How to Hook Up a Speaker Box

Even the largest speakers connect with just two wire leads.

Hooking up a speaker box is easy, whether it's in a car or truck or a home theater. Every speaker has a positive or "hot lead," and a negative or "common lead." These leads are just insulated wires of varying lengths and gauges. Gauge refers to the thickness of the wire and insulation. Generally, longer wire lengths, especially beyond six feet, use larger wire gauges -- which are represented by smaller gauge numbers.

Things You'll Need

• Speaker wire
• Wire strippers

Instructions

1. Cut your length of speaker wire, cutting a 1/2 inch of insulation from both ends. Lamp cord makes excellent speaker cable; 16-gauge is a good middle range.

2. Connect one end of the speaker cable to the hot lead or red terminal on the speaker. Red-to-red and black-to-black connections must be maintained to ensure correct speaker phasing.

3. Connect one end of the wire to the black speaker terminal

4. Connect both remaining ends of the speaker wire to the speaker outputs of an amplifier, maintaining the red-to-red and black-to-black connectivity.

Tips & Warnings

• In a vehicle, the connections from the speaker to a power amplifier may be longer than in a home. Use a larger wire for lengths beyond six feet. Ironically, a larger gauge wire is noted by a smaller gauge number; 12-gauge wire is larger and more insulated wire than 16-gauge.

References

• Cruthfield: Subwoofer Installation Guide; June 2008
• "Car Stereo Cookbook"; Mark Rumerich; 2005
• Columbia ISA: How to Hook Up Surround Sound