The speaker wire is a power cable that you use to connect the audio speakers with an amplifier. Speaker cables are also known as Transducer Cables, which means they carry sound from one device to another. For your speakers to work properly and sound good, you must install them correctly. It can be frustrating when everything sounds like static on TV or radio! Here are some tips to help you do it right the first time:
1. Get Different Wire- Sometimes you need to get a different wire for each speaker of the stereo system, all the way up to the amplifier. The first step is to cut both ends on an angle; this makes it easier to feed the wire through walls and between cracks. Then, strip off about an inch on each end of the wire using a good speaker wire stripper (not regular scissors). Attach bare copper speaker wire on one end of your amp terminal; tighten until you feel like you are crimping the metal piece itself into place. If you don’t know how to do that, read the instructions carefully or ask someone for help! Next, attach the other end of the same length speaker cable on another amplifier terminal (the positive one); tighten also. Now, the speaker wire is already attached to your amplifier terminals.
2. Connect The Wire- You might need an extra hand when you are connecting the wire because there is a possibility of dropping one of them! If so, just pick it up and start over again. For each speaker cable take one speaker wire in one hand and another in the other hand, hold about 6 inches apart so that you have enough slack to manipulate around corners without pulling too hard on either end. Twist the bare copper strands at both ends together until they are tight, then attach them to their corresponding terminals using pliers or crimping tools if you have one handy. The last step would be plugging in your amp power cord into a wall outlet, turning on the power, and testing speakers by playing some music.
3. Speaker Placement- This is probably the most important part of getting great sound from your new stereo system, whether it’s at home or in the car. Make sure you place your speakers in the right spot according to your room dimensions; usually they are placed against walls or corners. The tweeters (the smaller drivers) should always be aimed towards your ears for the best sound quality. You might also want to invest in a good speaker stand, which will help improve the soundstage and create a more immersive experience.
4. Use The Right Wire- Your speakers will sound much better with thicker, 14 or 12 gauge speaker wire. Check the owner’s manual of your equipment to make sure you are using the right gauge; if not, you can also find it in the back of your amp. If you like loud music and need to run long distances don’t worry about buying expensive oxygen-free speaker wire; just buy a good quality copper wire without any distinction between strength or purity. Purer wires will indeed take less power to drive them which could technically improve the sound but you won’t notice any difference in listening experience when you turn up the volume past 70%.
5. Use Cable Ties- This one is but it makes your installation neater and keeps everything organized. Bundling speaker wire together with cable ties makes it look more professional and can also prevent damage to the cables over time.
6. Label Your Cables- This is especially helpful when you have more than one audio input (for example, TV, DVD player, game console) and need to keep track of which wire goes where. Just use a permanent marker to label each end of the wire before you start connecting them; this will save you a lot of trouble down the road.
7. Get A Power Amp- If you want the best possible sound quality from your new stereo system, then you should invest in a power amplifier. This will give your music that extra boost in sound quality, with less distortion, more dynamic sound range, and deeper bass.
8. Use Speaker Wire Terminals- This is better than using bare wire because the metal part of these terminals is designed for this specific purpose; they help prevent short circuits or overheating which could damage your speakers or amp. Just strip about an inch of insulation off each end of the speaker wire, twist the bare copper strands together until tight then insert them into terminal holes carefully. Make sure you get it all in there but don’t force anything!
9. Keep Things Clean- This is especially important if you’re running your speaker wire through walls, as particles and dust can easily get inside the insulation and create a short circuit. Use a vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool to clean up all the mess, and if you see any frayed wires or bare copper strands then you’ll need to cut them off and strip back some more insulation.
10. Have Fun!- Once you have everything installed and working properly, it’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy your favorite tunes!
Now that you know how to install your speaker wire, there’s no excuse not to have great sound quality in your home or car stereo. Just follow these simple steps and you’ll be able to improve your listening experience today!