How to Wire an Audio Amplifier

The audio amplifier is the heart of your home audio system. Whether your audio amplifier is a stand-alone unit, or it is part of an integrated receiver, the amplifier performs the essential task of taking the low-voltage signal from a CD player, turntable, or other device, and boosting the power of the signal so that it can drive the speakers of your audio system. Wiring, or connecting, the amplifier into the system is fundamental to its proper operation.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• audio amplifier
• RCA patch cables
• speaker wire

1. Plug your amplifier into a power source. Home audio amplifiers use 110-volt AC power. Take the power cord of your amplifier and plug it into a convenient wall socket.

2. 
    
   Amplifier speaker connections

   Connect the audio amplifier to your speakers. Stereo amplifiers have outputs to drive a pair of speakers. The terminals will be on the back of the amplifier, labeled as "speakers," "R" and "L" (right and left). Each pair of terminals, R and L will have two posts, colored red and black, and labeled "=" and "-" (positive and negative).

3. Connect one pair of speaker wires from the R output to the speaker on the right side of your listening position, and another pair from the L output to the speaker of the left side of your listening position. Be sure that the + terminal of the amplifier connects to the + terminal of the speaker, and the - to the -.

4. 
    
   An example of RCA connections

   Connect your audio components to the amplifier. Audio components, like CD players, connect to the amplifier with RCA cables. The important thing to remember is that the "out" terminals of the component must connect to the "in" terminals of the amplifier. Most amplifiers will have the input RCA jacks labeled as to function, ie, "CD," and "aux,".

5. Connect each component to the input that matches it best with an RCA cable. As with speakers, be sure to match the positive output of the component to the positive input of the amplifier.

References

• Home Theater for Dummies, Briere, 2008