How to Hook Up a Stereo Amp

Connections Clearly Labeled.

Hooking up a stereo amp takes only a few minutes. If you can follow the color-coded wire connections to the various components powered by the amplifier, you'll be hooked up in no time. Learn how to connect audio/video components to a stereo amplifier.

Things You'll Need

• Wire strippers
• Pocket knife or wire cutters
• Electric power strip with at least 6 outlets

Instructions

1. Disconnect the power from the amp and position it inside the entertainment center or component rack for your system.

2. Connect the left and right channel stereo speakers to the amp by running speaker wire from the negative terminal of the left speaker to the negative terminal on the left audio input of the amplifier. The black or silver wire is negative and the red or copper-colored wire is positive. Connect the speaker's positive wire to the positive terminal on the amp's audio input. Repeat the steps for the right channel speaker and any rear or center channel speakers.

3. Connect audio/video components by plugging the red RCA plug from a component into the positive audio input jack for that component on the back of the amplifier. CD, cassette, turntable and DVD inputs should be labeled on the rear of the amp. Connect the negative (black) RCA audio plug to the corresponding jack on the amp.

4. Hook up the yellow video jack on televisions and DVD players to the video input on the amp or use the S-Video cable that comes with most DVD and Blu-Ray players.

5. Plug in the electrical cables to a fused power strip and plug the power strip into the wall electrical outlet.

Tips & Warnings

• Attach a small piece of masking tape to each cable in your system and label the tape with the name of the component, and whether it is the left or right audio cable (if the wires are not color coded). This makes hook up a breeze when dealing with a snake's nest of cables in back of your component rack.

• Be sure all equipment switches are turned off and the amplifier volume is dialed down before plugging in the gear to a power supply. A sudden power surge can damage components.

References

• Guide to Stereo Connections.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish