Wiring speakers to a home theater amplifier can be a daunting task since there are quite a few amplifiers needed. It takes about five to seven home theater amplifiers and a subwoofer to make the entertainment system work well. The key is to make sure you have all the right tools and that you stay organized.
Disconnect the Amp
To prevent any kind of shortage or electric shock, disconnect the amp from the power supply before connecting any wires.
Speaker Wires
First strip a 1/2 inch of insulation from the ends of the speaker wire. You should now be able to see two separate strands of wires that are separately colored silver and copper. Use your fingers to twist the silver strands together and to form a solid core of silver-colored wires. Do the exact same thing to the copper wires.
Connect the Wires to the Speakers
Hook the wires up to the back of the speaker, staying consistent. Speaker wire insulation is usually either yellow and black or white and black. Connect the black wire to the black post or negative symbol and the other color to the positive symbol. Do not worry about matching the exact colors as it is much more important to stay consistent throughout the installation.
Attach the Wires to the Speakers
Lift the spring clips on the back of the speakers. You should be able to see a hole for the wire underneath. Place the wire inside this hole and let the clip go. If the speakers have post connections, unscrew the post knob going counterclockwise. This will reveal a metal bolt. Wrap the wire around the bolt and then secure the connection to tighten the post knob.
Connect Wires to the Amplifier
Now move on to the amplifier. Hook up the opposite end of the speaker wire to the amplifier just as you did for the speaker. Once again, it is very important to be consistent. The black wire should be connected to the black post on the speaker, which is attached to the other end to the black connector on the back of the amplifier. This will help prevent a short circuit and stereo signals from crossing.
Check the Speaker and Amplifier Connections
Check to see that the speaker and amplifier wires are connected to the correct terminals. If they are not correctly connected, the audio will not come out clear.
Work in Order
If you are connecting several speakers to the amplifier, keep yourself organized and avoid confusion by going in an order that works best for you. You may want to start with the left front speaker, then move to the center channel, and move on from there.
Connect the Subwoofer
The last thing to do is to connect the subwoofer. You will need a subwoofer cable that has RCA-type plugs on both ends. If you do not already have one, visit an electronics retailer like Radio Shack or Best Buy. Connect the cable to the input jack on the subwoofer and the sub output jack on the back of the amp.