Home stereo systems can be pretty challenging to connect, especially if you run the speaker wires to and from an audio stereo receiver. Not connecting the wires the right way can make the sound quality fuzzy, that is if there is any sound produced at all.
In this article, we'll talk about how to connect the speaker wire to receiver. Let’s dive in!
Preparation Before Connecting
Before connecting a speaker wire to a receiver, you need to tell which speaker wire is positive and which is negative. It's crucial that you learn to differentiate between the positive and negative speaker wires. To do this, you need to look at the different colors on the wires. The silver wire is typically the positive wire, while copper is the negative wire.
There are some cases where the speaker wire is clear; in this case, look for printed checking on the ends of the wires. You will see a positive (+) and negative (-) symbol to indicate the polarity. You can test the wire connection using AAA batteries if you need to double-check.
Steps to Follow When Connecting a Speaker Wire to a Receiver
Most speakers have labeled ports. So, connecting the speaker wire to the receiver is relatively easy for these gadgets. You just have to follow the steps below:
- For most speakers, the first step is turning off the receiver.
- The sound system should have two wires which you should then connect to the receiver terminals.
- Connect the other end of the speaker wires to the corresponding speakers.
- Turn it on and increase the volume to ensure the audio quality is clear.
In this way, you can connect your receiver to any speaker with an impedance of 6 to 16 ohms. Just confirm the speaker's impedance before purchasing by checking the back of the information manual.
How to Connect Bare Speaker Wire to Receiver
If you have a bare speaker wire, there are a few ways to connect it.
- The most common way is to twist the Bare speaker wire around a metal post on the back of the receiver.
- Another way is to use a spring-loaded connector. Simply insert the Bare speaker wire into the hole and release the spring, which will clamp down on the wire and make a connection.
- If you have banana plugs, you can simply insert them into the corresponding holes on the back of the receiver. Make sure that the left and right speakers are connected to the appropriate jacks on the receiver. Once all of the connections are made, turn on your receiver and enjoy your music.
How to Connect 4 Conductor Speaker Wire to Receiver
A speaker/ amplifier with four-conductor wires is odd but not uncommon. In most cases, the wires are bi-amped, so here’s how you can connect the speaker wire to receiver in such a case.
Most receivers and amplifiers have spring clips, also called terminal posts, where the speaker wires connect. The spring clips are color-coded to make it easy to match the wires to the correct terminals. The most common colors are red and black, but some manufacturers use other colors like white, green, and blue.
Strip the insulation
The first thing you need to do is strip about half an inch of insulation off the end of each wire using a wire stripper. Once the insulation is removed, twist the strands of each wire together so they're nice and tight.
Connect the four wires to the receiver
Next, take a look at the spring clips on your receiver or amplifier. You'll notice that there are four holes in each clip - two on top and two on the bottom. The holes on the top are usually labeled "+" (positive) while the holes on the bottom are typically labeled "-" (negative). Take one of the wires and insert the bare end into one of the "+" holes on a spring clip. Make sure that you insert it all the way in so that there's a good connection. Then, do the same thing with one of the "-" wires. Repeat this process for each of the remaining three wires.
Once all four wires are connected, you should be able to enjoy great sound quality from your speakers!
FAQ about How to Connect Speaker Wire to Receiver
What happens if you mix up the positive and negative wires?
The signal cuts out when the two wires are mixed up; this is because of a phenomenon referred to as inverse polarity. One wave is positive while the other is negative, which results in silence. Knowing the correct wires to connect to each port in each terminal is therefore vital.
How to connect speaker wire to av receiver
The process is actually quite simple. First, locate the binding posts on your A/V receiver. These are usually color-coded, with red corresponding to the right channel and black corresponding to the left channel. Next, take your speaker wire and strip away a small section of the outer insulation. Finally, twist the exposed wire around the binding post and tighten the screw to secure it in place.
How to connect in wall speaker wire to receiver?
Connecting an in-wall speaker wire to a receiver is easier and similar to how you'd do it with an A/V stereo. Ensure you unplug all the wires, split the wire ends, place them onto the corresponding sockets and lock the wires onto the sockets.
Conclusion
Although most speakers today have Bluetooth as an option, like soundcore Flare, some may need you to connect the speaker wires to the receiver, especially if it’s a home theater. Therefore, knowing the different types of speakers and how to connect the wires may come in handy.
Typically, most speakers only have two connecting wires that are clearly labeled. While those that have four conductor wires are pretty rare and a bit challenging to connect. The tips in this article should help you connect both types.
