How to Install Home Theater Central Channel Speakers

Installing a home theater central channel speaker properly is key to getting the best performance from your system. You want to be able to hear every word of dialogue, and a good central speaker can accomplish that. Here are some steps to help install your central channel speaker.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• razor blade
• home theater system
• wire strippers
• central channel speaker

1. Read your manual. Find out exactly where to plug in the wires. Usually this is obvious, but plugging into the wrong output won't give you the sound that you want.
2. Position your central channel speaker carefully. Place it above your TV or projector. Center it with the screen, even if this does not center it with the other speakers. If you see discoloration on the screen, the speaker and its internal magnets are too close to the TV and it should be moved away a bit.
3. Connect the speaker wires. Cut the speaker wire to the appropriate length. Keep about 6 to 8 inches of slack in case you ever want to move the speaker. Using a razor or wire strippers, strip away about 1/2 inch of the plastic coating to expose the metal.
4. Insert the speaker wires into the red and white inputs on the back of the speaker. All speaker wires are marked with a white stripe or some other mark. Insert the marked cable into the white input, and the unmarked into the red input.
5. Insert the other ends of the speaker wires into your receiver. Once again, put the marked wire into the white input, and the unmarked into the red.
6. Make sure the speaker points at the listeners. Avoid bouncing the sound off the ceiling or floor, or put down some sound-absorbing material.
7. Sit and listen. The voices should be clear and sound like they are coming from the people on the TV screen.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't want unsightly cables running everywhere, look into wireless surround or put flat speaker cables along baseboards or under the carpet. Or run the cables through the wall.
• You can wedge something under a speaker to give it a little tilt, but use a rug or a rubber object, something that will not rattle from the sound.

Who Can Help:

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