Connecting the amplifier to your speakers is that last little step before you finally sit back and enjoy your new, more powerful home stereo system. While it's not hard on its face, it may be a bit disorienting for someone who's never done it. Grab a tape measure, a wire stripper and your spool of speaker cable and get to work; you'll be listening to that stereo in no time.
Instructions
1. Examine the back of your amplifier. Find the output terminals for each of the speakers you plan to connect. There will be a positive and a negative output terminal for each speaker; these correspond with the two individual strands of wire on your speaker cable.
2. With your amplifier in place, measure out the distance to each speaker. Write these distances down so you don't get mixed up. Remember, you'll need to measure the path that the wire will take, not necessarily the point-to-point from amplifier to speaker.
3. Cut the wires for each speaker to size. If in doubt, cut the wire a little longer as it will be easier to shave a little off than to cut an entirely new speaker cable.
4. Separate the strands on both ends of each speaker cable. Each strand will be connected to a separate terminal. Cut down the middle of the cable while maintaining care not to cut right into the insulation. You'll want two or three inches of length for each strand.
5. Strip the ends of each cable strand. You'll need about a 1/2 to 3/4 inch of cable to connect. Twist the cable in one direction so that the little wires form one solid wire.
6. Check for labeling. Many speaker cables are labeled to make connections a bit easier and lower the chance of reversing polarities. The cable may be marked with a + or a simple line. Use the marked side as a positive or negative, but be consistent throughout all your wiring to ensure that you get correct connections.
7. Shut off your amp, if you haven't done so, and connect the left front speaker. Connect the positive end of the cable into the positive output and the negative into negative. Unscrew the binding post, insert the cable into the hole underneath and tighten the screw back on. Make sure that the cables aren't sticking out underneath, as this could potentially cause a short. Cut any loose cable if it's sticking out.
8. Run the cable to the front left speaker and insert the positive end into the positive input and negative into negative. Repeat steps 7 and 8 for each speaker that you are powering with the amp.
Tips Warnings
Consider using connectors like banana plugs or spade connectors that attach to the wire ends and provide a cleaner, more stable connection.
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