The spade connector can either exist angled or straight. It shouldn't affair besides much which one you buy. But, in some circumstances, one may be easier to fit than the other.
They usually connect to the speaker wire by crimping, soldering or by a screw connection similar with banana plugs.
Crimping is where you use a tool to bend the connector'south end so that it clasps tightly to the wire. It can be a practiced solution if you don't want to get involved in soldering the wire.
It's always all-time to use a proper crimping tool to make the join. Although it's tempting simply to grab a pair of pliers, yous won't get the same tight connexion.
Washed properly, a spade-crimped connectedness shouldn't demand soldering.
In one case you have the spades attached to the wire, you lot need to unscrew each binding post and button them into identify. They will be very secure once y'all tighten the cap again.
This is preferable to using bare wire as you can be sure of a tight and reliable connection.
Image Credit: Sewell
Spade connectors can be ideal when yous are attaching a wire to speakers that are installed very shut to a wall. In that case, you may not have enough room to use banana plugs.
So, if you don't want to use blank wire, spade connectors will connect at a 45 or 90-degree angle allowing the wire to drop straight down.
Terminating Speaker Wire with Pin Connectors
Pin connectors are similar a smaller version of a banana plug. In fact, in some cases, you might run into them referred to as assistant plugs.
They come up with pins that are generally nearly 2mm in bore. The pin is either direct or you lot tin can get them with angled pins.
Like spades and banana plugs, you need to strip some insulation from the wire and adhere the pins to the bare wire.
Crimping or soldering is often used to connect these to the wire. Nevertheless, similar the pin connectors in the picture above, they may also have a screw-in connection.
But undo the screw a piddling, insert the bare wire, and and so tighten the screw again. Brand certain you have a firm connection by gently pulling the speaker wire.
This blazon of speaker wire termination is generally used for spring clip connections. Simply button downwardly the clip and insert the pin into the hole.
Image Credit: Sewell
You could besides use them with bounden posts by inserting them through the fundamental hole in the mail service – and and so tightening the cap. But information technology'south non the usual way of using this type of connector.
Using pivot connectors is a cleaner method than using bare wire and increases the chances of a solid connectedness.
Connecting the Wires to Your Amplifier and Speakers
In one case you take your speaker cable terminations ready, you just demand to connect the wires to your amplifier and speakers.
A stereo amplifier and speakers will connect like this:
Just make sure that y'all connect the amplifier output marked speaker left to the left speaker – and the output marked speaker right to the correct speaker.
Likewise, the same end of the wire must connect to the positive last at the amplifier and speaker. The aforementioned with the negative terminals.
Speaker wire is ordinarily marked in some way so that you lot know which is the same wire at each stop.
A multichannel AV receiver is a piffling more complicated every bit it has more speaker terminals. However, the concept for home theater wiring is the same equally with a stereo amplifier.
Yous simply need to make sure that you connect each output last to the correct speaker.
So:
- Forepart left output concluding to the front end left speaker
- Front end right output last to the front right speaker
- Centre speaker output final to the centre speaker
- Surround left output concluding to the surround left speaker
- Surround right output concluding to the surround right speaker
If you have a 7.1 speaker layout or are using Dolby Atmos speakers, you will have even more than speakers to connect.
Simply, it's the aforementioned procedure. Just take your fourth dimension and make sure you get it correct the first time.
When yous run the motorcar room configuration on your AV receiver, it volition send a exam bespeak to each speaker. So, you will before long find out if yous continued the correct speakers to the rear of the amplifier.
If non, no problem, just unplug it at the amplifier and effort again.
Decision
Were you confused by the idea of connecting speaker wire to your amplifier and speakers?
If so, I hope you've found the answers to your questions.
Information technology's not too complicated when you get into the details. Simply it tin can seem confusing until you lot sympathize the different choices that you have.
The connections that you have on your amplifier and speakers are the first thing to consider.
Once y'all know this, you tin can make the all-time choice for terminating the speaker wire.
Yous tin take the easy road and just use bare wire – or choose to attach assistant plugs, spades or pins.
There isn't a wrong fashion. Only go with what seems to make sense for your system.
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Virtually Dwelling house Movie theatre Guide
Paul started the Home Movie house Guide to help less-experienced users go the most out of today's audio-visual applied science. He has worked as a sound, lighting and audio-visual engineer for around 20 years. At dwelling house, he has spent more time than is probably healthy installing, configuring, testing, de-rigging, fixing, tweaking, re-installing again (and sometimes using) various pieces of hullo-fi and domicile movie house equipment.
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